Learned to read standard notation for guitar sooner.

20+ years ago in high school I could read music for trombone (bass clef) and flute* (treble clef) easily. When I started to learn guitar about 4 years ago I avoided standard notation and just used tabs.

Now I think tab is fine for contemporary music, particularly if you know the song or can listen to it over and over again to get the rhythm down. And since sheet music isn't available for many newer or somewhat obscure songs it might be the only way to learn a song other than divining it by ear (a skill that escapes me).

I started classical guitar lessons in October and sight reading standard notation is one of the "Big Three" things my teacher assigns as homework. It's not that hard and it is really paying off. I'm getting to the point where I can sit down and in a few minutes play through a piece a couple of times and get the notes, chords, rhythm and voicings figured out. AND I can change strings/positions if I want to change the sound or make the transitions easier.

Of course if you want to play classical you really have to learn standard notation, but it also helps me with other styles.

Do you have a "I wish I would have...?"

*The only kid tougher than the boy who played flute in 8th grade was the boy named Sue.

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I agree. I started on guitar and could read fairly well. Rock music was not in the picture. I had a mentor who really grounded me in modern music when I stared bass playing. I never learned to sight read a bass clef, though I can transpose the notes, all of the timings and coda stuff has left me. My mentor did teach me theory. That transformed me and has allowed me to work in a lot of situations that might have been closed otherwise.

I would love to sight read the bass clef. maybe one year I will make myself so that. I guess it might be a bucket list thing, LOL.

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i wish when i started i actually took lessons.

i wasnt interested in music until i left school, completely self taught and i think im paying for it now. i have never been able to read music, i dont know any music theory, and its holding me back i think.

aso, i wish i learnt left handed, so my strongest hand was fretting.

Back when I started (mid '60s), unless you had a friend or relative casually showing you odds and ends, any formal lessons automatically involved learning how to read. Tablature per se, did not exist and any personal short cuts written above the notes on the piece of music you were studying was taboo.

Nowadays, genuine reading seems to be a diminishing art. I'm glad I learned to read proficiently, kept up with it and still to this day, benefit from it immeasurably. I'm sure I'm not alone with this and urgently recommend learning to read to everyone as it truly adds a depth to one's musical journey and enjoyment which cannot be achieved otherwise.

FWIW, I'm left handed and learned to play right handed. This did give me a "jump start" as all my natural precision was and of course, still is in my left hand. Notwithstanding, the majority of right handed players learned to play right handed and surely, their left hands have no problems with precision fretting.

As always, the above is merely IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

....1) learned to play the piano at an early age when your learning skills are at a high level. Knowing piano proficiently would aid tremendously in playing any other instrument and in knowing music theory.

AND.....2) learned to play the guitar at an early age also.

All those sports oriented things pass when you reach 40+, but music lasts your whole life.

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…spent more time playing with my Dad while he was around. He gave me my first guitar. He taught me more than anyone. And when I was growing up and living at home we used to play all the time. Then I grew up and moved away and we seldom played anymore. Now it’s too late.

Great point. I've always thought about this and it seems to me that dexterity with the fretting hand would be more important than with the picking hand. Having said that, I'm a right-handed person who plays a right-handed guitar. AND it's too late for me to change now.

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

My 'wish I would have' is starting earlier...

I have ALWAYS wanted to play the guitar since a friend showed me how to play 'Daytripper' on his Gibson Melody Maker back in '69 !

But, job, flying, racing, classic cars, girlfriends (too many girlfriends) sucked up not only most of my available Cash, but all of my free time.

I was able to semi-retire last year (age 57) and vowed that I would learn ! My wife bought me my 1st Guitar 3 mos. ago so I am literally at the bottom of the Learning Curve.

I have learned the simple open chords and progressions, memorized the fretboard, am playing scales, learning to strum, palm-mute and finger-mute, can read tabulature and am learning notation and sight reading (not as easy as I thought it'd be). Starting formal lessons this month.

My wife travels 50% of the time,and my internet businesses only require about an hour's attention daily, so I can practice several hours daily. It was a month before my wrist, tendons, fingers and callusses adapted to playing, but that's all good now.

I agree that notation is key to truly understanding music theory, I only wish I'd started sooner.

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
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'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele

Yes, I wish I would have continued classical guitar and keyboards after college

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

I can only speak for myself, but performing since I was 14 I never learned to date. I just picked one and a possible second from the line after a performance. The second was in case the first one didn't work out right. When I became of drinking age, the willingness to buy me drinks was part of the qualifications. This may sound callous, but it was reality.

When I started music at 12 it was for the music and the Beatles and Rolling Stones. After puberty, I found out there were other rewarding aspects to being a musician. I have met musicians who got into music for the chicks and that has always been a turn off for me. Music for musics' sake, please. I did not look the gift horse in the mouth though, and made the most of being treated like a prince for many years.

In closing, you would have enjoyed being a musician earlier. Maybe. Being a kept man is a road to dysfunction, and there are no kept men anonymous meetings that I know of.

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I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz

I wish same like everyone

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Dragon pearl cruise-Vietnam travel-Pandaw Cruise Mekong Cruise

If I had to start over, I wouldn't change anything. Sometimes thinking too much is a bad thing when it comes to music.

Grip it, rip it and enjoy!

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Gary

I always kick my own butt for not learning to read notation and for not taking classical guitar lessons so I could've picked up how to finger pick.

This is the biggest and most important one and one that should be followed by all guitarists:
I wish that I had taken better care of my hands by exercising and stretching my hands and fingers before during and after practicing or a gig.Also in my day job and at my hobbies I used power tools and many of them vibrated or oscillated requiring a tight grip to keep them from running away with you.All of this wear and finally took a toll on my hands and now I'm facing a very long and tedious rehabilitation process and/or surgery. Take care of your hands as they don't have hand donor banks in hospitals like they do for corneas and sperm.

I also wish that I had bought the '61 Gibson SG/Les Paul that I could've gotten for just $450 in 1976 and also the 1964 Firebird VII with a late 60s Marshall 1959 plexi with 100W A&B cabinets and finished in White "Elephant Hide" vinyl with electric blue grill cloth that I could've gotten in 1976 also for a package price of just $1,100.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Hey Guitslinger,

It is a shame that more musicians can't make a living doing what they do. Bummer about those hands, I know what you are saying.

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I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz

At 24 years of age I can't say I have any regrets.. the past 4 or so years have made for a wonderful journey. I began right off the hop learning music theory for years before I even started taking my playing seriously.. learning important scales while monitoring technique & how to use modes, build chords from the ground up and create progressions. I really feel it gave my playing a great grounding to really take off.. a much different learning curve from some of my select friends who are just naturals at the instrument. We all bring each of our own flavours to the table. Being able to jam together has been good for all of us.

I can't believe I have the opportunity to keep playing for another 30 or 40+ years as long as luck is on my side. Find a good Tele or Strat.. you'll have a friend for life.