Members Virgman Posted February 23, 2012 Members Posted February 23, 2012 I am still slowly working through Modern Method Vol 1. A cool thing I noticed the other day was that while playing one of the little ditties by memory I was not thinking of the fretboard. I was visualizing notes on the staff while I fingered the frets. Very interesting. This must be what happens when you start to think in a foreign language instead of translating to your native language.
Members mosiddiqi Posted February 23, 2012 Members Posted February 23, 2012 You didn't mention the down side: Dreams about Justin Beiber. Paul very kindly sent me some material to help me with sight reading, but I must admit I still don't "get it". Maybe I'm too old
Members Virgman Posted February 23, 2012 Author Members Posted February 23, 2012 Paul very kindly sent me some material to help me with sight reading, but I must admit I still don't "get it". Maybe I'm too old It's like reading a book. You learn what "cat" means. C-A-T. It's the furry feline. You recognize it after you see it a bunch of times and you know where you put your fingers to spell C-A-T on the fretboard. You learn to associate the note on the staff with the fret position. And hold the notes for the proper duration like quarter note, eight note, etc. Just learning to read single line stuff is not enough. You have to learn to read chords too. Learning all the theory stuff about intervals, minor 2nd crap doesn't mean you can sight read on a guitar. If you can get your hands on the Modern Method Vol 1 book, start at the very beginning. Leavitt was a genius in making it simple. I recognize Leavitt for his genius.
Mark Wein Posted February 23, 2012 Posted February 23, 2012 I call it the "collateral damage" of learning to read music. Not only to you learn to read music, you learn all manner of other skills that have more bearing on what most of us do. One reason why I push it as much as I can with my beginning students, even if they just learn how to read in one position and give it up.
Members Pine Apple Slim Posted February 23, 2012 Members Posted February 23, 2012 Reading is a very useful skill with lots of good side effects.I wish I had more time to devote to it.I first learned to read simple one note treble clef when learning fiddle tunes.When I was gigging regularly on bass, I started a bass reading method book which helped tremendously understanding written rhythms.I would get back into a reading practice regime if I ever get back on fiddle, or if I take up bass full time seriously again.What little skill I have comes in handy when trying to work out parts and arrange a tune for my church group. Arranging vocals & breaking down complex piano arrangements into simple parts for upright, acoustic guitar, and clarinet. It really helps to have some clue of whats in the hymn book. But right now I just don't have enough time in the day to work on my reading skills. I spend all my time either (a)just learning & committing to memory the chords and lyrics to songs for my acoustic trio (b)learning surf tunes on elec guitar(not much written down there, working by ear off you tube, this is my "just for fun thing" lately), or (3) trying to keep my chops up on dobro or banjo, just playing what I already know.
Members Virgman Posted February 23, 2012 Author Members Posted February 23, 2012 I want to become a better reader so I can learn new songs off a lead sheet more quickly.
Members BydoEmpire Posted February 23, 2012 Members Posted February 23, 2012 I'm still terrible, but even with my basic abilities, learning to read has improved my rhythm and timing, my picking technique, my ear, and vastly expanded my repertoire in various genres. This opened up a lot of music not written for guitar, which expanded everything. Melodies written on piano or sax don't always conform to guitar-friendly boxes and shapes. I expected to be able to read the dots, but I got a whole lot of side benefits that have been equally as important. Maybe I'm too oldI learned to read when I was 37 (started Leavitt's book when I was 36 and it took 11 months to make it through). Now, I don't claim to be able to sight read anything but the most basic stuff, but it's still incredibly useful.
Members polishpaul Posted February 23, 2012 Members Posted February 23, 2012 Have you ever wondered why some people say "At the risk of repeating myself...."? They only say this if they are about to repeat something they've said earlier, so where's the risk? Total nonsense!! Any, at the risk of repeating myself , a musician can choose between becoming what I call a notation-reader or a sight-reader. I wholeheartedly agree with previous comments here about the benefits of being able to read standard music notation. I'm a notation-reader - I don't play as I read. I can't pick up my guitar, look at a new piece of music and play it instantly. I don't think I'm missing out on any of the benefits which a sight-reader enjoys, though. The best thing about it for me is being able to figure out the rhythms....I just do it slowly. Another thing is being able to see the rise and fall of a melody. I suppose reading isn't for everyone, but I enjoy it.
Members jeremy_green Posted February 23, 2012 Members Posted February 23, 2012 Without the need, it is difficult to prioritize doing it with the consistency it requires to get good at it. I have gone through periods where i could read fairly well... then if i don't keep doing it, it slowly sinks to the sad state it presently resides in. For me, if I don't use it, I truly lose it. The benefits are really too broad to name (fretboard awareness, access, communication, seeing chord tones). Although I am currently in a project where there are charts a flying... so i gotta get back up to par. I LOVE having a reason to do stuff!
Members girevik Posted February 23, 2012 Members Posted February 23, 2012 A cool thing I noticed the other day was that while playing one of the little ditties by memory I was not thinking of the fretboard. I was visualizing notes on the staff while I fingered the frets. I went through that too, when I was required by my jazz guitar teacher to start reading music on the guitar. I started out with the "this is note goes to this fret, this note goes to that fret" kind of thinking. Eventually, I got more into sight-singing each note on the sheet music before playing it. I'm closer these days to the goal of matching each note on paper to a sound in my head, but it's taken effort to get there. I like David Oakes' strategy of using the 5th position on the fretboard as a default starting position - if there are no position numbers (usually written in Roman numerals, sometimes as numbers in circles) or fingering numbers given- or, well, tab written in parallel with the standard notation. It's in his book "Music Reading For Guitar".
Members windmill Posted February 26, 2012 Members Posted February 26, 2012 At one point in the past I was able to read ahead by about two bars, fairly simple stuff but I sensed "the power" that sight reading could give you. I hope to be able to do it again one day. Virg is on the verge of "the power"
Members jonfinn Posted February 26, 2012 Members Posted February 26, 2012 I want to become a better reader so I can learn new songs off a lead sheet more quickly. Cool! Start with lead sheets of tunes you've heard but haven't played.
Members MuyLoCo444 Posted February 26, 2012 Members Posted February 26, 2012 I learned about 3 or so years ago. 'If it's in the space, it spells F-A-C-E. EGBDF(Every Good Boy Does Fine) is on the line'......well for the treble clef anyway, I''ve never studied the F clef, yet.I took it slow when I was starting out. I used the Mel Bay modern guitar method books vol. 1-5. Around when I finished 5, I started taking classical lessons. With that, not only did my sight reading improve, but so did left hand fingerings and note names, which could apply to electric playing too. Feel honored to have gone down that road, even if it's only one of my few advantages in guitar.
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