How long do you think it took you to start reading notation competently?

[icecool]

How long do you think it took you to start reading notation competently?

[Josh Redstone]

I've been at it three years. I'd say I'm competent.
The thing about reading music is you have to keep practising it a lot, or you'll start getting bad at it again, really fast.

[TheDirt]

After a year of doing it "every once in a while" I can read a single note line pretty easily. It helps when I check out what someone's singing, so I can play a couple of the singer's vocal phrases in my solo (and nothing sounds cooler than on the last chorus having the guitar playing the same thing the singer's playing).

BUT, I play classical guitar as well, and reading those multi-note compositions are hella hard because not only do you have to read each note, but then deciding where to play each note and with which finger...

[Led Zeppelin]

Ive been reading over a year now and Im still nowhere near competent, I can read slowly. Rhythm is no problem to me, I just have to take it slow and when I know the moves take it up to the correct tempo. I regret not practicing sightreading earlier on, where you take a piece youve never seen before and try to play it on the spot, it really helps, I know that now.

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by TheDirt
BUT, I play classical guitar as well, and reading those multi-note compositions are hella hard because not only do you have to read each note, but then deciding where to play each note and with which finger...

Haha yeah, its a bizzitch, innit?

Again, the only way to improve is practice, Ive really improved since I started sightreading every day

[chris mood]

I learned to read music notation from the very start, taking lessons as a kid. Back then Tab was not as near commonplace as it is now, most method and music books did not come equipped with tab notation......wich I think is a hinderance to up and coming players. I'm a pretty decent reader, as good as I'm ever gonna be, I can do it good enough to sit down and be able to sight read through a musical, sight read charts , etc......I studied with this one guy who you's to sight read John Coltrane solos. He would turn the music upside down to make it more challenging. Pretty sic.

[griphon2]

Coltrane, upside down,... love it! Charlie Parker, upside down. Even cooler. Try Bach, upside down.

[griphon2]

The quickest way to find out whether you are a competent reader, is to put yourself in the situation. (most neighborhoods have something musical, check it out.) Studio orchestras are great learning experiences. Find one, LISTEN, and learn. I can't stress enough about listening.
Life is listening. You, wish to be heard.