does reading music really help all that much?

[rider0nthestorm]

hi, i have been playing guitar very consistently for about 3 years now, i dont know how to read music, but i get along fine with tableture and such. I would value greatly an opinion from those who made the transition from tableture to sheet music. does it really change things much?
????

[lameassdude]

Well actually it really does help on your rhythm, and such. It take's a lot of time to learn it.

[j.elohim]

It makes no difference in my opinion... i can read music, but i never choose to. Tabs do me just fine, but if i have to read sheet then so be it.

[reigenborn]

Reading music will develope your musicianship, but Tabs are easier.

[Waysloppy]

Alot of times tabs are wrong...

Also in the "Real" world if you want to be a pro musician, even in a rock band you need to know how to read music. Even if you are not actually reading a part you need to know the theory that goes with it.

If I tell you to play a I IV V iii I progression in E and I want a second inversion on the V chord do you know what to do?

If you just want to rock with some friends you are fine, but if you want to be able to play with other musicians, read charts and arrangements then you need to know how to read music. In the professional music world, those who can't read music are looked at as amatuers and don't get hired for the high paying gigs. I know this from experience. I am a sound engineer/producer in a studio and I am a music performance major in college. I play percussion,piano and guitar.

If you were wanting to perform in a band with me and you couldn't read a part I gave you then I would probably replace you. It is hard to learn to read music on your own though, you would want to take a class.

[Avo]

It is hard to learn to read music on your own though, you would want to take a class.

I am currently learning music theory, I bought the book called Chord Chemistry by Ted Greene. I have some question to tell you Waysloppy and I hope you can help another musician out.

It tells me that I need to know Major scales and its foundation of it. I've been studing the Chromatic scales for quite some time, I'm remembering each note each day and is really helping me at some levels. But, I dont quite understand Chord Formulas, I'm having alot of trouble with it. If you can help me, would you please explain since you went to college for this. I really need some teacher help that has experience in Music Theory.

[Met4lliT00L]

Well, i am a classically trained piano player (9 years), and a classically trained cello player (3 years), and i think making guitar riffs and that stuff is not really affected by reading music or anything. I also rarely look at music to learn guitar, i just look on tabs. So, in my opinion readint music doesnt help that much.

[banjo1735]

Yes, it makes a large difference. As an avid music-reader, you can play songs without ever hearing them, instead of on tabs, where you have to know how the songs go. I taught myself Heartbreaker, Communication Breakdown, and Whole Lotta Love without hearing them.

[Waysloppy]

I am currently learning music theory, I bought the book called Chord Chemistry by Ted Greene. I have some question to tell you Waysloppy and I hope you can help another musician out.

It tells me that I need to know Major scales and its foundation of it. I've been studing the Chromatic scales for quite some time, I'm remembering each note each day and is really helping me at some levels. But, I dont quite understand Chord Formulas, I'm having alot of trouble with it. If you can help me, would you please explain since you went to college for this. I really need some teacher help that has experience in Music Theory.


Pm me with any questions you have so we don't fill the thread up here, I can see what I can do to help you.

[Sezril]

I'm glad I'm just playing guitar for fun. :D

[CaseyStryker]

If you're ever planning on writing your own music then being able to read sheet music is essential. As is learning most of the chords and scales and being able to play in modes. Read a little on music theory and you'll be amazed by how much more enlightened you'll be in the creative aspects of it all.

[Moonshyne]

I would highly suggest learning to read music. You wouldn't believe the benifits of a person knowing how to read music over a person who doesn't. Ever since I learned, I've realized how easy it is just to pick up a piece of music and play it, with out practicing it 100 times before actually getting it. Just do it and get it over with, cause it's definitely worth it

[brainkandy87]

Playing with friends or just small little deals, just knowing tab will get you by. But if you really want to play music, you have to know some sheet music. I can look at sheet music and pick up the rhythm of the song without ever having to go and listen to someone else play it...tab can't do that for you, unless you know the song. If I were to show someone "Yesterday" in tab and they had never heard the song before, it would sound nothing like the "Yesterday" that The Beatles played. But if someone saw it in sheet music and had never heard the song before, they could play it pretty much like The Beatles version, because that notation gives them the timing and rhythm.

[Artanis]

i think for a weekend musician not knowing how to read music isn't that big of a deal you can definately get by.....but like it's been said several times, if you really want to go somewhere with it you just have to learn how it all works. not just how to read but music theory in general.

[salsa_shark]

Yes, it makes a large difference. As an avid music-reader, you can play songs without ever hearing them, instead of on tabs, where you have to know how the songs go.
Yeah, exactly. I find that I have a lot of trouble teaching myself a song from tabs, but if I can get the sheet music to it, it's a lot easier to learn. That said, my opinion might be biased because I knew how to read sheet music before I learned how to read tabs, so that's what I prefer. And lameassdude is right too, it helps your rhythm a LOT, especially if you're not super familiar with the song.

Also, everything Waysloppy said is true too.