Can You Read Sheet Music? (1 Viewer)

[rockaction]

Just curious to see what the answers in here will be. Can you read sheet music? If yes, mark yes, if not, well...no.

Thanks for your participation. 

 

[belljr]

Everyone can read it...

 

[rockaction]

Everyone can read it...

Touche.

Can you understand it when you do? 

 

[rockaction]

Everyone can read it...

Oh, and Dexter Manley wants a word with you

(Am I dating myself there?)

 

[Parrothead]

yes, but i'm pretty rusty..   

 

[John Bender]

Ive played piano since I was 5 (in a few popular new jersey cover/wedding bands as well). Can't read a lick sheet music. I learn using Fake Books (chord plus melody). I can play a Bruce Springsteen song, but anything classical would ruin me. There's an app that lets you look up the chord progression for any popular song. So if there's something I don't know, I just look it up there and play it on the spot. Much better way to "play piano" if it's not your career. But anyone who can read sheet music, I envy. 

 

[rockaction]

Ive played piano since I was 5 (in a few popular new jersey cover/wedding bands as well). Can't read a lick sheet music. I learn using Fake Books (chord plus melody). I can play a Bruce Springsteen song, but anything classical would ruin me. There's an app that lets you look up the chord progression for any popular song. So if there's something I don't know, I just look it up there and play it on the spot. Much better way to "play piano" if it's not your career. But anyone who can read sheet music, I envy. 

That's really interesting. I think you've uploaded non-revealing videos of yourself playing. I assumed your answer was a "yes" when I clicked on the thread to read it.

Cool. Amazing what music informational tools will do, I guess.

 

[John Bender]

That's really interesting. I think you've uploaded non-revealing videos of yourself playing. I assumed your answer was a "yes" when I clicked on the thread to read it.

Cool. Amazing what music informational tools will do, I guess.

I have uploaded quite a few here. I do actually stream piano with vocals on Twitch about once a week to a small audience taking requests from audience. Face cam and overhead piano cam. 

People who can read sheet music are awesome, but generally I've found, if they show up to a party and they're a "pianist" they have to reply "but I dont have my sheet music". Where as my style is more sit down and ask me what you want to hear and what key you want me to play it in. Both are valuable, but I find the latter way more satisfying of a way to learn for people that ever thought about it. 

 

[John Bender]

Also want to give some love to people who can play guitar. I have a few, and tried when my cover bands needed rhythm over keys, 10x harder instrument to play than the piano. It's insane if you have bad dexterity to try and play the guitar. Those guys amaze me. 

 

[Eephus]

Once you've learned, you never completely forget.  The only sight-reading I've done lately was in church on Easter but I was able to keep up with the melody.

The SF Gay Marching Band had a stand set up at a street fair where you could play a brass instrument.  I played french horn for seven years as a kid peaking at second chair All-City.  They didn't have a French Horn but they had some kind of tenor horn with piston valves.  I was able to get sound out of it but the valve fingerings were different so I couldn't play music.

 

[Eephus]

Also want to give some love to people who can play guitar. I have a few, and tried when my cover bands needed rhythm over keys, 10x harder instrument to play than the piano. It's insane if you have bad dexterity to try and play the guitar. Those guys amaze me. 

My double jointed fingers make it really difficult to apply pressure on the fretboard.

 

[[scooter]]

I can read sheet music at an 8th grade level. Anything more than 8th notes and it's just dots and squiggles to me.

 

[In The Zone]

Once you've learned, you never completely forget.  The only sight-reading I've done lately was in church on Easter but I was able to keep up with the melody.

The SF Gay Marching Band had a stand set up at a street fair where you could play a brass instrument.  I played french horn for seven years as a kid peaking at second chair All-City.  They didn't have a French Horn but they had some kind of tenor horn with piston valves.  I was able to get sound out of it but the valve fingerings were different so I couldn't play music.

Fellow french horn player as well. Marching horn during football season for the 1987 state champs.

 

[El Floppo]

I'm the opposite of John Bender... and he mailed it. Grew up playing classical music through HS (HS orchestra) and of course learned to sight read. Started a band senior year but had no clue or ability what to do. Put me at party and I can still play a few measures of a few songs...but yeah- without the sheet music at this point, nada. 

But like John, I am even more lost with a guitar- sheet music or no. Piano is visual, and I'm a visual guy- pushing this plays this sound. Guitars are more abstract for me, cant wrap my brain around strings and two hands doing different things to make sounds.

 

[E Street Brat]

Voted yes,but on a very limited basis. 

Long time mediocre guitarist,songwriter and off key singer.

 

[E Street Brat]

Also want to give some love to people who can play guitar. I have a few, and tried when my cover bands needed rhythm over keys, 10x harder instrument to play than the piano. It's insane if you have bad dexterity to try and play the guitar. Those guys amaze me. 

That's so odd. I've been playing guitar for over 40 years, but can't play piano to save my ###.

 

[McJose]

No

I failed flutaphone/recorder in 3rd grade.

Actually true.

 

[belljr]

Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge?

FACE

 

[belljr]

That's so odd. I've been playing guitar for over 40 years, but can't play piano to save my ###.

Weird, after I broke my hand, I asked my doctor if I would be able to play the piano.

He said, yes 

I said awesome, I could never play it before!!

 

[In The Zone]

I've learned to play multiple instruments throughout my lifetime, mostly when I was younger. Started when I was 6 with piano. Started playing a trumpet  when I was 10 and then a coronet a couple of years later. Switched to the french horn and marching horn in high school. Won 1st chair @ Baptist All State my senior year of HS. Other instruments I've played are a recorder, hand bells, and a little bit on my sister's drum set. She still plays percussion in the church orchestra to this day. I also played in this orchestra about 25 years ago and had the pleasure of playing my french horn along side a future Miss South Carolina.

I come from a musical family. As I said my sister plays percussion and hand bells and use to play a flute a piccolo. My parents, in their 80s,  both still sing in the church choir. My mom plays hand bells as well. My dad can't read music but can play some songs on the piano by ear. He also can play a pretty mean mandolin by ear. He also builds mandolins in his workshop. Here's a video of him and his buddies jamming in his workshop. He's the one wearing pink.

Pop's Jam session

You can see some of his mandolins  in the background hanging up in front of the windows.

 

[gianmarco]

Yes. Sight reading is a strong point of mine.

 

[Ilov80s]

Everyone can read it...

Can they though? I can’t. I don’t know what represents a quarter note or a flat note or tempo.