As both a guitar teacher and student I have experienced a constant debate between guitarists as to whether sheet music is needed to be a modern guitarist or whether we can now just rely on tablature. Both have their pros and cons, but both are still used greatly throughout the guitarist community.
For those of you that may not know what tablature or sheet music is, here is a quick rundown.
For those of you that may not know what tablature or sheet music is, here is a quick rundown.
Sheet Music: Is the traditional, western form of writing music. It is sometimes called music notation and looks like this.
Sheet music works by having different shapes represent different rhythmic values, which tell us how long to play a note. Depending on what line or space that shape is placed on in the musical staff tells us what note to play
Sheet music works by having different shapes represent different rhythmic values, which tell us how long to play a note. Depending on what line or space that shape is placed on in the musical staff tells us what note to play
Tablature: Also known, as ‘tab’ is a way of reading music, which is specific to the guitar. It works by having 6 horizontal lines, which represent the guitar strings and numbers being placed on these lines, which represent the note that needs to be played. It looks like this.
Tablature is the more common form of reading music known amongst guitarists. This is because it is easier and can often be learnt quickly unlike sheet music, which can take a number of years to learn.
Tablature is the more common form of reading music known amongst guitarists. This is because it is easier and can often be learnt quickly unlike sheet music, which can take a number of years to learn.
Even though it can be easier to read tablature, there are some disadvantages. Some of these include things such as the fact that tablature does not show rhythmic values so it can be hard to figure out how long to play certain notes for. Tablature also doesn't allow us to visually see harmony (chords and how they work), which helps when it comes to composing.
Even though reading sheet music helps us in many ways, some of the greatest guitar players have admitted to not being able to read music notation. One of these includes Jimi Hendrix, who is heralded as ‘the greatest guitar player of all time’. In addition to this much of the way we learn songs is through listening to the music and seeing what the guitarists fingers are doing. This form of learning the guitar has also become very accessible with things such as ‘Youtube’, where a student can watch what a guitarist is playing note by note.
So is sheet music important and necessary?
In my opinion, yes it is and so is tablature. Many players today can shred the meanest guitar solo you may have heard but cannot tell you where a ‘c’ note is on the guitar. Even though reading music notation can be more difficult than reading tablature, once you understand it, all aspects of your playing including technique, improvising and composition will improve. To make the process of learning to read sheet music easier, you might try combining it with guitar tab, For example you might learnt the main riff using sheet music, but the solo using tab. Remember that even though it can be tricky to learn to read music, in the end it is very rewarding.
Alex
Even though reading sheet music helps us in many ways, some of the greatest guitar players have admitted to not being able to read music notation. One of these includes Jimi Hendrix, who is heralded as ‘the greatest guitar player of all time’. In addition to this much of the way we learn songs is through listening to the music and seeing what the guitarists fingers are doing. This form of learning the guitar has also become very accessible with things such as ‘Youtube’, where a student can watch what a guitarist is playing note by note.
So is sheet music important and necessary?
In my opinion, yes it is and so is tablature. Many players today can shred the meanest guitar solo you may have heard but cannot tell you where a ‘c’ note is on the guitar. Even though reading music notation can be more difficult than reading tablature, once you understand it, all aspects of your playing including technique, improvising and composition will improve. To make the process of learning to read sheet music easier, you might try combining it with guitar tab, For example you might learnt the main riff using sheet music, but the solo using tab. Remember that even though it can be tricky to learn to read music, in the end it is very rewarding.
Alex
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