Learning to Read

[NLD09]

A few years ago i picked up the guitar and learned entirely by feel, ear, and tabs.

However I'd like to learn how to read music as it pertains to the guitar. I was classically trained in playing the euphonium (don't ask.) so I can read music in pretty much all clefs and I understand better than basic theory, just not on the guitar. I'd also like to learn to read lead sheets.

What books are out there that'll help me learn? Also do you have any general suggestions?

 

[clearerphish]

Seems to me like all you need to do is learn the notes on your fretboard well and then you can work off any practice exercise for any instrument.

Now I'm no music instructor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

+1

My bro-n-law played the Tuba and was up on his bass clef.  I handed him a bass, told him, "This one is E and it's tuned in 4ths."  The awkwardness of never playing a fretted instrument was the only speed bump.  He flew.....relatively.

If you're looking for music to read and play too, try anything for violin.  The violin and guitar are both in the concert key of C.

 

[dbw]

Hey, I played euphonium in my elementary school band.  Oom-pah-pah.  :headbang1:

 

[stubhead]

"Hearing and Writing Music: Professional Training for Today's Musician" - Ron Gorow
http://www.amazon.com/Hearing-Writing-Music-Professional-Training/dp/0962949671/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252586620&sr=8-1

"The Guitar Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Technique & Improvisation" - Jesse Gress
http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Cookbook-Technique-Improvisation-Softcover/dp/0879306335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252586732&sr=1-1

These are what I start my guitar students on. They're really complimentary, they cover some of the same things but Gorow's book is better for hearing and transcription knowledge, and Gress's book is more guitar-specific (and in some ways has more advanced chord info). Actually, before they spend any extra money I like to start the young ones on a really basic piano book of Christmas Carols, because all the melodies are in your head already and it's a good way to start to associate the bugs with the noises. Depending on your further interests, "The Classical Fake Book" has Peter & the Wolf, Beethoven's 5th, the Billy Tell Overture, and there's an illegal CD-ROM of twelve different fakebooks scanned in floating around with 5,000 or so jazz tunes and standards;

I think it's easiest to learn if you have something to read that's what you want to play, rather than just DIck & Jane books.

You learn to read by playing music that you're reading, not by doing exercises that teach you how to read music, in my opinion. Can you play your euphonium repertoire on the guitar yet? That'll keep you busy while you're waiting for the Amazon order.... :toothy12: My best guitar students have had some piano or band training at some point, and it's just a matter of translation for them, and understanding the relationship between reading & improvising. Gress's book would be right up your alley.

Reading pretty much blows open the doors to an entire world - you'd never be bored again, but your wife might leave you & you can't stay home from work just to play your guitar, OK? OK? :guitaristgif: I could easily spend more on music books than on CD's, if I had it to spend on either.

http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Fake-Book-Second-Books/dp/0793513294/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252587401&sr=1-2