Quickest/easiest way to learn sheet music?

Barfy · #1 01-13-2010, 12:42 AM

I started playing the accordion when I was 9, and stopped playing the accordion when I was 10. Within that period, I recall being able to read sheet music.

Obviously, I can't now.

Several here have said that the ability to read music is the foundation for all things "theory." I'm taking their word for it. Also, I'd really like to compose, because there's endless crazy music in my head and I want it to become tangible before I croak. One day I want to be able to shove a piece of paper with my scribblings on it in front of an oboe player and have him be able to crank out pretty much exactly what I had in mind.

Well, right now I'm an autodidact. What's the quickest, easiest way to effectively teach myself sheet music? Is there a website out there? Software I could download? Something else?

MalcolmAmos · #2 01-13-2010, 06:32 AM

There are hundreds of sites on the Internet that will help with this. Google and see what comes up.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&r...tation&spell=1

IMO the best way to start is with a $4.00 pack of flash cards. When you can flip a card and verbalize the note's name in the same amount of time it would take you to say your name - then and only then are you ready to start reading sheet music. Flash cards can go with you or be left where you eat lunch, watch TV, etc. Have a few minutes of spare time, grab your flash cards.

Next step is reading the sheet music and finding the note on your instrument. Read and play at least once a day. Remember you could read music once, unless you keep reading this skill will again go away. That, IMO is the best advise I can give you. Rust develops very quickly.

Next step is reading a lot of sheet music. Have some sheet music in your brief case, by your easy chair, and read music every chance you can.

Since this is a bass site you might want to start by separating your flash cards into bass clef, treble clef and ledger notes above and below the staff. Take baby steps at first.

Good luck.

Chupacabra · #3 01-13-2010, 06:42 AM

The best way is to get a teacher, they can assess you & direct you in the right way that no web site/software can. Failing that you could learn the notes on the staff - http://www.musicarrangers.com/star-theory/p02.htm shows where to find them. Then start with beginner reading exercises such as

(you need to install the Scorch plugin to use these - it's free)

MalcolmAmos · #4 01-17-2010, 06:20 AM

If you are still around I just found this:

http://www.cyberfretbass.com/reading...dard/index.php

At the end of each lesson there is a button on the right hand bottom of the screen that will take you to the next lesson.

Looks like it has value.

PlanetEarth · #5 01-17-2010, 09:10 AM

Are you talking about learning to read notation as in, just starting to read period - or speaking of honing site-reading skills?

-PE

Jim Campbell · #6 01-17-2010, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barfy

I started playing the accordion when I was 9, and stopped playing the accordion when I was 10. Within that period, I recall being able to read sheet music.

Obviously, I can't now.

Several here have said that the ability to read music is the foundation for all things "theory." I'm taking their word for it. Also, I'd really like to compose, because there's endless crazy music in my head and I want it to become tangible before I croak. One day I want to be able to shove a piece of paper with my scribblings on it in front of an oboe player and have him be able to crank out pretty much exactly what I had in mind.

Well, right now I'm an autodidact. What's the quickest, easiest way to effectively teach myself sheet music? Is there a website out there? Software I could download? Something else?

there are really no shortcuts,so a method book and practice will get you going.......you can get dots from the net,converting guitar tab from guitar/bass mags,transcription books......

make sure you count......i try and sit so that looking at the neck is not practical as the music is on my plucking side.....a teacher is probably a good idea if you can find a good one.....and let him teach.too many want to go from a to z without learning whats between....

there are lots of guys who hang around the tab forum who may be able to help you find material to work on

chanson · #7 01-17-2010, 11:49 AM

Learn to read music the same way you would teach a child to read and write English (or any language for that matter). Start by learning the "letters"- each note on the staff and ledger lines. When I first learned these, I used flash cards. Practice them several times a day. Once you have them memorized them and can identify them, put them into context. This is where you learn to "read"- start sight reading sheet music. There are lots of resources available online but a book will probably be the most useful. The important part to this is to go as slow as necessary for you to play it correctly. Practice this often and don't stop doing it. Don't practice a particular piece too long, or else you'll be playing from memory and not what you're reading. The more you practice palying from sheet music, the better you will become at sight reading. This will help you to "speak", which is writing and transcribing your own music.

Hope this helps. This is not necessarily the correct or best way, but this is what I'd suggest.

Rudreax · #8 01-17-2010, 05:13 PM

Just do it. Find some sheets in a store or online and read through it.

DudeistMonk · #9 01-17-2010, 08:54 PM

Teoria.com will have all the reference material you need, IMHO a teacher to learn to read is a waste.

You need to learn the notes corresponding to the lines and spaces on the bass + treble clefs and how to read rhythm. My instructor had me doing flash cards for the 9 derivatives of the quarter note, by randomly laying them out and playing the rhythm with a metronome. You need to play a lot of sheet music to be decent at reading and if you don't play it often you'll get real rusty.

Really for the theory part you just need to learn the lines and spaces so you can read the chords/scales in examples.