[Guitar player] Learn to Read Music Part 1

V8 · Feb 26, 2019

Now I don't think you have to be able to read music to enjoy making music. But like visiting a foreign country, it's useful - perhaps even polite - to try and earn a few words to get by.

Here's Part 1 of a multi part article by the fine fellows at Guitar player to help you get acquainted with the vocabulary and concepts in learning to read sheet music.

Standard notation. Those hieroglyphic dots and lines from the days of yore. The secret code that, once you break it, will allow you to play any piece of music from any time in history. How freaking empowering is that?

The concepts we need to concentrate on for starters are pitch, time, and duration: what note you’re hitting, when you’re hitting it, and how long you’re holding it. Those three things pretty much make up music, don’t they?

V8 · Feb 28, 2019

So what was Part I about?

My 0.0002c - Mostly, Figuring out what pitch each note represents by using mnemonic phrases. Now they didn't confuse people by notating the bass side of things (Being a guitarist, you'll likely only look at the treble clef).

But it's useful to know there's a bass clef - and the bottom staff in notation starts at G and not E (the treble clef).

Also they're not yet covering #'s or b's - Part II will probably go through that (I'm not skipping ahead).

Anyone tried out the Ex 8 pattern/melody yet?

C C D E | C E D G | C C D E | C (r) B (r) |

Think I've got it right - Sounds a bit like yankee doodle? I dunno, but it is familiar.

CHeck out Part II here

Tuckstir · Feb 28, 2019

Some games , to help with learning the Fretboard as-well as Note identification becuase games are fun