Some wise words on reading music

[Modern Saint]

I haven't read music for a few years and everytime I go back, I find that I run into the same issues. It becomes a course in mechanics and recognition. I usually return every couple of years and notice that I pick it up quicker but I also noticed that my fretboard knowledge has improved a lot. Yes fretboard knowledge, it is the one thing that I continuously work on. My old instructor (David Oakes) at MI said it best in a thread on a friends FB page.

I always told my students at MI that we tend to keep all the subjects of music separate. The students might in a reading class with me, single string class with Dan Gilbert, a harmony class with Ed Finn and a ear training class with Joe Elliott. At some point all of these separate course need to come together and be one big subject of music. There is no way I could sight read as well as I do without my knowledge of the fingerboard, harmony, single line improvisation and a good ear. I use all of these elements intuitively when reading music. I think that as one is learning and developing their that one skill overtakes another but eventually everything improves at the same time.

So as my theory improves along with my association of harmony and and single string concepts, I noticed that my reading does improve when I return to it. What is also great is the relationship of aural training. Imagine being able to hear the upcoming harmony without knowing what is next. That comes from a lot of listening, theory concepts and harmonic understanding.

Interesting sight to investigate for those interested!

https://sightreadingfactory.com/

 

[Stratguy]

It's an excellent point. I have sung the tenor part in choirs for most of my life, so singing harmony has become so natural for me that I can sing the harmony without the score. At one point, I realized that this would be a valuable skill to bring to my guitar playing. The key is to develop the other skills that your instructor mentioned, until they are as automatic as being able to sing the harmony. I'm still working on it all, and I may run out of life time before it all comes together, but it's fun to go down the path.

 

[Psychotronic]

Doing my best to forget all the theory I learned in college was the best thing I ever did for my playing. It got in the way so much that it wrecked me for a few years. Of course, "forgetting" is likely merely on a conscious level -- I'm guessing some of it's still there in my subconscious.

Still, I wish I were a better reader -- it'd come in handy on some of my gigs.

 

[OGG]

I haven't read a piece of sheet music since middle school.

I doubt that I could site read anything at this point with all of the many years of inactivity and the fact that I am having an ever increasing and alarming battle with cognitive deterioration. I'm at a point where 60 mg of Adderall isn't even making a dent in my inability to focus. I have an appointment later this morning to discuss electro-shock therapy to try and hit the reset button on my brain. Scary shit, but the mountain of meds isn't helping, and is likely causing more harm than good.

Oh shit! Unintentional thread derailment. My bad.

Sorry, I'm a tad preoccupied and completely spun from sleep deprivation.

Carry on.

 

[Modern Saint]

Doing my best to forget all the theory I learned in college was the best thing I ever did for my playing. It got in the way so much that it wrecked me for a few years. Of course, "forgetting" is likely merely on a conscious level -- I'm guessing some of it's still there in my subconscious.

Still, I wish I were a better reader -- it'd come in handy on some of my gigs.

Actually for me theory was the best thing ever. I continue today using it all the time to create new exercises for myself to help understand the fretboard more. The biggest difference is that I have learned to separate playing from theory concepts. Say like at an open jam I will try a theory concept that I just worked on to see if it works. If it does, I will begin to expand on it push the limits. If it doesn't work, I will analyze why it didn't work when I get home. I do not do things as - "oh it is a minor chord so I should play this scale". Minor chords have 3 diatonic modes to work with and that is too much thinking. The tonality of a scale should already be in your head if it isn't, then you are thinking too much. That is partially how I approach things.

I haven't read a piece of sheet music since middle school.

I doubt that I could site read anything at this point with all of the many years of inactivity and the fact that I am having an ever increasing and alarming battle with cognitive deterioration. I'm at a point where 60 mg of Adderall isn't even making a dent in my inability to focus. I have an appointment later this morning to discuss electro-shock therapy to try and hit the reset button on my brain. Scary shit, but the mountain of meds isn't helping, and is likely causing more harm than good.

Oh shit! Unintentional thread derailment. My bad.

Sorry, I'm a tad preoccupied and completely spun from sleep deprivation.

Carry on.

Mojo OGG...

 

[Mark Wein]

I always joke that I didn't start learning to play music until after I left music school but what I learned there was vitally important. I just didn't learn how to apply most of it in a manner that was practical to the gigs I ended up playing.

 

[Psychotronic]

I liken it to something I read about Jeff Beck many years ago, I think it may have even been a quote from Jimmy Page, although I will paraphrase: Jeff Beck is the most brilliant guitar player 1 night out of 7, and on the other 6 he's a trainwreck, because he's constantly pushing what he can do.

I'm no Jeff Beck, obviously, but that idea really inspired me as a kid (still does, actually). I don't think about what I'm going to play, I just go for it. If I fall on my face, so be it, but once in a while I break through to something else. Years ago, I learned what I wanted to learn (theory included), and practiced what I wanted to practice -- now I just play. Period.

I don't give a shit about maintaining my chops or scales or modes anymore. You know who else doesn't give a shit about any of that stuff? 99% of the audience. The 1 guitarist in the back of the room with his arms folded is NOT the guy I'm playing to anymore. The rest could give a shit about what you know, they just want to hear good music played well.

 

[vonbladet]

I liken it to something I read about Jeff Beck many years ago, I think it may have even been a quote from Jimmy Page, although I will paraphrase: Jeff Beck is the most brilliant guitar player 1 night out of 7, and on the other 6 he's a trainwreck, because he's constantly pushing what he can do.
...
Years ago, I learned what I wanted to learn (theory included), and practiced what I wanted to You know who else doesn't give a shit about any of that stuff? 99% of the audience. The 1 guitarist in the back of the room with his arms folded is NOT the guy I'm playing to anymore. The rest could give a shit about what you know, they just want to hear good music played well.

In audience mode, I can't say I fancy a 1-in-7 shot at "not trainwreck", and you can tell Jeff I said so.

 

[Psychotronic]

In audience mode, I can't say I fancy a 1-in-7 shot at "not trainwreck", and you can tell Jeff I said so.

Oh, I don't disagree with you!

It's an extreme example. But, I think the point is that you can only do so much woodshedding, and you need to push yourself beyond what you think you can do in the moment. Doing so in front of an audience carries great risk, but the rewards can be stunning.