how many of you play an instrument, and of those how many cant read music and play by ear? reason im asking is that ive been playing guitar for over 20  years (by ear) and have recently started to learn piano/organ/synth(drool!!) thing is, whilst im making surprising progress (still amazes me to think "god im actually playing this!!) im doing it by ear. although i cant read music, istill know a fair bit about chord structure etc. is it possible to get good on the keys without being able to read music? anybody here do/done it?  just kinda thinking aloud really,

cheers

chris

I at one time could and did play piano, guitar and bass before a rather nasty accident rendered my left hand rather permanently messed up.  I started taking lessons and learning the piano at the age of eight and picked up the guitar on my own before I was a teen.

 I learned to read music well before my teens as my classical minded piano instructor quite insisted on it.  Rap on the knuckles with a wooden ruler and all that.

I've played with a few excellent keyboard players who couldn't read, though they were the exception. Keyboard is probably the best instrument to have when learning to read or study theory. Everything makes more sense thanks to the way the keys are laid out providing an excellent visual aid. This may be a good time for you to work on reading skills.

I'm primarly a bass player and can read though I don't use it for much other than method books and the odd song that's too complex to easily play by ear.

I prefer playing by ear, but I can read notes. I feel more free when a throw away the notes, but I usually look at the notes before I play. Of course, it depends on what kind of music you play. I sing in a choir as well, there I really need the notes!!

I just can't do it. I can't even tune up my guitar without an electronic tuner. RobJ stole those talents in the gene pool. It's tabs and chord books for me. I can tell if a notes is off, I have trouble with sharps and flats. My wife picks up on stuff pretty easy, though.

Look at eddie van halen...

music is art, remember that, and sometimes the theory comes along with the empiric knowledge; you must feel the instrument, and then get to the technical side. i suggest you to learn how to read music in order to improve your playing and get a wider world at your fingertips. If you manage both worlds, you'll even improve the understanding of music and playing, good luck.

In any case, enjoy your music and the moment you are having with it, is a worderful thing to play an instrument

peace

danbo wrote: It's tabs and chord books for me. I can tell if a notes is off, I have trouble with sharps and flats. My wife picks up on stuff pretty easy, though.

I assume you meant that you can't hear when a note is off? If so, I find that interesting, I know you can sing in tune and that tells me you can hear accidentals just fine or your singing would be off as well. Perhaps it's a confidence thing?

Yer probably right, as usual.

arqwave wrote: Look at eddie van halen... music is art, remember that, and sometimes the theory comes along with the empiric knowledge; you must feel the instrument, and then get to the technical side. i suggest you to learn how to read music in order to improve your playing and get a wider world at your fingertips. If you manage both worlds, you'll even improve the understanding of music and playing, good luck. In any case, enjoy your music and the moment you are having with it, is a worderful thing to play an instrument peace

I will have to disagree with you. Although Eddie, one of the greatest guitarists ever, learned to play with little in the way of formal lessons, his talent comes not simply because he 'feels the music', but instead it comes from years of practice. He also has the ability to learn; ie. Eddie can figure out a chord, derive the seventh, the major seventh, the minor, and then be able to solo from those notes. However, when he is playing, I notice most of his notes are diatonic (within the boundaries of the chord tones), and rarely forages outside his changes. If, however, he had taken formal training, he would likely be able to perform changes much more frequently. There is no question that Eddie is fast, but he simply does not have the panache of other guitarists like, say, Malmsteen. therefore my thesis is that musical theory is quite often necessary for soloing to happen.

ps. you spelled empirical wrong