Question about learning to read music for specific instruments

[Digital_Man]

Hello folks. I am in the process of slowly teaching myself how to read music. I have come to the conclusion(that for me anyway)it is going to be a marathon and not a sprint. However, I am pretty determined to eventually be able to do this or at least learn how to play my instruments. I would like to properly learn to read music though.

I have one book that teaches you step by step how to read music(it comes with a cd too but unfortunately no commentary on the cd just beats and blips that I am suppose to follow along with the book). I own a guitar(electric)and a pretty decent Casio keyboard which I do seem to be able to improvise on. Although I don't really know what I'm playing on it it does seem to sound pretty good. Unfortunately my shredding abilities haven't yet translated to my guitar.

Now for my questions. I would like to know how I can translate my general knowledge of how to read music(once I get there)to being able to read music specifically for piano/keyboards and guitar. I do have several guitar chords books and guitar stuff and one keyboard book but I don't know if I can use my general music theory to apply it to those instruments. Also, when you learn one instrument is it easy to translate to another? So I guess what I'm getting at here is is learning to read music a waste of time or should I just try to learn music for specific instruments. I'm not sure how I'll be able to apply the general knowledge to the specific instruments but maybe at one point I'll eventually see how I can. Thanks in advance to those seasoned musicians who can help me figure this out. I don't want to just waste lots of time then still not know how to play my instruments. :p

[bob_32_116]

Being able to read music is extremely useful. having said that, there are plenty of great musicians who never learned to read or write music. It really depends on what you want to achieve.

If you want to know what is actually being played on a piece of music, it's not enough to know the chords. (Ask Pat Metheny.)

I would say the keyboard is the best place to start, because the notes are arranged sequentially, which mirrors the way notes are written on the stave in musical notation. I would start with a really simple tune. Pick one that you already know by ear, or listen to it first until you do - then try to play it on the keyboard from the sheet music. That way you'll hear whether you have it right or not. Preferably something in C major, which is the simplest key on the piano. Having played piano for many years and also tried for s short time with the guitar, I maintain that the guitar is a more difficult instrument to master than the piano. Perhaps the guitar is fine is you want to strum along to "Pretty Vacant", but if the chords or the melodies are at all complex then it's easier to figure out what to play on the Keyboard, and it seems more natural. Higher notes to the right, lower to the left.

I initially thought the standard musical notation was weird, but now having used it for many years I think it's fairly ergonomic. there are some oddities, such as the shorter a note is, the more barbs it has on the stem, and the annoying differences between the positions of notes on the treble and base staves, but you get used to it. If I were given the task of redesigning the notation system, I would tweak it and remove some of the oddities and inconsistencies rather than rebuilding it from scratch.

[Mikhael]

Music is music. If you learn music theory, and know how to read music, then learning any instrument is simply a matter of learning the mechanics of that particular instrument. Standard written music notation is universal; it applies to EVERY western instrument. Learning to read music, and learning music theory, will get you far. For instance, a major chord is made from the 1, 3, & 5 of the major scale. If you locate a C on the piano, and play every white key up to the next C, that is a major scale. The 1rst, 3rd, and 5th notes of that scale comprise a C major chord. If you flat the 3rd (move it down 1/2 step, to the adjacent black key), then you have a C minor chord.

You'll notice that between steps 1 & 2 of the scale, there's a black key (C# or Db, whichever way you want to name it). The move from C to D is considered a whole step. However, from E to F there is no black key; that's considered a half step. So, a major scale is whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, whole-step, half-step. No matter what key/note you start on, if you follow that pattern, you'll have a major scale in that key.

There are only twelve notes in western music, then they repeat. Once you realize that, music theory becomes dirt simple, and useful. When someone mentions "this is a 1-4-5 in C", you'll know that means chords based on the 1, 4, &5 of the C major scale; C, F, and G. Music theory thells you HOW notes and chords relate to each other, and written music tells you what specific notes, and the rhythm.

I'm constantly amazed at how simple music is to understand, and yet the infinite combination of chords and notes that comes from that simplicity. So, learn to read, get some theory under your belt, and one day it'll all click into place. It did for me when I was about 15 or so, and suddenly playing other instruments was a LOT easier. Piano is supposed to be the easiest; all the notes are there in black and white, in order from lowest to highest. Guitar is a little tougher, since the arrangment of notes on the fretboard is a little more random. Plus, you can play the same note on different string/fret combinations (F on the low E string, 13th fret; A string, 8th fret; D string, 3rd fret, for instance). Violin is one of the toughest, since there are no frets to determine note locations, and the fingerboard is so bloody small.

I hope this helps. I know I wrote a lot, but really, reading music isn't hard, it applies to all instruments, and so does music theory. You're beginning a wonderful journey of discovery and personal expression; I know it's been a haven for me in my life, when things around me aren't going so well, and an expression of joy when they are.

[progmatist]

I second the sentiment that it's easier to learn on keyboard than any other instrument. That goes for music theory as well as learning to read. On guitar, the notes are stacked in layers. To further complicate matters, a note can appear in several places on the guitar fretboard, as mentioned above. On keyboard, one dot on the paper refers to one key and one key only.

[WytchCrypt]

I second the sentiment that it's easier to learn on keyboard than any other instrument. That goes for music theory as well as learning to read. On guitar, the notes are stacked in layers. To further complicate matters, a note can appear in several places on the guitar fretboard, as mentioned above. On keyboard, one dot on the paper refers to one key and one key only.

Agreed. Another thing that makes keyboard the best platform for learning theory is the intervals are right in front of your eyes. Complex chord theory is much simpler to visualize (and often play) on keyboard rather than guitar...just look down and you can instantly identify the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 11th, 13th, etc.

Also, tablature is so common for guitar nowadays that investing the months/years needed to fluently learn to read guitar music off the traditional staff is time that could be much better spent on technique, learning tablature, or just having fun! I primarily play by ear, but after years of effort my keyboard sight reading skills are fair, and even though sight reading is not a big part of what I do, the time I've spent learning is always a good investment and leads to something useful I can bring over to my regular mode of playing.

[Mikhael]

Well, learning tab for guitar takes about 5 minutes, so that's not a big deal. I don't emphasize that, simply because even with learning it, guitarists are still ignorant when it comes to any other instrument...

[Digital_Man]

Thanks for the information guys. I'll look through this thread more carefully later.