I hear that a guitarist that reads music is a rare thing so I'm curious. Anyone here read music? By "read music" I mean are you fluent enough to sight read?

I can read well enough to eventually figure something out - I know how to map the notes and understand most of the notation. But if you put a piece of music in front of me without the chords I'm just going to ad lib the whole thing.

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

I can read, but not as well as I once did because I don't do it much. If you can't read it is no big deal, until you need to read. Anyone that is even remotely considering the possibility of ever doing some studio work should at least THINK about learning. If you can read a lead sheet it opens up a lot of possibilities.

I dont even read tab.

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Gary

I can read the lyrics

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I studied Classical Guitar for many years so yes, I know how to read music. I'm also fluent in the F Clef as well.

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You dig?

Yes, albeit quite slowly.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

Why not?

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In my opinion Leo Fender had essentially perfected the guitar amplifier by 1964.

I can't sight read anymore - lack of doing it, but I can read music.
The older I get the better I was...

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I can read both regular clef and bass clef but i can't sight read. It's good to be able to do because some books only come in standard notation, no tab.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Yes, I can read treble and bass clef. Played bass in a Union big band in the 80s. Playing pop styles now, I only use rhythm/chord charts...typical charts given to the rhythm section of a big band.

I can read treble and bass......learned to read music before learning to read words......

It is handy and can help for certain types of teaching and definitely for studio/session work but I don't 'demand' it like some session guys I know.

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speak slowly I'm a drummer too!!

And I proudly lack a stick or a kazoo up my arse...........

Yes, I can read treble clef, a throwback to my early years as a trumpet player. At that time I could sight read quickly. I cannot read bass clef and almost never read music to play the guitar...only chords and tabs. Once in a while when I'm unable to figure out a song for the guitar, I revert to reading the music, but it's now a SLOW and infrequent process!

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The quintessential sound of 60/70's R&R:
Fender Tube Amps
Gibson Guitars

Yes, but I cant sight read complex bars, eg, bars full of eighth notes and triplets. But if you gimme about 15 minutes, I cam have it worked out, to a degree.

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former user radio_friendly_unit_shifter

'ello...

Nope, not even with my glasses on. Just tab and chord charts for me.