Where do you get your sheet music?

[Riverwolf]

I am not talking the many many online sites that show chords.
Sometimes I hear a song that I would like to change a little into a slow Carter-style song.
I understand the alternate bass and the various walk up/downs.
But finding the melody notes to add is still above my pay grade.
I am talking about versions like in guitar songbooks that show chords but also the melody.
Thanks!

Oh yeah, forgot to add, I am not against paying for good sheet music or guitar melodies.

[funkymonk#9]

Piano Files is a wonderful sharing site, you actually message the people and trade digital files of music. And yes there is plenty of guitar music.
The one caveat is to have something to trade. Build up something, anything.

[amyFB]

I get my sheet music either online if I am looking for a specific something, or I browse books at music stores that still carry such rare items.

Meanwhile, I wonder if you have ever tried focusing on the notes in the chords you are playing, one at a time, and consider how much of the melody is sitting right there.

Good luck to you!



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[Mooh]

musicnotes.com

onlinesheetmusic.com

songsterr.com

My brain and Finale PrintMusic.

[Earwitness]

For piano pieces for my kids, I have used SheetMusicPlus.com.

Worked just fine--not sure how it compares to others.

[Riverwolf]

Originally Posted by amyFB

Meanwhile, I wonder if you have ever tried focusing on the notes in the chords you are playing, one at a time, and consider how much of the melody is sitting right there.

Yeah, I keep reading that and hearing about it but I am not there yet.
I understand how the Carter style works but I need the melody in order to convert.
I don't really read music but I can slowly convert it over to Tab.

[amyFB]

Originally Posted by Riverwolf

Yeah, I keep reading that and hearing about it but I am not there yet.

I understand how the Carter style works but I need the melody in order to convert.

I don't really read music but I can slowly convert it over to Tab.

I would like to add a p.s. to my first reply.

Specifically about developing listening skills.

I spent years tied to music notation on the piano and only heard the notes as written on the page .

I could never really listen to the actual music that I was making with the notes I was playing because I was so focused on playing the right note.

Processing audible sounds is something that can be learned.
We know the difference between a car and a train horn, for example.

The same way we know the difference between the melody and not the melody.

Learning to distinguish the individual components of noise made of multiple sound sources is what happens when we listen to music . Drums electric guitar flute we can pick them out because we have learned their sounds.

I spell all this out as support for my suggestion that any of us can hear and find the melody notes with a little hunt and peck at first .

With time and practice (yes the dreaded p word) you can train your ears to "hear" the interval of notes in the melody and know right where the note exists under your fingers.

I will close by noting that I hear full well how like an ex smoker I must sound as I promote my methods for your success!!

It's all good , keep playing and having fun no matter what!

[JonPR]

I used to learn from songbooks (notation not tab) many years ago, but I haven't bought sheet music in decades (oh except for a jazz Real Book about 20 years ago).
Any time I want a melody now I transcribe it myself, using a slowdowner - http://www.seventhstring.com/ - and either youtube or spotify. I always used to transcribe (using a tape deck) when I couldn't find sheet music, but I soon found I enjoyed doing it, and now I always work from a recording and trust my ear (saves money too!). It's easy enough to get melodies (one note at a time) that way. Chords can be trickier, and I'll still often check chord sites - but usually only for a second opinion, or as a way to get me started (I trust my own ear in the end).

[jfitz81]

I'd echo the comments about learning by ear. As far as sheet music goes, the Flatpicking Essentials series has quite a bit if you're into that style. In fact, Vol. 2 is all about picking out songs and playing them in the Carter Family style. The digital version is 20 bucks. You can check out the full list of songs in each volume before you buy. I've been very happy with it.

[bdam123]

someone mentioned pianofiles. that site is no longer. it is now sheeto.com. Great site. I've been a member for a few years now and my sheet music collection is pretty nice.

If you don't feel like hunting things down and worrying about trading with people, musicnotes.com is a great place to buy sheets.







PS Looks like sheeto is down at the moment. Keep an eye out for it to go back online. Really is one of the best sources for free sheet music online

[Joscefi78]

Sheeto is gone but there's Swappano and a bunch of TablEdit sites are still going.

[funkymonk#9]

Oh No, Piano files is down and sheeto is down, that is not good.

They had stuff that was so rare, stuff not ever published, hand written scores, etc. Such a resource, should never go down.

What are you looking for again?, i have a lot of stuff myself i can share. PM me if you want.

[mpeltz]

Here are two guitarist/arrangers that have some great music. Lex Von Sumayo and Hiroshi Masuda. Both are mostly Fingerstyle arrangements of some great music for many different eras. Lex charges for his music but it is very affordable. Hiroshi will give you access to all his music if you buy one of his CD's. It is a great collection of Beatles, Paul Simon, etc etc.
Lex is much more diverse. I just finished an arrangment of a Journey piece called "Open Arms" that he did. Check them out. Just do a search on their names.

[TBman]

Songsterr.com $10 a month, good deal.

[mtsusean]

Hal Leonard and J.W. Pepper