Musicians and DJs

Musicians and DJs  » Guitar: How To Become A Better Sight Reader

Guitar: How To Become A Better Sight Reader

Why it is hard to read guitar sheet music

One reason why it is difficult for many guitarists to read sheet

music is that you can find the same note on different strings.

It is pretty easy to master the notes on the first four frets on

your guitar but when you reach the fifth fret you have to decide

on which string you are to play a note and you also have to find

the fret. Another reason is that many guitarists look at the

fretboard continually in order to put down their fingers on the

right fret.

Is a good ear your enemy?

Pupils with a good ear, like myself when I was a beginning

guitar student, can develop strategies to find notes without

really learning the exact position on the fretboard. One

strategy is to listen your way around until you will find the

right note on another string. This strategy will of course work

but you will not develop your sight reading skills. A good ear

is an asset but nevertheless you will have to make a conscious

effort to learn the fretboard in order to be able to find the

notes automatically when looking at the sheet music.

How to avoid looking at the fretboard

One reason for always looking at the fretboard is that you are

used to it. The remedy for this is of course to practice reading

the sheet music without looking at the fretboard. Practice this

skill with easy pieces in the first position and pay attention

to correct fingering which will help you finding your notes

without looking.

Do you learn to sight read when you sightread?

When you practice sight reading you have to be aware of the fact

Today's Popular Articles

• Guitar Lessons – Hammer-On, Pull-Offs

• Best Ways To Improve Your Guitar Playing

that you cannot use the same piece of sheet music many times,

maybe just once, else you are just kidding yourself. After

having practiced on a piece of music it is of no use for

developing sightreading skills anymore. You need new fresh

material to work on. Play a lot of easy pieces that you can play

accurately the first time without looking at your fingers.

Hopefully you will find these easy tips helpful when making the

effort to become a better sight reader.

About the author:

Peter Edvinsson is a guitarist, pianist, composer and educator.

He is also the proud owner of the website Capotasto Music with

free sheet music, tablature and learn to play resources for

musicians and music students. http://www.capotastomusic.com