Writing is good, if you want to write - depends on how quickly you can translate those thoughts into dots. I learned at an early age, so it's practically a second language.

synthguy wrote: Folks, We'd better learn how to read "Sheet Music" Otherwise we're all in trouble. After all, music is not just a haircut. It's all about the basics. Learn them and then make your own rules.

THAT's what it's all about - learning the rules then interpreting them your own way!

Simply breaking the rules isn't enough, if you don't understand the rules in the first place.

The others are easy - the Treble Clef looks a bit like a g, and has G on the second line from bottom, the Bass clef looks a bit like an F, and has F on the second line from the top - the rest all look like a C, and have C running through the middle of the clef itself (the line may vary).

As a pianist, they still confuse the hell out of me when I'm playing from them or writing in them, tho'

Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle

Battle Ends, And Down Goes Charles' Father.

Never found them any use whatsoever but they certainly stuck in my mind.

Jim Garten wrote: certif1ed wrote: As a pianist, they still confuse the hell out of me when I'm playing from them or writing in them, tho' You should try organ - three staves to work from; right hand, left hand & left foot (not to mention right foot on volume & having to switch Leslie speeds with the left hand as well - it's like driving a car sometimes )

I've never had a problem playing the organ...

...I used to play the organ in my local church.

Not that one, silly... the one with the big pipes and bellows and rows and rows of stops - 3 levels of keys and all the trimmings.

Of course, the first thing I learned to play properly on that baby was Bach's Tocatta and Fugue in D minor

A bottom D through a 32' pipe has to be experienced from the "control center"!!! I'd just like to get my hands (or feet, rather...) on an instrument with a 64 footer...

Mixolydian:

tone, tone, semi, tone, tone, semi, tone

Or:

tonic, major second, major third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, major sixth, flattened seventh, octave

Or all the white/natural notes starting on G

Dorian:

tone, semi, tone, tone, tone, semi, tone

Or:

tonic, major second, minor third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, major sixth, flattened seventh, octave

Or all the white/natural notes starting on D

The first two bits might not be right, but they can be worked out from the third, which is right. In practical terms, the Dorian can be seen as the "minor version" of the Mixolydian, although that's simplifying matters slightly.

In other words, these modes are simply scales started on notes other than the 1st note of the scale.

In the two cases above, dorian=the 2nd note of the scale and mixolydian=the 5th.

It's not a big deal - it's just convenient labels

i can do both as well

you say you've played 40 years without knowing, but isn't that a beautiful thing? it's awesome how one can know nothing in terms of musical theory but still play..

goose wrote: Mixolydian: tone, tone, semi, tone, tone, semi, tone Or: tonic, major second, major third, perfect fourth, perfect fifth, major sixth, flattened seventh, octave Or all the white/natural notes starting on G

mmmmm mixolydian, reading music is like reading a book its just a new way of looking at it.  I've been reading and writing music for the last 13 years now.  The real pain is on the spot transposing

Yup, I read sheet music. And of course, I'm a keyboard player.

My bit of advice is that you should learn. It is very useful in the music world.

I read and write but learned it rather late (mid 20 something). And, I'm a guitar player

Sure, it's not necessary to read/write to be a good musician but it certainly helps and makes life easier. I would probably not have been able to play Bach's lute music without the knowledge of reading music. And, it's so much easier to talk to other musicians and get your ideas across (you don't have to sit in front of people showing/playing what you want them to play).

I had piano lessons from an early age, so I've always been able to read it.  But I don't think it affects your ability to play or write good music.  Friends who can't read music are better musicians and composers than I could ever hope to be.

I can, although I'm not very good, but I'm too lazy to use it. I see no fun in playing songs that aren't mine on a sheet. I prefer to improvise and write stuff, I like to creat something, that's music. But I got that feel I really need to get into it to progress, but well...

I am the only violonist that I know that do not read well music sheets. I am also the only guy I know who play violin, a coincidence... I guess...

Guests wrote: reading sheet is easy to learn and easy to do. the hard part is doing it on sight. that is, doing it fluently, like reading a book. i can read sheet, i just have to decipher each note one at a time. that is not true reading,IMO. the thing is though, yu who admired those who write more than those who read, writing music is easier than reading it. because yu already know the notes and there is no deadline of timing yu dont have to be fluent to write. it's easy! wish i could read well enough to play the song while im doing it though!

There is also a difference in just reading it and immediately knowing which key of a keyboard (for example) or which fret and string on a guitar it is associated with. I mean not knowing "Oh yeah, that's a G, now where is that on the keyboard?", but just putting your finger on the key just like this, without even thinking about the fact that it is actually a "G" you are playing..

I do.

I read treble, bass, and tenor clef..errr....

I learned treble when I started in band playing the alto saxophone.

Later, I learned to read guitar sheet music..which isn't *that* hard..

Then I started double bass and taught myself bass clef...THEN..to tuba..

I can play a little piano... don't ask how I know how to read tenor clef :-P.

And..yeah..If you want to learn modern composition..etc..study jazz theory..it's very important.

Can't read nor write music on paper. I have used my ears for the last 39 years. But then, I am not a professional musician...just play in my spare time.

I read both F and G clef, not so quick as would like, but I do.

It's handy, but not obligatory to be a good musician.

Sweetnighter wrote: Yes'm, I can read and write sheet music. I hate these music theory classes they have out there... they always teach music theory from the classical perspective. Honestly, they teach melodic, harmonic, and natural minor scales/key and never teach dorian. 99% of contemporary music that you hear on the radio that employs a minor scale employs dorian minors. Just kills me. If you want to learn comtemporary music theory, LEARN JAZZ. Major, dorian minor, and dominant keys are crucial, for composing and improvising. The best composers are master improvisers, take my word for it.

It's my experience that's it's best to learn both. That makes you very versatile as a musician. I studied classical piano for about 10 years, but contemporary music and lessons in improvising, and in blue notes and all, sure meant a breath of fresh air for me, and it expanded my musical horizon enormously. Still I'm very happy with my classical background. That's very valuable for any prog musician.

Yes.... very very slowly.

I did start learning around 8 years ago when i first picked up the guitar, then when i quit guitar i forgot everything i had learned. Then in high school when i did music i started to relearn but nothing really stuck. Now i'm going to a music school next year so i'll be relearning it all over again.

I know the rhythm side of things very well (note values, time signatures, polyrhythms etc.), it's just scales and what not i need to memorise. I'm beginning to understand how it all relates (eg. how to determine chords from scales like EbMaj-sus4 or something) and i understand how the scale determines the key signature it's just a matter of memorising it all really.