site reading

[marty bradbury]

Started learning to play the guitar 10 years ago, took a lesson or 2 but usually went on my own. So after floundering around I started lessons again a couple months ago, one part is "site reading" , what I thought would be boring I am really enjoying and diving in to now. Anyone else here site read?

[DupleMeter]

Yeah. Been sight reading on various instruments since I was 8. A great skill to have. Keep it up.

[ManyMartinMan]

Sight reading is how music is played. Learning to read music is a huge leap forward in musicianship as you can play with anyone, anytime with music. Congratulations.

[mr. beaumont]

I do, and I wish I was better at it! Time to practice.

[The Bard Rocks]

I do both but for me, notation is the easiest way to learn a song. Unfortunately, I don't always have the notation available on something I want to learn. When I do, if it's a simple piece, sight read it once through and then it's time to work on the arrangement.

I don't know how folks who learn only by ear manage if they have never heard the song first. And how are they able to remember it quickly? With me it takes lots of times hearing it to remember how something new goes, start to finish. I have also noticed that if I don't play something at least a few times a year, I tend to forget it. No worries like that when you have it out in front of you to sight read.

[Mandobart]

I learned sight reading as a kid in orchestra. Later I learned to read site plans as an engineer. I find learning by ear my main method now, but it helps to be able to both read and write notation. Ear training is especially helpful when you learned off a score in D and now you need to play it in C (and don't have a score available in that key). Use your ear (and knowledge of the fretboard) or capo way up....I'm one that's not keen on music stands on stage, unless I'm playing in a big band or orchestra.

[TBman]

The problem with sight reading notation for guitar music is that there are multiple places to play the same note, but that aside, it is very challenging to interpret a piece of music correctly solely from the notation without first hearing it. Is that what you are learning Marty also?

[DupleMeter]

Originally Posted by TBman

The problem with sight reading notation for guitar music is that there are multiple places to play the same note, but that aside, it is very challenging to interpret a piece of music correctly solely from the notation without first hearing it. Is that what you are learning Marty also?

Once you get even fairly competent you realize how much easier it is to read a new piece than try to memorize by ear. As s friend of mine said about it: better a dull pencil than a sharp mind.

Plus, after a while you can hear the music in your head when you look at the notation. It's the best of both worlds.

[sdelsolray]

Originally Posted by marty bradbury

Started learning to play the guitar 10 years ago, took a lesson or 2 but usually went on my own. So after floundering around I started lessons again a couple months ago, one part is "site reading" , what I thought would be boring I am really enjoying and diving in to now. Anyone else here site read?

I started sight reading (i.e., standard music notation) at age 5 on the piano, age 8 on the clarinet, age 12 on the guitar and added a few other stringed instruments during my teenage years (some standard notation, some TAB).

I've always enjoyed sight reading, either solo or in ensembles.

[marty bradbury]

Originally Posted by TBman

The problem with sight reading notation for guitar music is that there are multiple places to play the same note, but that aside, it is very challenging to interpret a piece of music correctly solely from the notation without first hearing it. Is that what you are learning Marty also?

Hi Barry. I find that if i haven't heard the piece before then its easier to play with notation as it gives you the beat and of course the notes. The timing being the key here as you don't get that with tabs,

[TBman]

Originally Posted by marty bradbury

Hi Barry. I find that if i haven't heard the piece before then its easier to play with notation as it gives you the beat and of course the notes. The timing being the key here as you don't get that with tabs,

I only use tab with notation over the top. The "bare bones" tabs are useless to me.

[RustyAxe]

Learn to read bass clef, and buy yourself a bass and learn it. You'll get more work than you know what to do with.

[fingerguy]

I disagree. I have never completed my site reading and many of the most famous musicians can't site read yet they are praised and respected for their music ability and I am learning and playing pieces just fine.

To site read is an awesome skill to have, but not necessarily equate to you playing better, learning easier, and so on. There is more to it than how you learn the music itself.

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by fingerguy

I disagree. I have never completed my site reading and many of the most famous musicians can't site read yet they are praised and respected for their music ability and I am learning and playing pieces just fine.

To site read is an awesome skill to have, but not necessarily equate to you playing better, learning easier, and so on. There is more to it than how you learn the music itself.

Here it is right on cue. Every time a discussion starts on any subject that touches on formal music training someone pops up with "what about the great players that can't/don't/won't XYZ?" Yes, of course, we can always find exceptions (that's why we call them exceptional). But 97% of us here are not exceptional, and we can benefit from every tool available. No you don't have to be able to sight read notation, or tab, or chord sheets, or know the names of any notes. You don't have to be able to play different inversions up the neck. You don't have to know ANY scales. For that matter D'jango, Jerry Garcia and Tony Iommi showed us you don't even need all your fingers to play well. Everyone is free to choose which tools and skills they want to ignore. But I have never become a worse musician by learning new skills.

[cotten]

Music notation is nothing more than the written language of music. It is possible to speak the language fluently without being able to read it, but until you do, communicating with other musicians who speak that language is going to be limited. I strongly recommend learning to read standard music notation. Once you do, it will translate comfortably to almost every instrument. (I say almost because I'm not aware of how some instruments, a didgeridoo, for instance, would be notated.)

cotten