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ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,328
01/12/2021 1:09 pm

Originally Posted by: meharbrar12I'm notaing on a staff but I can't figure out what the notes are doing rhythmically if that makes sense. Just wondering if anybody has tips when it comes to notating on paper and better understanding what the notes are doing rhythimcally. Or is this something I shouldn't worry about and just carry on writing.


First & foremost, learn how to read music! Lisa has tutorials on this in her GF2 course. I also have lessons on it in my course.


https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=10272&s_id=271


After you learn the basics, then spend a lot of time reading & writing out basic, well-known melodies. The more you practice this skill the better you get at it. I have 2 tutorials of simple, classic melodies that I use for teaching & practicing reading music.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1014

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1024

Having said all that, here's a practical step-by-step guide for how to do it.

1. Write out the notes in order on the staff. Use little ovals on the correct ptiches.

2. Don't worry about rhythm at first.

3. Record the melody so you can just listen to it while following along on the sheet music staff with your finger.

4. Tap your finger in time on the downbeats along with the notes you've written on the sheet music! 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.

5. That will help show you when to draw bar lines, when a measure of 4/4 or 3/4 ends.

6. Go through it again & look for melody notes that land ON the downbeats (the counts of 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) or OFF (or in between) the downbeats. Notes that happen in between are upbeats. It can help to write the beat number above the note (1, 2, 3, 4) or the upbeat (the "and" in between the numbers). That much will show you the whole notes, half notes, quarter notes & eighth notes. You can use the oval you started with & add stems or color in the dots as necesary.

7. If you need 1/16th note subdivisions, then go through the melody again looking for subdivisions between the 1/8th notes!

I also second Carl's advice of seeking an instructor! Dave is a great choice for a GT pro one-on-one lesson.

Hope this helps!


edited
Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor

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