I've been meaning to learn how to read sheet music ever since I recently started playing the piano again, but this time a bit more seriously. Importing midi files into guitar pro and then watching what tangent to press down doesn't do it for me anymore :) takes ages to learn. I have no clue of how to read notes and stuff, I also play the guitar but only using tabs.

So are there any.. uh.. "shortcuts" to learning how to read sheet music, and what about scales, any point to learning them if you are only aiming to playing and not writing music?

I so want to be able to read that Advent Children sheet music posted on this forum..

You could always write down the notes.

Or you could sit down and study the staves over and over... till you are comfortable with the note positions.

Or Treble Clef: (space) FACE, (Line)Good Boys Don't Fart
Bass Clef: I forgot ;_;

You just need to drill where the notes are into your head. Try drawing 5 lines on a sheet of paper, dropping a coin onto that sheet, then naming the note it lands on as quickly as possible.

And scales are EXTREMELY important for playing music. Scales tend to show up quite a bit in songs, and they're really helpful in reading music notes. Basically, if you see the beginning of a scale, you can just play that scale without having to read the next few notes that follow...(make sure you play the right scale, though :P) Plus, they are probably the easiest examples of having to cross fingers, which will come in handy later on.

I see... ok thanks.

You could always write down the notes.

Or you could sit down and study the staves over and over... till you are comfortable with the note positions.

Or Treble Clef: (space) FACE, (Line)Good Boys Don't Fart
Bass Clef: I forgot ;_;

Treble Clef: Space is FACE. Lines are Every Good Boy Does Fine.

Base Clef: Space is All Cows Eat Grass. Lines are Good Boys Do Fine Always

Treble Clef: Space is FACE. Lines are Every Good Boy Does Fine.

Base Clef: Space is All Cows Eat Grass. Lines are Good Boys Do Fine Always

Oh yeah! Haha, that's it! What was I thinking... ;_;

When I learned reading music, I didn't use that kinda systems...
CDEFGABC is American notation (right?)
They teached me with the other one: Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do (So it'd be European Notation...)

isnt do,re,mi,fa,so,la,ti,do thats what i learned and i thought it was japanese @-@ lol o well. Just practice alllooottt.

Okay to revive and old thread...

I've finally got off my ass and looked it over... yeah I'm lazy :P
got a few questions:

1. All there is to it is to see where the note is positioned, and of what type the note is and then you're automatically supposed to know just which tangent to press down and for how long.. right? Right now I'm just stunned that it has to be this complicated?

2. why the hell are there only 5.. err.. "strings" ? whats the reason behind that?

3. Where can I find some useful scales to study? my goal is to be able to play mainly final fantasy songs if that is any help.....

4. Where can I find a sheet music to practice to? Something really simple, I've only just started.

Thanks for this and previous answers!

You dont see the lines as stings. Depending on the position you know what NOTE it is. You are supposed to know how to play that note (what string to hold down where). The sheet music wont tell you.
_________o(F)0(G)________________________________
_______o(D)0(E)__________________________________
_____o(B )0(C)____________________________________
___o(G)0(A)______________________________________
_o(E)0(F)________________________________________
0(D)

0=The note is on the space
o=the note is on the line

There is the treble clef. Memorize that and we will move on ( I got to go soon). Musical alfabet. CDEFGABCDEFGABCDEFGABCDEFG....and so on.That is the same order on which it goes up and down that staff.

Also, buy a begginner bookfor the instruments. It should teach you fingering and how to read the sheet music. I reccommend Essential Elements 2000 (book 1) for the guitar (just because I know it exists and it is good when using the flute). That should teach you the staff for treble clef (I think). Yeah. Tell me when you memorize that. ^

ok cool thanks.. I'll do my best but tomorrow.. too tired now.. I just tried to eat milk and cereals with fork & knife.. :huh:

okok I think I got it somewhat now... I'm too cheap to spend money on music book haha... internet should provide me with everything I need though I think... fingering could be worse though I guess...

so whats the next step?

Next would come the Bass Cleff. I would draw each clef if I could but I can't. The siwrly one is Treblle and the squiggle with the two dots is Bass. That is the best I can say. Honestly, I'm not to good with Treble because my instrument is the flute. If someone else wouldn't mind doing it, please do so. Otherwise I'll push my brains. I really reccommend the books. They are worth it.

ok I think I need to work on actually memorizing what tangent is what note and so on though. I just figured out the system but I think I need to work on learning the actual tones.

ok I got the bass and treble clef thingie, they're always there on the sheet music papers I own. Can't believe you have to read them both at the same though :) I'm having enough trouble reading one of them.

oh I can't spend money on books, I'm buying new tubes for my guitar amp :) thanks for the tip though.

You should sit down and study it like Sepharite said. Especially when you in the bathroom since that is the quietest place. I learn a lot of my lesson in there ^_^;

Well seriously if you want to remember it the easy way (there is no easy way really) you could write down the notes for every song you play. Eventually you'll have it drill into your skull. Good luck. I think by the time I reply you probably remember most of them already.

oh but thats where I read donald duck comics... it's my special time :/

that's an idea... but jesus christ superstar I am so lazy... I haven't started with what I was supposed to do yet.

When I learned reading music, I didn't use that kinda systems...
CDEFGABC is American notation (right?)
They teached me with the other one: Do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do

I'm not sure about the "European Notation" and everything, but I use that same notation for Minor scale memorizing. It's called "SOLFEGE" :mellow:.