Topic: do you believe reading notes is necessary? (Read 1545 times)

RexAeterna · « **on:** December 27, 2011, 09:18:27 AM »

don't know if right place, but i always been thinking of this. i always felt out of place cause i do not know how to read actual notes, but i have taught myself tabs and so forth when i first started playing guitar when i was younger, but to be honest never really bothered with them much and always tried things by ear. first song i ever learn by ear was the moonlight sonata that picked up on the guitar while able to play it on piano as well. i don't know how, but i heard it one night and next day when i was playing around i was able to pretty much play the whole thing. just reading tabs or notes just felt unnatural for me. things is i think people look down on others, especially lot of professionals and hobbyist alike when it comes to people that is into music but don't know first thing about reading it. i don't know why though. i personally will continue doing it though and enjoying, even though i have no type of music background or never done a single class in my life. what do you think? do you feel one has to be able to read music in order to be actually considered a musician or to properly enjoy the music?

LFF · « **Reply #1 on:** December 27, 2011, 05:01:01 PM »

Do you need to know English to be a great poet?

I don't think you need to be able to read music to be a great musician but it does make understanding music and playing it much easier.

This guy is an amazing musician and he can't read a single note...

Questhate · « **Reply #2 on:** December 27, 2011, 06:11:23 PM »

Yeah, what Luis said.

Wes Montgomery couldn't read music, and wasn't versed in music theory. Supposedly, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck (early in his career, at least), Errol Gardner, Django Reinhardt are guys that were not very proficient with reading music.

To answer your question, I don't think it's necessary. It certainly helps, but music theory and music writing is primarily trying to academize a more fundamental human intuition. Most people don't know anything about notes, chords, keys, modes, etc. but can point out a resolving tone in a chord progression, knows when the music sounds "sad" (without knowing minor scales), or are jolted with odd time signatures.

rhythmdevils · « **Reply #3 on:** December 27, 2011, 06:22:34 PM »

Quote from: LFF on December 27, 2011, 05:01:01 PM

Do you need to know English to be a great poet?

Do you mean English, or do you mean written language in general? I agree with you, but I'm not sure that's the best analogy because you have to know written language to write poetry. That would be akin to asking if you need to hear or think musically to be a musician, which you do in the more general sense.

Maybe a better analogy would be if you need to know some sort of conventional brush theory to be a painter, or know how to read to be a great orator or something.

Marvey · « **Reply #4 on:** December 27, 2011, 07:09:21 PM »

Musical memory is nice to have. So an understanding of the classical forms. But this mainly pertains to Baroque and Classical. You can still appreciate Mozart and Bach without any of it, but better understanding gives you even a better appreciate of it.

It's like of like amps and DACs. You don't need to know the engineering behind them to appreciate them, but it's nice to know.

LFF · « **Reply #5 on:** December 27, 2011, 07:51:29 PM »

Quote from: rhythmdevils on December 27, 2011, 06:22:34 PM

Quote from: LFF on December 27, 2011, 05:01:01 PM
Do you need to know English to be a great poet?

Do you mean English, or do you mean written language in general? I agree with you, but I'm not sure that's the best analogy because you have to know written language to write poetry. That would be akin to asking if you need to hear or think musically to be a musician, which you do in the more general sense.

Maybe a better analogy would be if you need to know some sort of conventional brush theory to be a painter, or know how to read to be a great orator or something.

There is a lot of oral poetry that needs no written language. A lot of songs can be considered oral poetry with music.

rhythmdevils · « **Reply #6 on:** December 27, 2011, 07:52:15 PM »

hmmm yes good point!

RexAeterna · « **Reply #7 on:** December 27, 2011, 08:15:24 PM »

Quote from: LFF on December 27, 2011, 05:01:01 PM

Do you need to know English to be a great poet?

I don't think you need to be able to read music to be a great musician but it does make understanding music and playing it much easier.

This guy is an amazing musician and he can't read a single note...

dude....i love that guy. i actually had him subscribed once on my youtube account once but something must of happen cause i had my account for years before youtube went through tons of changes and started contracts with WB and so forth. somehow it got deleted. now i can add him back. thanks for the link!

RexAeterna · « **Reply #8 on:** December 27, 2011, 08:33:02 PM »

all good points as well said here! i would have something to say but, me always being a deep thinker all the time trying to find the answer usually ends up as babbling. when i come up with something simple for a response, i'll let you guys know. i just have the tendency to think far too much picturing things in my head for the answer.

rhythmdevils · « **Reply #9 on:** December 27, 2011, 08:39:13 PM »

Holy crap that guy's awesome. I like watching him mumble squinting into the camera just as much as watching him go crazy on the keys.

Author Topic: do you believe reading notes is necessary? (Read 1545 times)

RexAeterna

do you believe reading notes is necessary?

LFF

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

Questhate

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

rhythmdevils

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

Marvey

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

LFF

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

rhythmdevils

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

RexAeterna

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

RexAeterna

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

rhythmdevils

Re: do you believe reading notes is necessary?

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Author Topic: do you believe reading notes is necessary? (Read 1545 times)