reading music, do you have to read music? Options

[joewest]

hi everyone, do all drummers have to be able to read drum music, because i find it easier to just improvise on songs.. i can read music but its getting hard and im only on grade 6

if you play in a band like nickelback or something do you have to read music or do you just make it up??

joe

[megabert]

Personally I make most of it up as I go, but knowing how to read music is very important. If there's a beat you're having trouble with, it's easier to play after you put it down on paper. Don't know why, but it all just makes more sense when it's on paper.

For crazy easy stuff, sheet music isn't important, but it's still easier to learn any instrument after you learn how to read the music for it.

[Vasheir]

hi everyone, do all drummers have to be able to read drum music, because i find it easier to just improvise on songs.. i can read music but its getting hard and im only on grade 6

if you play in a band like nickelback or something do you have to read music or do you just make it up??

joe

You will have to be able to read something.

If you don't, you will be attempting to re-invent the wheel with patterns and grooves.

Learn while you're younger so you can expontentially (if you got that far in math yet) increase your ability later. I learned way too late and I wish I had done it right the first time.

*EDIT*
Welcome to FDL.

This post has been edited by Vasheir: Oct 30 2009, 02:09 PM

[Brandon1025]

I learn best by ear. I listen to songs countless times picking out all the details and begin working on it on the kit. I can read music somewhat, but I almost never use it.

[SmackADrum]

Depends on what you want to do with music...

If you are striving to get into the music business I would say reading would be a valuable tool as you could do session work and get a lot of contacts from it...

You would always learn to read at least enough to figure something out... we all don't have to be able to sight read charts...

[CJohn364]

I read music when I try to complete a song as a cover, but when I'm just jamming, I improv a lot. Both are nice skills to have.

[girldrummer462]

I'm pretty sure bands like nickelback don't have sheet music. If anything they create their own sheet music after they write a song so drummers go out and buy it. It's handy to read sheet music for sure, but being a drummer you have to improvise otherwise the creativity lacks like crazy.

[hysteriaddict]

hi everyone, do all drummers have to be able to read drum music, because i find it easier to just improvise on songs.. i can read music but its getting hard and im only on grade 6

if you play in a band like nickelback or something do you have to read music or do you just make it up??

joe

Well, I'll start this off by saying I don't know how to read music, and really I've never had a strong desire to learn. But, I believe that reading music is definitely something that can help your skills as a drummer (and as a musician in general) improve, and there is not really a negative effect that comes from the ability to read music, so I say go ahead and learn how, at least how to read some of the basics and stuff, and then if you ever are in a situation where you do need to read music, you'll have that skill available.

I'm pretty sure bands like nickelback don't have sheet music. If anything they create their own sheet music after they write a song so drummers go out and buy it. It's handy to read sheet music for sure, but being a drummer you have to improvise otherwise the creativity lacks like crazy.

+1 to this, most bands do not come up with sheet music before they record their songs, they transcribe it afterward as one of several ways of teaching other drummers.

Oh... and welcome to FDL both of you.

[Rob Fast]

It depends very much on what type of band you are in or want to be in. You don't have to necessarily learn the notation dot for dot but it's a great way to work rhythms out and a good way to add to your practice.

[animal22]

Eyup fellas, here's my six peneth.I play in a brass band in dear old blighty and our repertoire covers most genres from a standard march through jaz/swing to rock music and as such I have to be able to read music.In pieces such as a march I have to play what's written but when we play something less ridgid the music then becomes more of a guide to what slyle/tempo and dynamic to play in.So,from my point of view,it is imperative that I can read music.
Cheers Clive.

This post has been edited by animal22: Nov 4 2009, 02:41 AM