Why
Should I Learn To Read Music?
by
Rod Goelz
Beginner
guitarists often question the importance of learning to read music. They question:
"Why should I learn how to read music, when so many of players I listen
to don't know how to read music? It's their fear that learning to read will
somehow strip all the fun out of guitar lessons. But, with the right teacher,
the task of learning to read music need not be a painful one.
It does require an initial discipline, you'll have to stay focused
on achieving your goal of learning to read. Once you pass through the rudimentary
stages of reading music, the reading discipline can be applied every aspect
of your practice routine (learning songs, practicing scales, music theory,
rhythm guitar, etc.) which will result in quicker progress. Quickstart
Guitar doesn't teach the student how to read standard notation for the
simple reason that there are many fine books out on the market accomplish
this skill. In the long run, learning to READ music will make learning to
PLAY music much easier.
The following list are a few of the many reasons the serious
music student should learn to read
1.
Universal Language—Standard Notation is a universal musical language that can
be used to communicate with all “literate” instrumentalists---those able to
read.
2.
Writing Music—In learning to read music you are also learning to write music. Standard
Notation is the shortcut to convey a musical idea accurately.
3.
Precise
Rhythmic Language—No
other system of notation has an accurate way of notating rhythmical values.
Standard Notation deals with accurately notating: a) PITCHES; and b)
RHYTHMS.
4.
Lifetime
Musicianship—Standard
Notation isn’t a quick fix. Rather, it’s a valuable skill you’ll use throughout
your musical life.
5.
Musical
Choices & The Fingerboard—see previous page.
6.
Cooler
Gigs—Generally,
literate musicians are more fun to play with due to the higher caliber of
musicianship. Better players to play with = MORE FUN!!!
7. More Gigs—You’ll be able to accept gigs that require reading (jazz band, etc).
8. CAREER: Higher Paying Gigs—Ideally, the more skilled you are, the more you’ll be compensated for your efforts...ideally.
9.
Transcription—We all learn by imitation. The art
of transcription is a discipline that writes down the sounds our ears
are hearing. The benefits of transcribing
guitar parts from classic recordings are immeasurable.
10. Note-For-Note—Learning player solos "note-for-note"
becomes much easier once you've mastered reading rhythms. The hard task of
phasing the melody within the solo becomes instantly easier.
11. Spend Less Time At Rehearsals---It's a fact, literate musicians
spend less time rehearsing because they are able to identify what's needed,
and make necessary corrections… much, much quicker than the non-reading musician.
As result of spending less time rehearsing, the "literate"
musician spends more time PLAYING music.
12. Improves Ear/Musical Memory—Good readers have the ability of
mentally writing down bass lines. They memorize the specific rhythmic figures
to the song in question. Due to this heightened listening ability, musical
recall is much more accurate than it would be for the non-reader.
13. Learning To Read Is Easy—Anyone can memorize a seven letter
alphabet, connect where those notes fall on the staff to where they lie on
your bass. The only real challenge is in learning all the basic rhythm and
rests. Even so, it’s basic division—whole begat half begat quarter begat 8th
begat 16th.
14. Music Theory—The study of music theory always
done with the aid of standard notation. Tab
deals with fret numbers… whereas standard notation deals scale degrees (learned
easily with the aid of standard notation). Which do you think is more musical: fret numbers
or scale degrees?
15. CAREER: No Tab On The Gig—Enough said!
Taken
from my book; Quickstart Guitar. For more information about QUICKSTART GUITAR
(the book and the class), click HERE!
