Reading notes

I am not sure I can even explain my concerns about learning to read music - specifically reading notes - so bear with me

I am clear on where the notes are on each string -at least in the 1st position (1st 5 frets - right?)

When I look at a sheet of music - should I be seeing the note (a "C") or a position (1st fret, 2nd string) or both ?

I find I struggle through the 1st playing and then I move "relatively" because I know where we are going (up or down, x "steps")

This feels as if I am "cheating" because I am not "reading", so much as reacting

What should I be thinking about/practicing ?

Many Thanks

Originally Posted by: jjmatt47
at least in the 1st position (1st 5 frets - right?)[/QUOTE]

Right

Originally Posted by: jjmatt47When I look at a sheet of music - should I be seeing the note (a "C") or a position (1st fret, 2nd string) or both ?

When you look at the note, you should know that it is C. Obviousely if you are going to play it, you'd need to know where it is on the fretboard, so you do both by default.

[QUOTE=jjmatt47]
I find I struggle through the 1st playing and then I move "relatively" because I know where we are going (up or down, x "steps")

This feels as if I am "cheating" because I am not "reading", so much as reacting

What should I be thinking about/practicing ?

No idea what you are trying to say/ask here.

One thing that helped me learn to read quicker was to identify the intervals between notes, and the shapes of those intervals. So if I knew the first note was C, and the next note was a 3rd higher, I would instantly know it was an E, and where I need to go to play it.
I think if you can read notes quickly, it doesn't really matter if you feel you are "reading" or "reacting". The end result is the same.

This is a tricky one. :eek:

What makes guitar unique (and ultimately frustrating,) is that you can play multiple notes of the same octave in several places! Reading music pertains to all instruments, but it starts for many people with the piano. On the piano, every note and it's octaves can only be played in one spot. That's it!

It really pertains to "what" you are playing. For example, middle C on the staff is the 3rd fret on the A string of the guitar (an octave lower then what's played on a piano, as it's transpositional.) You can also play that note on the 8th fret of the E string. It can be tricky to know "which" note to play. I recommend first knowing where all those notes are, then take a look at what you are reading and decide which sounds best with the other notes.

When you are beginning to learn how to read, you typically will learn things in open position as you have already. Once you feel comfortable with a particular passage or piece, try playing it somewhere else on the guitar. From there, decide what you think sounds best and go with that. It's good to practice all the possibilites and from there, dictate what's the most appropriate.

Reading for guitar isn't easy for anyone, but it's a great skill to have no matter what the style or approach you take to the instrument. Hopefully this was helpful. :confused: