Can you Read Music

[Red Fire]

I can but alot of guitarist's can't alot of people say the only way to get a guitarist to not play asloud is to put a sheet of music infront of them... stupid joke

 

------------------

I play WashBurn

And I use a Marshall

 

This message has been edited by Red Fire on 08-15-2001 at 12:32 PM

[Scott from MA]

Yes, I can read in 3 clefs... although it's a skill I don't use very often anymore. It came in handy when I used to do studio work.

[AlChuck]

I can read but haltingly; I can't read quickly enough to play through something immediately. I have to kind of step through it bar by bar and digest it and go back over it multiple times depending on how complex it is.

[fantasticsound]

I can read, from my piano days. (7-8 years old, I'm 34 now!) It takes me forever to accomplish even simple melodies, however.

 

That said, you're taking the joke WAY too personally. The sad (or perhaps not so sad) fact is that most guitarists are entirely illiterate in standard notation. Why? Simple.

 

Guitar is an easy instrument to learn, by hunt and peck, or from recorded example, without ever learning to read a note of standard notation. How much sight reading goes into Louie, Louie and folk music, largely played on open or simple barre chords???

 

With the advent of tab in a wide variety of music books, it has become less important than ever, in the minds of young players, to learn to read standard notation. Let's not forget how many of us receive(d) little or no guitar education from instructors. Whether because Mom & Dad wouldn't pay for it, or we didn't take it that seriously.

 

Would I like to be able to sight read? Absolutely! Am I willing to spend as much time as my 34 year old brain requires to learn this skill? So far, no. Like the bee who flys despite scientific formula which say it's impossible, in my ignorance, I continue to play beautiful and complex music.

 

So chill on your high horse, Major Winchester! (M*A*S*H reference... showing my age, but I guess I already gave it away. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ) Not only is the joke sadly pertinent, it IS funny! (We're not making fun of English-illiterate people, and there are plenty of musician jokes that are funny and a LOT LESS accurate.

 

And anyway, that's just the first part! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif

 

How do you get a guitarist to turn down? --- Put sheet music in front of him!

 

How do you get him to turn off, pack up and go home? --- Put notes on the sheets! http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

 

Not very original, but truly a classic! Search the MPER forum for jokes and you'll find a LOT more to be righteous about. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif

 

This is not a flame.. don't take it personally.. you'll relax, enjoy life more, and live longer. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

------------------

Neil

 

Reality: A few moments of lucidity surrounded by insanity.

[Scott from MA]

Originally posted by fantasticsound:

The sad (or perhaps not so sad) fact is that most guitarists are entirely illiterate in standard notation

 

I should point out that my sight-reading skills did NOT come from being a guitar player. I play a variety of brass, string, and key instruments. Most of the reading I've had to do was in orchestral settings, or when sitting in with jazz ensembles. The only times I've had to read for guitar was doing studio work, and I didn't have to sight-read, I was given the sheets well in advance.

 

It's probably true that if I only played guitar, I would have never learned to read notation.

[Steve LeBlanc]

I can read very well on the piano, I can even score a 60 piece orchestra but I can't play guitar from sheet music...I just don't know the fretboard...I play by ear/feel only on the guitar.

[Megattack]

I have never been able to read music and probably never will. I just dont have a need to. I just hear the song and can play it. I guess I'm what you call a "Natural" "The Gift" lol Whatever it is , alot of us have it and personaly, I wont read music for that fact plus I think it takes away the meaning of being a "True" musician. Being able to play a song by ear. Being able to figure out all the notes on your own without having to read a note. It just feels great after you figured out something on your own. That being said and totally contradicting myself, hehe. Being able to read music can be a really good thing. To be able to sit down and play the whole song because its written right on front of you and you can read it. There are alot of talented people out there. Some read, some dont. Both are happy with the way they are. Its all in what you want to do with your talent. Which direction, how deep you want to go. There are so many ways to go its confusing at times. Music Theory, Evolution of music, Music Dynamics, the list goes on. Me, I'm just a simple guy who likes to figure things out http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

Peace

[Chip McDonald]

I can read music, just not "well". When I was a kid I could do it reasonably good on piano; and if I practice with piano for about a month I'd probably be "decent" at it.

 

Guitar - I don't have any need for it. By the time I've looked at the next note I know what it's probably going to be by the melody telegraphing it, so unless I were to practice a completely random splatter of notes I can't get better at it. Since I don't have a need for it - I don't have a motivation to get better at it. I would be better served learning a new language.

 

REASONS WHY IT'S HARDER TO LEARN ON GUITAR THAN PIANO:

 

There are duplicate octaves on the guitar. More than one way of playing the same note.

 

The way the guitar is layed out, there is not a consistent fingering for things that have regular fingerings on piano. It requires a convoluted 3 dimensional kinesthetic (physical) solution where the piano requires a left or right movement. It requires more concentration for a "simple" passage and likewise leaves less concentration for the process of reading itself.

 

------------------

New and Improved Music Soon: http://www.mp3.com/chipmcdonald

[Fingerstyle_Jim]

I read quite a bit everyday as a guitar teacher, and when I play at weddings and banquets (potted plant gigs) I have a book that has about 45 minutes worth of easier classical pieces I can read anytime I need more material. I played for about 15 years before I learned to read, mostly bar bands playing cover songs that were learned by ear. I always felt there was more to music and in the past year alone I have played with the local symphony orchestra for "Barber of Seville" and worked in the pit for a 2 week production of "Man of La Mancha", plus gotten studio work.

 

Jim http://www.mp3.com/jimgraham

[michael saulnier]

I'm curious about the "other side" of this question...

 

Do you know every note on all the strings on the fretboard. I finally do, but only because the one teacher I recently worked with "demanded" that I do it and grilled me every time I took a lesson...

 

I used to rely on knowing only the Low E and A strings to know which "barre chord" to use for a progression. It's actually been useful to learn ALL the notes, but if I hadn't been embarrassed into it I may not have learned it ever!

 

How about you... do you know them all without thinking? Do you find this useful for your playing?

 

guitplayer

 

------------------

http://www.mp3.com/acousticvoodoo

 

Guitar Forum CD Info

http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/Forum19/HTML/000537.html

[lynx]

Originally posted by guitplayer:

I'm curious about the "other side" of this question...

 

Do you know every note on all the strings on the fretboard. I finally do, but only because the one teacher I recently worked with "demanded" that I do it and grilled me every time I took a lesson...

 

I used to rely on knowing only the Low E and A strings to know which "barre chord" to use for a progression. It's actually been useful to learn ALL the notes, but if I hadn't been embarrassed into it I may not have learned it ever!

 

How about you... do you know them all without thinking? Do you find this useful for your playing?

 

guitplayer

 

After playing for several years in cover bands I decided that I had to learn more about music since I didn't have the knowledge to write the type of music that I wanted to play. One of the first things I did in this process of self-education was to learn all the notes on the neck. I did this very simply by using knowledge I already possessed- the alphabet! If the first string is E in the open position then obviously the first fret is F...and so on up the neck to the 12th fret where it starts again. The only requirement is simply to learn the chromatic scale and how the sharps and flats work.Drawing a picture chart of your neck up to the 12 fret and filling in the notes the same as described above is the easiest way to learn this. After that it will aways be in your head and the key notes for major triads will jump out as locaters on their respective frets. After using this method for a short time I knew or could easily find out what each note was. I go into detail here for the benefit of those who do not yet possess this skill. It was invaluable to me in learning about chord inversions at various neck positions, using scales- in short, it opened the door to everything, making it all a lot faster and easier to assimilate. As for reading, I learned and then forgot since it was virtually useless for a pop/rock guitarist.(see my post in the thread about theory.)

[DC]

I used to teach guitar so I can read, but in my normal gigging and recording life I never do save chord charts. I played sax for years so the theory of it was well learned over time, but on guitar and bass and even mando and recorder it's way easier to just hear the part in your head and find it on the instrument.

 

I think something like Nashville shorthand is very valuable to get things you've never heard before down quickly, but you don't need notes, you just need the progression and a mark for when you're suppose to solo.

[strat0124]

I can read, and had the benefit of being a band geek in junior and high school (one time...at band camp........). I can follow charts but I don't translate that well to single lines on the guitar. I can sing them out and translate, but sight reading single lines is not my forte. As far as following chord charts and changes, I have no problem with that. I've used the numbering system as well. I never could do the TAB thing though.....just doesn't click with me. I was a trombone player so I know the bass clef/treble clef relationship and can plunk out chord structure on the piano from the charts. It's really been helpful when I play with "trained" musicians, and they're all following charts, otherwise I'd have to wing it (and have done that). A music education is invaluable.

[Guest]

I've been able to transfer my reading of piano music to guitar with little problem. Playing by ear in conjunction with reading music is a plus.

 

While I don't thing that being able to read music is necessary, I do KNOW that being able to read music empowers the musician instead of impedes the musician for many reasons.

 

Joe

[Chip McDonald]

Originally posted by guitplayer:

I'm curious about the "other side" of this question...

 

Do you know every note on all the strings on the fretboard.

 

Yeah, but that's not a big deal.... What's important (IMO)is to be conscious of the tonal function of each note depending on the situation.

 

Reading helps you get by on certain types of gigs. I don't prefer to do those gigs, I like to know what I'm playing ahead of time - if I have to read something I shouldn't be playing it IMO. Chord charts rule.

 

------------------

New and Improved Music Soon: http://www.mp3.com/chipmcdonald