Reading Music

[Hooligan]

I am begining to think I am handicaped by not knowing how to read music. I would like t be able to shw up to practice and play what ever music is placed infront of me. I need advanced notice before I play a song where as others can just show up get the music and go..........Now I know that being an experienced player has much to do with that. I am learning enough chords now that I should be able play most anything out there.

I am hoping that learning to read music would teach me alot about music theory I do not know now. You guys talk all the time about a Bm7sus being the same chord as a A2 or what have you. I want to learn why that is.

Any do it yourself booksx for idiots I can read while I'm at work to help me learn music. I have fret logic that I am reading through now but that isn't going to help with readin sheet music.

[Crossroadsguitar]

It sounds like you are more interested intheory than reading music. There are several people on this board with a lot more knowledge than I, but you chose a good one with fretboard logic.

Once I learned how chords went together and why they were played in a progression it made me a better guitarist.

My advice for reading music is to find the lead sheet to a real simple song and figure out what notes were being played, where they are on the fretboard, and what chord they are played in. It was tedious, but it worked for me. The counting and rhythm only came with playing with others.

Hope this helps

[Brian]

I've been able to read lead sheet altered and extended chords for a long time. I decided to learn to read notation over the last 6 yrs or so and have made some real progress over the last 2 years there. I've found reading opens up a lot of learning and playing opportunities I only dreamed about. One thing that impedes my progress is my ability to play by ear without written music. It is REAL hard to buckle down to read something in notation when I could learn it faster by ear with a recording. Learning to read now will pay off BIG as you learn more.

The theory stuff is easy after some basic rules

[mattd]

Amazon.com: Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory: A Complete Self-Study Course for All Musicians (Book & 2 CDs) (0038081232973): Andrew Surmani, Karen Surmani, Morton Manus: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-G1av1YYL.@@AMEPARAM@@51-G1av1YYL

i reccomend this book here, seems to be the easiest one to learn from. they've got some other products out there, look through them and see what you like the best.

[mattd]

as far as reading music, if you want to learn how then the only way is to jump in and do it. find a book with some easy melodies in it and go from there.

[Hooligan]

awesome, thanks a bunch. I'll add that to my X-mas list.

[Kitty]

Music theory and music notation are codes, just like math is its own code. I really recommend learning theory just because it helps you communicate with other musicians. Of course, they have to know theory as well.

You might look at the "Idiot's Guide" on Theory. I've heard it's pretty good.

Amazon.com: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory, 2nd Edition (9781592574377): Michael Miller: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51upMkw0atL.@@AMEPARAM@@51upMkw0atL on Amazon.

Kitty

[Brian]

I read the (1 & 2 star) reviews on some theory books; Idiot's Guide" on Theory (I don't like calling myself an dummy or idiot; personal hangup), Music Theory Made Easy New Edition (Reference) (Paperback) by David Harp, and Edly's Music Theory for Practical People by Ed Roseman. A teacher I respect has some very good things to say about The Jazz Theory Book By Mark Levine, but common themes in the low reviews for these books is *a requirement* to read, and piano centric. He and the teacher I study under both recommend The Joe Pass Guitar Style, saying it's got a great section on harmony, but if it's like his "Chords" book it's for intermediate players; all notation. Reviews of the Alfreds book Mattd mentioned had pretty good things to say about content and presentation but may still assume you know more than a beginner. One reviewer mentioned checking theory books out from a public library BEFORE buying to see how the author's presentation suits you.

I seem to recall a post back when I first came to the board (from Refin?) about the practical aspects of chord structure in a rules-based explanation, that may be an answer for some of your biggest needs right now. I'll see if I can find it and post a link

[Brian]

...I seem to recall a post back when I first came to the board (from Refin?) about the practical aspects of chord structure in a rules-based explanation, that may be an answer for some of your biggest needs right now. I'll see if I can find it and post a linkI couldn't find the post I thought I remembered so I created a post over in the Wood Shed called Chord Theory Basics (http://gpawf4christ.com/forums/showthread.php?p=35961#post35961). Hope it helps.

[hotraman]

Matt;
I would make the attempt to read sheet music, even if its the treble clef to start.
Music theory will start to make sense as well.