Do you use sheet music

[BOOG]

I always considered “sheet music” to be notes on a staff with a register clef and time signature. Anything other than that, I always thought to be a “song chart” with chord progressions and layout structure.
Am I wrong here? Do most consider anything written out to be “sheet music”?

 

[IamGroot]

I always considered “sheet music” to be notes on a staff with a register clef and time signature. Anything other than that, I always thought to be a “song chart” with chord progressions and layout structure.
Am I wrong here? Do most consider anything written out to be “sheet music”?

sheet mu·sic
/SHēt ˈmyo͞ozik/
noun

1. printed music, as opposed to performed or recorded music.
   "a pile of sheet music"
   • music published in single or interleaved sheets, not bound.

 

[Ric5]

Since the system of standard notation has conventions and devices for providing this information, this is not a problem with the Standard Notation itself. It might be a shortcoming in the score, or it might be a deliberate omission on the part of the editor, possible having in mind the other group of critics that say standard notation is no good because is too prescriptive.
But the solution is simple - it's called a pencil.
Compare these two extracts from two editions of the same piece...
View attachment 3651880 View attachment 3651882

What I was talking about is sheet music the has 75% of the chords wrong and sheet music in the wrong key and tabs that have wrong notes … and the fundamental problem is when sheet music says play a specific note on my 5 string bass I have maybe 3 places to play that note and a 6 string guitar has the same problem, but a keyboard has just one place to play that note.

 

[kjp360]

I can't sight read notation fast enough for most tempos so I prefer Nashville Numbers or Chord Charts if needed. If there are other (even less theoretical than I) players involved I would definitely use the chord charts as Nashville freaks some people out. That said, if there is a singer involved who likes to try a bunch of different keys then Nashville Numbers is definitely my preference...just more convenient. I do wish that I could sight read notation at a decent tempo though.

 

[Weberman]

I use sheet music, but I have a curveball that your poll doesn't necessarily address. I read standard notation for piano, xylophone (once upon a time), and violin, but always played bass and guitar by ear. I can fight through using standard notation with bass, but I just never tried to make it click in my head. It is faster for my lazy self to use tab to get the fingering, and reference the notation to get cues for timing, dynamics, et al. That is if I can't figure it out by ear, first.

One day I'll stop being a turd and actually learn to sight-read on bass and guitar.

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

[bass guitar] For covers, I learn from Rocksmith, others tabs and by ear. I have occasionaly created and submitted "corrections" to others tabs.
For my originals, I prefer audio recordings. I will also create tabs when learning existing songs from my other band members. For the ones we create all from scratch, I do that by ear.
[saxophone] I sight read like a mofo in treble cleff. Still haven't exposed myself enough in bass cleff to make it second nature yet.

 

[lermgalieu]

Didn't vote, because as others have noted, the "mostly" stuff doesn't work for me. I don't know what I use "mostly" - I use whatever is available or necessary for the job at hand. If I need to learn a cover and am having trouble with a riff, I might look at the tab. If someone hands me a notated part to learn, I learn it. If it's Nashville # or a chord chart, that's what I use. No mostly, no preference, although I will editorialize to say that tab is the stupidest thing ever, yet I am often thankful for it.

 

[SLO Surfer]

the fundamental problem is when sheet music says play a specific note on my 5 string bass I have maybe 3 places to play that note and a 6 string guitar has the same problem,

That’s not a problem, that’s a benefit! (IMO)

 

[Ric5]

That’s not a problem, that’s a benefit! (IMO)

Except when you are reading music for the first time on piano you know where that note is, but with a bass or guitar you have to not only read the note but also decide where to play it … for me that can slow me down because more decisions have to be made … each choice changes tone and changes the ease of playing

 

[delta7fred]

Yes for practice and rehearsal (but only until I have it memorised), on stage never.

We are there to entertain the audience not ignore them with our eyes glued to a music stand, Ipad, etc.

 

[SactoBass]

I have been playing for over 40 years. I have toured and currently compose and record for several television shows on major networks. I have never used sheet music, cheat sheets or notes of any kind when performing live. I learn everything by ear to the point that I can play without the need for written notes.

Same here!

I've been playing bass since 1972. I learn by ear and memorize the material. That's the way I have always enjoyed doing it. I only play covers as that is all I'm ever interested in doing.

 

[DWBass]

Charts

 

[BOOG]

sheet mu·sic
/SHēt ˈmyo͞ozik/
noun

1. printed music, as opposed to performed or recorded music.
   "a pile of sheet music"
   • music published in single or interleaved sheets, not bound.

I was just curious. My apologies for splitting hairs.
Now, were the hairs split into breves, minims, crotchets, quavers, or some dotted or semi variant?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Just chord charts, and only the ones I make as I can make them in a size/spacing that is easy enough to read. I’d love to read standard notation but I doubt I could ever do it with any fluency due to my eyes.

 

[BOOG]

sheet mu·sic
/SHēt ˈmyo͞ozik/
noun

1. printed music, as opposed to performed or recorded music.
   "a pile of sheet music"
   • music published in single or interleaved sheets, not bound.

I would hardly call a chord chart a composition.
Again, splitting hairs and not emotionally attached to the idea. Jus’sayin
Things that make me go hmmm when I have too much time on my hands

sheet music
n.
Compositions printed on unbound sheets of paper.

(ref.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.


com·po·si·tion
(kŏm′pə-zĭsh′ən)
n.
1.
a. The combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole.
b. The manner in which such parts are combined or related.
c. General makeup: the changing composition of the electorate.
d. The result or product of composing; a mixture or compound.
2. Arrangement of artistic parts so as to form a unified whole.
3.
a. The art or act of composing a musical or literary work.
b. A work of music, literature, or art, or its structure or organization.
4. A short essay, especially one written as an academic exercise.
5. Law A settlement whereby the creditors of a debtor about to enter bankruptcy agree, in return for somefinancial consideration, usually proffered immediately, to the discharge of their respective claims on receipt ofpayment which is in a lesser amount than that actually owed on the claim.
6. Linguistics The formation of compounds from separate words.
7. Printing Typesetting.
[Middle English composicioun, from Old French composition, from Latin compositiō, compositiōn-,from compositus, past participle of compōnere, to put together; see component.]

 

[klokker]

I can read notation decent enough for piano and vocal things, but virtually never use it for bass. Chord charts very rarely. In the band I use sheet music to save time covering harmonies on several of our songs. But again, very rarely any kind of paper or ipad anything for bass.

Once in a while one of our band members might have a chord chart available for a song I don't know, so I can play off that, but again, almost never.

 

[IamGroot]

Except when you are reading music for the first time on piano you know where that note is, but with a bass or guitar you have to not only read the note but also decide where to play it … for me that can slow me down because more decisions have to be made … each choice changes tone and changes the ease of playing

There is an art to sight reading....you scan the music and plan your attack. For pros, its a split second decision.

 

[Ric5]

There is an art to sight reading....you scan the music and plan your attack. For pros, its a split second decision.

I don't read very often so for me it is slower … so use music to learn but never to preform

 

[dbsfgyd1]

"Sheet Music" includes any written, printed, or digital nonaudible media for communicating the performance or analysis of music

"Use" shall be construed to mean "for performance, study, analysis, or archival purposes

Sheet music is a tremendous time saver to learn material and arrangements. Over all of the other options, it is the most efficient, which is why it’s been around for as long as it has. It does not need to to be a crutch, and in certain cases you don’t need to play the ink 100%.

 

[Tommyc]

If it’s only a riff or 5 minutes every day but usually more, I try to read something. Unlike many here, I don’t like to hear what I want to play. I want to find what’s unfamiliar and bring it to life. Like Segovia said, “I try to be like Lazarus and raise the dead.” What he meant was looking at marks on a page and raising those dead marks to life. With reading the unfamiliar too, you’re given the opportunity to own it. The way you’re grooving it is yours.