Reading Guitar Music Intro

This is what we are learning. All of the tones in zone one [frets 1-5].

Notice that the gray lines separate notes onto strings. The two longer lines (that go up onto the staff) show that the 3rd string is the only string in this position with 2 notes on it.

Take Action

• Notice hollow note-heads are open strings & black note-heads are closed strings. As the map indicates, these note-head types do not correspond to duration (whole notes, quarters notes); rather another visual distinction that can help us.
• Know that the above set of notes is the key of C Major.
• Notice that the 3rd string (string G) is the only string with 2 tones on it (and in a twist of help or hindrance, the 2nd Line is the 3rd string open, & the 3rd Line is the 2nd string open, 'opposites').
• Play the scale from the Low E to the High G (ascending), & then descend (from High G to Low E). When we play, we are converting these notes into sound by reading (playing them). You can use the string & fret number below the letter names above for the conversion. A little awareness on the note-head locations will benefit this process.
• Play it again & say the note-tone name as you sound them.
• Play it again & say note-head location. Visualize the note-head in its location as you say & play. [Low E is minus 4 space; Low F is minus 3 line; Low G is minus 3 space; Low A is minus 2 line, etc.]. Try to do this without the map. Visualize it. See the note-head location in your mind-movie.
• Use your voice [sing the pitches]. This is a natural way to enliven your process. Your voice is on of our indigenous musical instruments.

We can call notes not only by there letter name, but also as low, middle, or high. We've selected which are which for particular reasons, one of which is Middle C, & others normal nomenclature for certain tones (Low E, High E). In most methods, all of the tones aren't lableled the way we've chosen, but it just makes good sense to do do. This way we know we are talking about a specific type of letter name (string & fret location).

We will construct music notation from the ground up with a minimal number of explanations necessary to reach our goal of reading music on guitar.

In this module, we are getting the canvas ready, & will not introduce every symbol that you'll see in music notation. We're keeping this simple & focused.

Music notation is a system of symbols showing musicians which tones to play (note-heads on lines & in spaces), when to play them (rhythm = pattern of beats), & how long they last (duration). We read the symbols, interpret them, & convert them into sounds on the guitar (or other instruments).

The Staff & Clef

Time Signature, Bar lines, & Measures

We place note heads on lines or in spaces. Types of note-heads (filled-in or hollow) & stems (the line connected to the note-head) determine duration. We cover durations in the next Symbols lesson.

The Key Signature comes after the clef & before the time signature. Since we are in the key of C (C is the home tone), this means we are using all naturals [no sharps or flats]; thus, the space is empty. When a piece of music is in a key other than C, you will see one or more sharps, or one or more flats placed in this space. Here is an example for the key of G (one sharp). The key signature determines the family of tones we will use in a piece of music. Please see the Circle of 5ths for all of the key signatures.

Time Signature is a symbol with two numbers stacked on top of one another. The top number means how many beats are in a measure. The bottom number is the type of note that gets one beat. In time, also known as common time, there are 4 beats in a measure and the quarter note gets one beat. Sometimes you'll see a in place of the . There are different font styles too.

Bar Lines divide the staff into beat groupings called measures. Measures can also be called bars [as in 12 bar blues].

Measures are groups of beats separated by bar lines; the number of beats in a measure is determined by the time signature.

Four-Four Time

time, also written as , is just one type of time signature. Really, anything is possible, yet what follows are some basic & commonly used signatures. Again, time signatures define how many beats are in a measure (the top number), & what type of note gets (lasts) one beat (the bottom number). Meter, on the other hand, is the alternation of strong & weak beats (in simplest terms).

The numbers in parenthesis are where you are letting the note ring.

Typically, has a strong-weak-strong-weak meter for the 1-2-3-4, respectively.

Three-Four Time

When a dot is placed after a note, it adds half the duration of the note before it. In time, the half note lasts 2 beats, so a dot adds one beat to the half note (half of a half is a quarter, which is one beat). A dotted half note gets 3 beats [2 + 1 = 3].

Typically, has a strong-weak-weak meter for the 1-2-3, respectively.

Tempo is the relative speed of music, whether slow or fast. When you practice a piece of music, it is a good idea to use a metronome. Click the open metronome button on the right navigation to open a floating window metronome. The tempo names names are listed on the inner band of the metronome.

The true meaning of tempo markings [e.g. Largo or Allegro] is affect [feeling-tone or character of the music].

Durations

Durations are how long notes last. Notes last a certain amount of beats within different time signatures.

The durations above are the same in. Yet, a whole note doesn't fit in a measure of , so it's out! [A whole note won't appear in].

The half note - - fills a measure of .

Counting Practice

Tap [or clap] this rhythm while counting aloud. With all of our exercises, it's a good idea to tap or count the rhythm without the guitar. This way, you understand how the music is supposed to move through time [the pattern of beats = rhythm].

Numbers in parentheses above are not played, but the note 'lasts through' those beats.

We will work with these time signatures and introduce and use others in Exercises.

We can start with a single note. It can act as a of reference for learning to read. The first line of the Staff is Middle E. It can be played on the 4th string, 2nd fret. This is where we will start - on the bottom floor of the staff. We have shown this note as a quarter, yet it can and will appear as different durations (whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc.).

The first line of the staff is Middle E, & it can be played on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Know this.

The first line of the staff is Middle E, & that it can be played on the 4th string, 2nd fret.

From Middle E: when we go down 4 spaces from the first line, we have another E note, the Low E (6th string open). And, when we go up 4 spaces from the first line, we have the High E (1st string open). The Low E is the lowest tone on the guitar in standard tuning. The Middle E can also be thought of as the bottom line. The High E can also be called the top space.

The 3 E's are octaves to one another (they are even intervals [8's] = Space to Line & Line to Space).

One

This middle E exercise is easy and proves that you can read music.

In time, the whole note lasts 4 beats. For the last measure, you only play the note on the one beat, & let it ring for 4 beats.

Two

In this exercise, we are playing in , which means 2 beats in a measure, & the quarter note gets the beat (one beat). Two quarters make a half. In , the half note lasts 2 beats.

It is easy to read music and you just succeeded at it. You can do this.

One

Play evenly. Always be reading ahead [plan ahead]. As you are playing a note that was previously planned, you are thinking about notes to come. If using a pick, consider The Leave [pick to the location where the pick is needed next]. If fingerpicking, use the thumb on the low E and whatever works best on the middle and high notes.

The fancy C after the clef means common time, which equals 4/4.

Two

Play this first with counting aloud, then play it again, counting subvocally. Plan ahead. Be exact.

Again, success. You can recognize three different E's; low, middle, and high. See the note-head locations in your mind. Low E is -4 space, Middle E is Line 1 [the bottom line of the staff], and High E is Space 4 [the top space] = Space, Line, Space.