Learning to read sheet music can seem daunting to some people, especially those with no prior musical background. Sheet music contains its own little language documented on paper. The key is to find a way to crack the code, read music, and be able to play or sing on the pitch of each note.
If you want to learn how to read sheet music, then you have come to the right place. The following article contains a guide that will teach you how to read sheet music as well as lists resources you can use to learn more about music, in general.
If you want to learn more -- and in one night, no less -- here's a recommendation: Learn to Read Music In One Evening. Who doesn't want instant gratification? If you prefer video lessons, which can be extremely helpful when learning to read music, I strongly recommend Music Master Pro.
The structure of sheet music. Sheet music is set up with a specific structure. The staff of the sheet music is made up of everything you will need to be able to read music. Depending on a variety of factors, the staff will tell you exactly what notes you will need to play. The first thing you need to do is be able to identify the staff.
Lines - Every Good Boy Does Fine
Spaces - F A C E
Here is a picture of a treble clef:
The bass clef - The bass clef is used for the bass and baritone voices and lower instruments such as the tuba, trombone, and sousaphone. The bass clef was created because the notes for these lower instruments would be so low beneath the Treble Clef staff it would be very hard to write music that was easy for players to read.The bass clef notes can be memorized by:
Lines -Good Boys Do Fine Always
Spaces - All Cows Eat Grass
Here is a picture of a bass clef
The key signature: Some notes are flat, some are natural, and some are sharp. Which notes are sharp, flat, or natural will be marked either next to individual notes if they are played as such one or two times through a piece or in something called the key signature if they are played as such throughout the entire piece.
The time signature: Near the beginning of the staff, there is a symbol marking, or a fraction. This tells how many notes per measure will be played. The staff is split up into measures. Each measure is separated by a vertical line. The standard key signature is 4/4 time. It is usually denoted by a large black C.
Notes, notes, and more notes. The fundamental structure of each pitch is denoted by a note. There are plenty of things you need to know about a note before you can play or sing music. The most common things you will need to know is how long to hold each note, whether the note is sharp, natural, or flat, and what the name of each note is so it can be played.Whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes are common in music. There are other types of notes though these are less common. The notes work together with the time signature to determine how many beats per measure should be held. The standard hold for each note is written with the time signature of 4/4 in mind. However, as time signatures change, how long you hold the note will change, as well.
All those funny symbols. There are many different symbols throughout music. Every symbol is important. Based on what symbol you are looking at you may need to play notes or the musical piece in general faster or slower, bars should be repeated, notes should be held, or the music should get louder or quieter.
The left hand of a pianist is used to play the notes on the bass clef of piano sheet music. The right hand of a pianist is used to play the notes on the treble clef of the piano sheet music. One of the hardest parts of playing the piano is learning to read both clefs and play them at the same exact time since piano music is written in such a way that both hands are used to play at the same time. This takes quite a bit of practice until a pianist can truly get the hang of it.
There are many different places you can take lessons. Your local College or University should be able to offer non-student lessons to those who are willing to pay for them. Usually, these lessons cost upwards of $20 per half an hour lesson. You may also know someone in your area that is interested in giving you lessons at a lower rate.
Study on your own. The Internet has given you the opportunity to learn how to read sheet music on your own. Many online music resources go more in depth then this article has. It takes musicians years to learn everything they need to know about music and even then it is a constantly evolving process.
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