Anyone read music?

[mantis]

I'm back in guitar lessons and re learning how to read music. I feel it's a tuff up hill battle but it's something I want to learn.
I have not read music since 1979-1980.
Do you guys find it necessary? Essential? Waste of time? Know it but don't really use it? Find it useful sometimes?

Curious on how you guys/ girls use it?

[DonP]

No. That's what tab is for.

[Axewielder]

I know enough to be dangerous, and went through a classical guitar phase a few years ago (didn't last). It's useful for sequencing keyboard parts and even drums when home recording (tab won't get you there). I can limp along with it, I wish I were a bit more skilled. It's tough to get over that hump.

[Vass]

I can figure out what's going on if I stare at it long enough. No where near able to sight read. I went back for lessons years ago to better understand scales better, which was useful, but mostly in learning where they fit on the neck than knowing them when I see them.

It's a handicap for sure, but yeah, tab rules.

[Dog Boy]

I'm a decent sight reader. It helps a lot in the task of being a complete musician.

[AAEA]

Started playing when I was 6 and it was classical guitar until i was 14. also, piano too so I can sight read pretty well. however, I don't write my music down so I don't technically fully read/write.

[AAEA]

I would say it comes in handy. not always as most rock n roll and blues is "feel" and not strictly written notes.

[Metal Spawn]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned this old musician joke yet...


How do you get a guitar player to stop playing???

Put sheet music in front of him!

[Force]

I started on piano & brass instruments when i was 5 so after about 8 years of that, i could read it pretty well. Then along came guitar. Apart from the rare use of tab, i do everything by ear. I can figure out sheet if i look at it long enough but what's the point when i can play what i hear?

[shreddermon]

Yeah, I used to be quite proficient. Was originally going to college for music, actually. Many years ago, though. ...Now, I can't sight read for shit. My daughters can read better for their middle school orchestra. LOL

Its a very useful skill, especially when learning an instrument. Wish I still had some of that old skill, but I just don't have the time to dedicate to it. I'm pretty much a hobbyist hack now. LOL

[pianoguyy]

I can read music. But my feeling is----
I play live, which means memorizing the music is the priority. So who cares how the music gets there. Whether it is reading music, tab, or by ear.

[Jayster]

Sometimes, I'll turn on my black lights and surround myself with sheet music Bruckner, Dvorak, Fucik, Grieg, etc... very surreal!

[catzodellamarina]

I had a guitar teacher my first year of playing who taught me tab. My second year guitar teacher taught me how to learn by ear. I still use tab as a reference to play signature or recognizable riffs but for the most part I learn by ear. I took Musicianship I and II in college. I think the most valuable thing I learned at the time was the circle of 5ths. Now I don't remember any of it.

[Texas Crude]

Reading isn't too hard with practice. I find accompanying tab makes for the best of both worlds.

[AAEA]

one picture will make things so easy