I've played guitar for 7 years but i can't read music? iin?

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22 Comments

I'm 21 now and started playing when I was 14, and I can't read music at all. When I started, I learned where the notes were and what they sound like, as well as all the chords. My mother taught me how to play but she didn't teach me to read music because when I started, she'd not played the guitar for a long time and she was rusty and didn't remember much. When I did try to learn I found it difficult as I've always found it easier listening to it rather than reading, so I knew if I made mistakes or if I was playing at the right speed, so I gave up. I've never felt the need to learn as I've never taken exams for it, I've just played it by ear the whole time. Some friends of mine said I might NEED to learn at some point. Is this normal?

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78% Normal
Based on 50 votes (39 yes)
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Comments ( 22 )
  • SuperBenzid
    10 years ago

    There have been great players that only played by ear. However I encourage you to learn how to read music to realize your full potential as a player. It is limiting to only be able to play by ear or tabs and you will miss out on some great music and knowledge of music theory that way.

    Also most of the great players that only played by ear recommended that people learn how to read music. They themselves came to know it limited their potential.

    Still it is your choice. I started with fretted instruments including guitar when I was 15 and am 26 now. I regret not learning to read music earlier than I did and not spending more time on it. I think you will come to regret it too. Up to you though.

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  • charli.m
    10 years ago

    I started when I was 8 or 9, and played til I was about 15or so. I never could read music. Still can't. I took classes, but I wasn't very good.

    It might help to learn, but if you can play by ear, that's pretty damn cool :)

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  • myboyfriendsbitch
    10 years ago

    All you need is four chords.

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    • charli.m
      10 years ago

      Axis of Awesome are freakin' awesome :)

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  • Jeaneathean
    10 years ago

    Paul McCartney can't read music, if that's any help.

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    • Legion
      10 years ago

      neither could jim morrison of the doors.

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    • SuperBenzid
      10 years ago

      To be fair though the Beatles had George Martin around to read music for them and produce the album. I mean if you have an assistant at all times who is an expert arranger and audio producer then he can fill in for you but I doubt many people have that.

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      • Jeaneathean
        10 years ago

        My point was (and I play guitar to a reasonable standard without being able to read music) that it is not necessary to be able to read music to attain great results and success.

        I take on board what you say. I wonder how different the Beatles' canon would have been without George Martin.

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        • SuperBenzid
          10 years ago

          I think it would have changed a few things. Things like trumpet lines and other instruments added to some of there songs would not be there. As mostly a member of the Beatles would hum the melody he wanted and have it arranged by George Martin so that the instrumentalist would know what to play.

          So without George Martin or some other similarly skilled person it would have been much plainer and more garage band. They still would have been successful but less so.

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          • Jeaneathean
            10 years ago

            Beatles as garage band is an exciting idea.

            I love the Star Club Hamburg recordings as a taste of what they did before they got into the studio properly.

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    • Holzman67
      10 years ago

      None of the beatles could.

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  • Myghoul2099
    8 years ago

    keep it simple when writing songs because you'll have to play them every night for years and years. keep everything simple.

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  • Westone
    9 years ago

    Ive been playing guitar for 21 years man...I cant read a lick of sheet music. Its all in my head man...memory.

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  • RomeoDeMontague
    10 years ago

    Joan Jett did not know how to play either. Not everyone who can play knows how to read the notes. I use to play the clarinet and I was intermediate first year but I never knew how to read. I was never sure how connect notes to symbols to finger movement. In the first year only some of the children hit intermediate. I knew to play after or before trumpets and what movement meant what part of the band.

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  • fsgtOIUSgfouagdfausdbfijdshfis
    10 years ago

    You have to. Please learn. I only say this because you've been playing more than two days.

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  • itsdaenerys
    10 years ago

    This is completely normal. I've actually been playing piano for 4 years and I still can't read sheet music. I just memorize what keys to press on the piano to learn a song. Its kind of sad how with so much technology now a days people who want to learn to play a song don't really need to learn how to read the actual music. They can just look up what keys to press or what string to strum on their instruments. I've wanted to learn how to read the sheet music but I always end up stopping and then forgetting how to read it again. :/

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  • kingofcarrotflowers
    10 years ago

    I don't bother I just use tabs or look up the chords

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  • Idontthinkitsnormal
    10 years ago

    I've been playing guitar for about 6 years now and I can't read music either; I have always used tabs... Or my ears...

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  • BloodRedAndTrue
    10 years ago

    totally normal man, i cant either. just become familar with the fretboard and scales.

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  • Shrunk
    10 years ago

    Yes, many people are like that. I can read music but I can't play it...

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  • Terence_the_viking
    10 years ago

    Cool good luck with that.

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  • [Old Memory]
    10 years ago

    Neither can 50% of musicians. It isn't important at all.

    Infact it's kind of for fags.

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