I would tend to agree with that article. That doen't mean that guitarists can't learn to read well, but standard notation was not created with the guitarist in mind. Also realize that reading ability is a continuem and everyones ability will break down at some point. Not just guitarists but everyones. So at some point every instrumentalist will have to study their music before hand if the peice is difficult enough. After all, what is standard notation? An attempt to put something ENTIRELY auditory (music) on paper (visual). It's going to be imperfect. Want to see standard notation break down? Try reading (or notating) a slow blues solo. If you can't hear it, slim chance you're going to get it right.

Some people get high-and-mighty about being able to site read, but it's one skill in a list of many for the musician. And not the most important. The ear is king. After all, you could LOOSE your eyes and still be a great musician. So develope your reading skills to a level that suits you for what you want to accomplish.

Hey Brian,
I agree. There are many other skills besides sight reading that a musician possesses. Good point!



Want to see standard notation break down? Try reading (or notating) a slow blues solo.



I remember trying to read one of Eric Clapton's blues solos (without even hearing it). The rythms were too complex! Apparently, it's a lot more difficult than I thought.



After all, you could LOOSE your eyes and still be a great musician. So develope your reading skills to a level that suits you for what you want to accomplish.



Again, I agree. Blind Blake was an excellent musician IMO and was blind! That's because of his amazing ability to use his ears!



I will continue to practice reading sheet music while simultaneously learning my level of repertoire.



Peace,
Adrian

Adrian,

I've been doing something similar. I'm classically trained on
piano, so I can read music, but I couldn't apply it to the guitar.
A couple of years ago, I made an attempt to teach myself sight-
reading with the guitar by playing pieces using only standard
notation (i.e. no tab, no chord charts). That was working, but it
was working very slowly. One thing that made it difficult was
that the songs weren't designed to teach reading -- different
keys, not necessarily much repetition (or too much repetition),
etc. Another problem was that I would learn the song and not
need the notation, in which case that song no longer helped me,
as far as sight-reading goes. Eventually, I let the sight-reading
goal slide.

I recently started working on sight-reading, again. This time, I
used an approach with exercises designed to teach sight-
reading. The difference is that the exercises are given "in order"
and with a focus on a given position and key, so it tends to be a
more efficient way of going about it, at least for me. I'm using
the Berklee Modern Method for Guitar, by William
Leavitt. Leavitt also has a book called Reading Studies
which is very helpful.

I'm working on repertoire, too, but I'm doing that
separately from the reading studies.