Reading Guitar Notes For Beginners - Learn The �How To� And �Why�
Hey there, Tomas Michaud here with Real Guitar School. Let�s talk about note reading � reading
notes on the guitar so first let me tell you a little bit why I think reading notes is
cool and then I�ll give you some ideas on how to learn the best way possible.
Reading music on the guitar is fun but and it�s also ------- that�s because the guitar
was just not made for reading music sometimes I�ll be playing the guitar and looking at
the notes and my fingers will be going up to the strings and the notes are going down
that�s because you could play the same notes in different places on the string so you can
never tell exactly by their written notation where they�ll be on the guitar. In spite
of that, I think it�s well worth learning to read music on the guitar.
Now you don�t have to be an expert or even a site reader meaning you could just get a
full sheet and play the whole thing but just to get the basics and a little bit competency
will go a long ways and it�s really not as hard as you would think just on the surface
level that�s because like anything else it just takes practice and patience so why
would you want to learn to read music. Well, I�m gonna summarize - it opens a lot of
options for you and ways to learn songs. It also makes it easier to communicate with other
musicians, everybody else does read music and finally it is a lot of fun and it does
build your confidence. So let�s talk about the best way to learn note reading.
Like many things, it works best if you�re systematic about it. You want to start from
a simple and then add on step by step. There are a lot of tips and tricks for reading music
but I�m gonna stick to what works best in the beginning stages. Here�s a basic system
for learning.
First, start with just a few notes. You see I start students with the firs string. The
first open E, F first finger and G third finger do exercises with those basic notes, get comfortable
with it then add the second string then the third string and so on. All the while, adding
some exercises and songs that use the additional notes.
Learn in the open position first � that means the notes that are using the open strings
and the fingers all in the first three maybe four frets. The next position, first position,
second position � leave that till later.
Start with simple note duration. What I mean by that is start with just quarter notes and
then as you progress starts adding eight notes and then integrate some rests and more difficult
rhythmic figures. What I often do with students when they get to a little more complex rhythms
is I�ll have them practice separately by clapping the rhythm first then I�ll add
pictures to the exercise. Use by copy playing to help you learn to get
your fingers around the fret board � that means the teacher or you can watch the video,
will play a few notes and copy it on the guitar. It helps your fingers learn to get around
the fret board but really help through the ear training as well.
Always warm up before you start your note reading practice. What I mean by that do a
simple finger exercise. I usually have students do this in the very beginning stages and I
have more complex one for later but what does that is it helps your fingers get around the
fret board so you�re not struggling with just the mechanics of getting through the
next note.
Practice note reading a little bit each day. It�s important to keep coming back at it
even 10 minutes a day will make a big difference from practicing and let several days go by.
Use a progressive set of materials usually a book or online course. It starts from very
simple songs and exercises and keeps progressing as you add notes. These two books that I�ve
used many times, one is note reading method. It�s a progressive series. Pete Vogel is
the author and the other one is the standard Hal Leonard Book 1 Guitar Method. You could
find these easily online and in your local music store.
Thanks for joining me. Hope to see you again soon.