Are you guys playing by ear or reading sheet music? Is it worthwhile to learn to read notes? Just curious to hear ur opinions.

This topic has been discussed several times. As for me, with the exception of guitar tabs, I can't read a note, but usually, if I hear a song one or two times, I can usually play it. Most of the folks that are performers and can read music, also rely heavily on their ear. I know some folks who can read music extremely well, but if you take that sheet music from in front of them they must stop playing--the songs are not in their head. If you can do both, it is an assett, but if you're limited to just one, and you want to be a performer as well, playing by ear can be highly beneficial.

Good Luck,

Gary

I can read music, but I try not to let it mess up my playing.
DonM www.donmasonmusic.com

Did the classical piano from six to twelve years old, my latest book I believe was "Kuhlau" (Scott should know this), but now my reading is HORRIBLE. I know I have nothing to show you guys but I can tell you that my playing is good enough to got hired by one of the local production studio- and one of the songs got played on Food TV network.

Shameless self justification/promotion aside I think it's good to at least learn to sight read a little bit and know the chord charts for sure. Combined with the hearing, it'll be an awesome combination.

I'm thinking of retaking some of my college music classes to possibly teach pianos to 7-10 year olds.

Chet Atkins told a reporter that he could read music, but not enough to hurt his playing.

I read music, but mostly lead sheets anymore. Left hand has always been a slow read for me. I'm pretty good at learnning by reading while I'm listening to a recording, but can read thru a piece if I have to. I remember most of what I learn (even my church music). I hate reading music or lyrics on stage, but time has taken its toll and now I keep a stand and a ring binder nearby. Lots of stuff I can also pick up by ear, especially if it's standard chord progressions.

There's no question it's more fun to not have to read the music, so it comes down to what you are doing with music, what your goals are, and what your needs might be in the future. If everything points in the direction of NOT needing to read, then forget if.

But if there is either doubt or you have enough time on your hands, then learn how to read... and practice your sight reading. It won't hurt and it could pay off some time in the furture. A big advantage I've enjoyed in being able to read is that I can look at a sheet of notation and immediately "hear" the music in my head.

I think reading is beneficial,even more important is music theory. Learning chord structure will even improve your playing by ear..It is true reading music can be a crutch, but I believe reading is a sound foundation for performing...Some of the seemingly most talented players I know are classical trained, and when it comes to playing pop music and reading chords[understanding chords], they are out to lunch....very strange...I remember college days, the best musicians were the guys like me , that were able to read and understand theory....Learn all you can and apply it in the best way that works for you..When it comes to voicing great alternative chords, reading is a must to understand what makes chords work together..this is very difficult by ear alone..Right Scott?

Either...... Way......Practice....practice.....and more practice....and even then there is no guarantee....its gotta be inside you!!!
You gotta Love it!!!

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 01-03-2004).]

Years ago I did most everything from fake books, either commercial or my own. Then I realized that the songs I was doing didn't sound much like the recordings, so I started learning them from chord charts (usually have to figure them out and make them yourself) and listening to recordings.
More and more these days, audiences expect you to sound more true to the recordings. Of course I still do lots of songs in my "own style", but current songs need to sound close to the way people hear them on the radio. Sight reading doesn't lend itself to this.
DonM

Reading or Playing by Ear? Neither, I play by chords. I don’t like the term music theory because it suggests something that has not been proven. There are certain logical rules that chords follow. There is only one reason why chords adhere to the rules of the road; it sounds good. That’s it. No theory here. It just works that way. This logic allows you to discern patterns that make up harmony, melody, and rhythm. Knowing the rules that chords almost always follow allows me to do the playing by ear thing. After awhile, you will know the sound before you press the keys. For me playing by ear meant that I would have to know the rules and the chords inside out. Playing by ear is just using chords logically. Then again, the same thing could be said for sight reading. Yep, chords are involved in both reading and playing by ear. But it is the ear that is the closest distance between what I am playing and what the listener hears. Just try blaming the sheet music for it not "sounding right".

If you are wanting to play classical music then all bets are off. Scales is the name of the game in that arena. And that is the stage that most music teachers stand upon by tradition.

Floyd

Grubb99:

Here are a couple of links to threads which you might be interested in reading, which I had initiated on this same subject almost a year ago. - Scott
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/005736.html
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/005740.html

Fran, we two GUYS seem to think alike. I agree that a feeling for and knowledge of theory is most beneficial. Learning the left hand bass on accordion at age ten seemed silly, but now I know all the progressions and realize accordion bass is a 5th up or a 4th down; very ingeneous and helpful. Having a 'feel' for the music is even more important. I know so many musicians who can read and play anything, but without feeling. It doesn't matter if or how much one reads, but reading is helpful; understanding is more helpful.

hi all,i always wanted to play an instrument,and lets face it ,its not easy,i have had many second hand instruments over the coarse of many years and i was like a jack of all trades all i wanted was to be able to play 2 or3 songs on each instrument,,by teaching myself with very basic books,then i realised that with a good keyboard i would have it all at my fingertips,so i thought right i will learn piano,keyboard,i just did not realise there was so much to learn,anyway i started and when i realised that most music was in the keys of C and up to 3 sharps and down to 3 flats,so why learn what i will not use,after all how many pieces are there in Csharp or G sharp,i mean you can transpose it if you want,don,t get me wrong i would love to play like our TOP PIANIST on our site but these studied from a very young age and put many many years of hard effort to get there,but for me i,m just happy to be able to play from fake books for my own pleasure,i think that for those that cannot read music,even if they only learn major and minor chords they will be able to get by, and enjoy,mike

Everytime I try to play by ear I get an ear ache

I took organ lessons for 6 months forty years ago. I had played trompone in school before that,so I didn't have much background on keyboards. After a month,I told the teacher to skip the scales and teach me to read a fake book. In 6 months I was playing out.

The downside was that without reading left hand,I was not voicing my chords properly,so I taught myself to read bass clef as well. While I use chords while playing,a little knowledge of reading and theory is useful.

As for playing by ear, I became a slave to a fakebook. I didn't dare let go of my crutch until I started playing along with midfiles. I played over the melody for awhile and then muted or deleted the track.
By developing your ear for intervals,and finger memory,you can have the best of both worlds.

You have to admire guys that can sit in a Glenn Miller type setting and read the charts seeing them for the first time. Al Hirt could do it.

I can read a little. I play mostly from memory and knowing how to run the chords on my sax.

One fellow in high school could read anything you'd put in front of him but he couldn't jam on a Bb blues without the music.

He learned to read first and by ear and such later. It all depends on what you enjoy and what you want to do. I get bored practicing reading.

I play by ear, but it hurts after a while, so I use my hands instead.
Seriously...I, like Brickboo, admire those who can sight read at the drop of a hat. I personally know some trained pianists, who are lost without sheet music, and I can't for the life of me figure out why? I can read the notes if you give me time to figure it all out, but the spontaneity of playing by ear can't be beat.
Anyhoo..just my thots on the matter. btw, my surgury has been re-scheduled for Feb.17th. Hope to see you all back here in the funny papers.