Can you read music?

jellyroll · February 2017

Whilst I can stutteringly work out pitches and time values on the stave, I am a long,long way from being a fluent reader. Wondering whether it's worth the investment in getting competent. Can you read music? Do you see it as important in developing as a guitarist?

octatonic · February 2017

Yes and yes.

Teetonetal · February 2017

Yes and depends.

Dopesick · February 2017

I could when I played the recorder at school.

Nowadays I know what a crotchet, a quaver, a rest and a treble clef are. I know vaguely the pitch of the notes. Apart from that...not a ruddy clue.

I've never needed it for guitar though - but that's just me and the style I play.

guitars4you · February 2017

Very slowly today - far better years ago when had to do it in various 'dance bands' - but today is barely adequate from a sight reading point of view, but good enough to plough trough at own pace until more accomplished with that particular piece

Not sure it is a necessity as such but surely depends on what you are trying to achieve - Playing 3 chord pop songs in a pub and you'll probably never need it - Playing pro in a pit orchestra for theater work etc then almost certainly required - Not a bad asset to have as and when required - The more serious you are as a player, and the more you can't read, then the more you need to rely on your ear - Nothing wrong with that and maybe not a pure answer to this

Guitar world is full of great players who can't or could not read - but some will tell you to learn to read so it is an asset available as and when required, but also develop your ear - Like many things in life, develop yourself as best as you can

Jalapeno · February 2017

Barely and yes (for playing with anyone other than guitarists)

TheBigDipper · February 2017

Yes and yes. Tab is an imperfect tool. Dots are better in most ways (but not all) - but the biggest benefit to me is the way musicians playing all types of instruments can communicate using dots in a way that tab never can. Try writing out a saxophone part using tab. (Actually, it isn't that easy using dots, is it?)

My sight reading ability isn't what it was when I was a 14 year old classical guitarist, mind...

richardhomer · February 2017

I certainly can't sight read - so I can't really claim to be able to read music, if I'm being honest.

Most players who can't will claim that their self-determined learning has enabled them to become better players and have highly developed ears. I doubt that's really true - they are just trying to excuse their laziness of having not put the 'hard yards' in at an early stage.

stimpsonslostson · February 2017

I can work out standard notation... But I'm far from fluent or a sight reader.
I've been playing lots of mandolin recently so I'm figuring out fiddle tunes, obviously there's usually no tab so I have to struggle through. I'm improving though.

I think tab is a really useful tool & makes guitar accessible for newcomers. (whether this reliance becomes a hindrance as you progress is open to debate).

I'm sure I read somewhere that tab started in the 1300s for lute/lyre players so it's an established part of musical history.

Jalapeno · February 2017

stimpsonslostson said:

I'm sure I read somewhere that tab started in the 1300s for lute/lyre players so it's an established part of musical history.

True. There were all sorts of notations - standard notation as we know it is relatively recent (but still a few hundred years old)

Corvus · February 2017

Learnt to read whilst laid up last year, can read notes a bit slowly. Not good with timing. Not fussed about that though, more interesting in seeing other people's ideas in context, i.e. notes, over chords, or chords over chords, subs etc.
Development - depends on context really as G4U says. For me not essential, I learnt plenty of theory without being able to read, which was the essential framework for me. But there is a whole ton of learning and seeing other's viewpoints to be had by reading so I'd say it's at least worthwhile having the ability to read to some extent.

Roland · February 2017

Can I read music? Like @Dopesick I learned at school, starting with recorder at age of eight. Nowadays I'm not particularly fast at reading. That's partly "use it or lose it" but more to do with ageing eyes.

Do I use it? Yes. I score arrangements for our keyboard/sax player who can read music, but can't transcribe.

james · February 2017

Yes, somewhat, and yes.

I play classical guitar and clarinet so reading music is required there. I also play in a big band, where I get away with playing in a more 'band' way I suppose, but everyone else is reading from notation, especially when new music is introduced.

If the flip side to music is tab, and you learn from tab, I'd still say learning to read music to some level allows you to pretty much play music without hearing it, getting the positions from the tab and the rhythm from the notation.

These days, I'd rather notation, even if I have to work out the chords/notes, as tab seems very lacking in comparison.

UnclePsychosis · February 2017

Flute is my first instrument so I'm "fluent" in treble clef.

I've never bothered reading music whilst playing guitar though. Whether or not you need to depends on what sort of guitarist you want to be.

Sassafras · February 2017

Never really looked into Tab but first impressions are that I find notation easier especially for a piece of music you've never heard. It's also quite a valuable tool for song writing.

fretmeister · February 2017

A bit, and yes.

DaevidJ · February 2017

Not any more and possibly... It would be nice to have the skill again to transcribe tunes I have created. That said I record what I play so have a reference when my overcrowded brain gets fuzzy. Also would be good it I was in a covers band/ ensemble etc

DaevidJ · February 2017

Heh, noticed a few of you played recorder at school... I too partook of said instrument

I wonder how common this is...

Iamnobody · February 2017

I'm learning by proxy. My daughter has started playing piano so to help her I'm going to the lessons and scanning the learning material to keep up. I do think she will overtake me soon though...

BloodEagle · February 2017

Nope, no interest in it at all

DulcetJones · February 2017

Yes, not totally fluent but functional. And yes, it helped me with communicating with other musicians and it broadened my composing skills. Highly recommended.

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Can you read music?

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