For guitarists, the question of whether to learn to read standard music notation is a common debate. Opinions vary widely, and while I’ve touched on this topic before, it warrants a more in-depth exploration. Having spent years immersed in diverse musical landscapes, from garage rock bands to professional jazz and classical ensembles, I’ve experienced firsthand situations where music reading skills were crucial and others where they were completely unnecessary. This experience has shaped my perspective on when learning to read music becomes a valuable pursuit for aspiring guitarists.
My journey has taken me through various musical settings: the raw energy of teenage hard rock bands, the sophistication of jazz gigs at festivals, the elegance of classical music at weddings, and the structured environment of music school, including jazz big bands and guitar orchestras. I’ve jammed in blues bands, explored improv groups, and rocked out in countless rock bands. Throughout these experiences, the relevance of music reading has been a mixed bag.
There are definitely scenarios where being a proficient music reader was a significant advantage, even essential. Conversely, many situations arose where this skill was utterly irrelevant. Therefore, I believe that the importance of learning or improving music reading skills depends heavily on a student’s musical aspirations and goals. While I advocate for music reading in specific cases, for the majority of my guitar students, I believe their time is better spent focusing on other crucial aspects of guitar playing and musicianship.
It’s a common misconception that music reading is a prerequisite for understanding music theory, harmony, or even the guitar itself on a technical level, like knowing the notes on the fretboard. This simply isn’t true. You can absolutely master music theory, understand harmony, and navigate the guitar neck with expertise without ever learning to decipher sheet music.
The guitar occupies a unique position compared to many other instruments. Historically linked to musical styles rooted in oral traditions rather than written ones, standard music notation hasn’t been as deeply ingrained in guitar learning and teaching methodologies.
This article aims to clarify when learning to read music is genuinely beneficial and when it might not be a necessary skill for guitarists.
When Learning to Read Music is Important for Guitarists
In my experience, there are specific situations where developing music reading skills is highly advantageous, if not essential, for guitarists:
- For Aspiring Jazz Guitarists
- For Classical Guitar Performance
- To Participate in School Bands and Orchestras
- For Music School Aspirations
- For a Career as a Versatile Professional Musician
Let’s delve into each of these scenarios to understand why music reading becomes a valuable asset.
Jazz Guitar Studies
Reading jazz charts, also known as lead sheets, is fundamental to playing jazz, even at an amateur level. A lead sheet provides a skeletal framework of a jazz tune, outlining the essential chord progression and the melody. Chord symbols above the staff indicate the harmony, while the melody is notated on the staff below.
Jazz musicians frequently learn new tunes from fake books, which are extensive collections of lead sheets for jazz standards. Lead sheets are also indispensable in jam sessions or gigs when unfamiliar tunes are called. Guitarists who aren’t familiar with a particular song can quickly grasp its structure and harmony by reading from a lead sheet. Therefore, the ability to read these charts is crucial for anyone wanting to actively participate in the world of jazz music.
Classical Guitar Repertoire
Classical music, in general, boasts a rich written tradition. Unlike many contemporary genres that evolved from oral traditions (discussed further below), classical music has historically been learned and disseminated through written scores.
Classical guitar music is no exception. A vast repertoire of classical guitar pieces exists primarily, and often exclusively, in standard notation. While some collections might offer tablature (TAB) versions, they represent a small fraction of the available music. Any guitarist aiming to explore the breadth and depth of classical guitar music, regardless of their level, must be able to read standard notation to access the majority of compositions.
School Band and Orchestra Participation
Often, young guitarists in middle or high school express interest in joining school musical ensembles such as orchestras, jazz bands, or pit orchestras. In virtually all these cases, the musical parts provided are written in standard music notation. Therefore, even a basic ability to read music, particularly within the first few frets of the guitar, can be incredibly beneficial for these students. It allows them to participate effectively and contribute to the ensemble.
Higher Education in Music
If you plan to pursue music at a college or conservatory level, strong music reading skills are absolutely essential. From ensemble performances to music theory and ear training classes, and even private lessons, you will be constantly exposed to written music. The more proficient you are at reading music, the smoother and more successful your overall experience in music school will be. It’s a foundational skill that underpins much of the curriculum and performance expectations.
Professional Music Career Versatility
The landscape of professional musicianship is diverse. Some achieve fame and fortune in original rock bands, touring the world and performing their own music. For this type of career path, music reading is often not a primary requirement.
However, many professional musicians forge a career by taking on a wide range of gigs to make a living. They might play in various bands, substitute for other musicians, and perform in diverse settings. Often, rehearsal time is limited, and musicians are expected to learn music quickly. For this type of working musician, solid music reading skills are invaluable. They enhance versatility and allow musicians to take on a broader spectrum of jobs, even if reading isn’t always required for every single performance. Having the ability to read music simply opens more doors and provides a safety net when needed.
When Reading Music is Less Critical for Guitarists
Conversely, there are numerous situations where learning to read standard music notation is not a priority for guitarists:
- For Rock and Popular Music Styles
- For Hobbyist Guitarists
Popular Music Genres
If your primary musical interest lies in rock, blues, folk, country, R&B, soul, or any of their subgenres, learning to read music is generally not essential.
These genres trace their origins back to blues and traditional folk music, which were predominantly passed down through oral traditions. Musicians learned by ear, jamming together, and absorbing songs and techniques directly from their peers. Music making was often a communal activity, with families and friends playing together for leisure. Newcomers learned by immersion and participation in these informal musical gatherings.
Even at professional levels within these genres, musicians often learned repertoire and new material through direct interaction and jamming. Musicians joining professional bands were typically already versed in the standard songs of their chosen style. New songs were learned aurally from bandmates.
This oral tradition persisted as folk and blues evolved into rock, country, and soul/R&B. As a result, many iconic musicians who shaped these genres on record were not proficient music readers. They possessed immense talent and deep musical understanding, but sheet music reading was not a core skill for them.
This historical context continues to influence how guitarists in popular music genres learn and play today. Many contemporary rock, country, and R&B guitarists don’t read music. Even those who do may rarely utilize this skill in their professional work.
If you aspire to be a successful rock guitarist in a touring band, prioritizing music reading isn’t the most efficient use of your practice time. Focusing on technique development, songwriting, recording, and mastering rhythm and harmony fundamentals will be far more beneficial for achieving your goals.
Guitar as a Hobby
Many guitar students pursue the instrument purely for personal enjoyment and have no professional aspirations. In these cases, unless they have a specific interest in jazz or classical guitar, learning to read music is often irrelevant to their objectives.
For hobbyist guitarists, developing practical skills like chord knowledge, rhythmic proficiency, basic improvisation concepts, and building a repertoire of enjoyable songs, along with the technique to play them effectively, is a much more rewarding and efficient use of practice time than focusing on music reading.
Ultimately, determining whether to Learn To Read Music depends on your musical aspirations. If your goals involve genres or career paths where music reading is beneficial, then incorporating it into your practice routine is a wise decision. However, if reading music doesn’t align with your musical aims, then prioritize skills that directly contribute to your specific goals and don’t feel pressured to learn it. Focus on what truly excites you and helps you progress on your guitar journey.
