2.13 How can I learn to sight read? (by John Rice, jrice@fa.intel.com) (Classical Guitar)
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This article is from the Classical Guitar FAQ, by Joshua Weage (jpweage@mtu.edu) with numerous contributions by others.
2.13 How can I learn to sight read? (by John Rice, jrice@fa.intel.com) (Classical Guitar)
I got these techniques from Randy Tucker, my current teacher. I studied with
two other teachers for a total of 3 years and made zero progress on sight
reading. After applying these techniques, my sight reading is much improved,
and continues to improve. You can develop an understanding of the fretboard
in couple of months. More importantly, this understanding is self-nuturing.
Meaning, it makes it easier to learn more music, which reinforces your
understanding of the instrument, which makes it easier to learn more
music....
I was convinced to begin studies with my current teacher when he gave me
the following quiz over the phone: He asked me my phone number. Of course,
I knew it instantly. Then he asked me the names of the notes of the
open strings. I knew those, but not as quickly. The he asked me the
names of the notes at the 2nd fret. I was basically stumped, I couldn't
do it without a bunch of mental gyrations. The obvious implication was how
could you expect to play the instrument without such understanding. He said I
needed to know all the notes on the guitar like I knew my phone number.
By the way, Randy is the best sight reader I've seen. These are some
of the techniques he used to help himself.
The best way to learn the fretboard away from the guitar. Learning the
fretboard away from the guitar opens up tons of other opportunities to
practice (like in the shower....) and helps you visualize the guitar.
The basic strategy behind all these ideas is the break the problem down
into small, managable chunks.
Learn your fretboard vertically and horizontally.
1. Take some 3x5 index cards and make some flash cards. You will need
12 cards, one for each fret. Put a fret number on 1 side of the
card and names of the notes at the fret on the other side. When
you're through you should have the following:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
bottom (string 6)
F F# G G# A B~ B C C# D D# E~ E B~ B C C# D E~ E F F# G G# A~ A E~ E F F# G A~ A B~ B C C# D~ D A~ A B~ B C D~ D E~ E F F# G~ G C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B~ B F F# G G# A B~ B C C# D D# E~ E
top (string 1)
Learn the notes on the frets in this order.
1. Frets 12, 5, 10 (frets with no sharps or flats)
2. When you have those memorized add frets 7, 3 (1 sharp, 1 flat)
3. When you have that memorized add frets 8, 2 (2 sharps, 2 flats)
4. When you have that memorized add frets 9, 1 (3 sharps, 3 flats)
5. When you have that memorized add frets 4, 6 (4 sharps, 4 flats)
6. When you have that memorized add fret 11 (5 sharps, 5 flats)
Take your time in doing this (you'll spend a lifetime learning
the guitar). Add the next set of frets when you have the others down
cold. If it takes two weeks or more, that's fine. You'll find
many opportunities throughout the day to practice this. As you
do this exercise, you may find that the first frets you tackled
will be much stronger than the frets you add later. You can
prevent this problem by reciting the notes in the reverse order you them.
That is, name the notes on the newest frets first, the oldest frets
last.
When you're able to recite all 12 frets in 30 seconds, starting
at fret 1 and working to 12 AND starting at fret 12 and working
to 1, then move on to the next exercise.
2. Make another set of 12 flash cards. Number each card 1 through
12 as above. On the other side put one of the notes C, C#, D,
D#(E~), E, F, F#, G, G#, A, B~, B. There is no correlation between
the number on one side and the note on the other. They are used
for two different exercises.
Do this exercise at least once a day.Shuffle the cards and flip them
number side up. Name the notes at the fret indicated for each card.
3. Start learning the notes horizontally. Meaning, where the notes
are on each string. Learn the notes in this order:
C G D A E B F# C# G# D#(E~) B~ F. For example, you can
find C at frets 8,3,10,5,1, and 8. Learn them a note at a time,
only adding a new note when you've got the last one cold. Remember,
this is an additive process, recite positions for C, then G and C,
then D,G, and C.... Here's a tip: Given the starting position,
the next position can be found by subtracting 5 for all strings
other than 3. If the position is on string 3 subtract 4. If the
position is less than 5, then the next position will be the current
position +7, unless you're on string 3 then it's +8. For example
string: 6 5 4 3 2 1
C = 8 (-5) 3 (+7) 10 (-5) 5 (-4) 1 (+7) 8
4. Reading: do this in parallel with your other exercises.
Read all the material you can. Read simple stuff. Start with
the simplest material you can find. Tunes like Mary Had A Little
Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle are not too simple. You want to practice
sight reading on material that is well below your ability to play.
Play them at different fret positions eg. 3,5,7,9, dont' stick to the first
position. In fact, if you are already familiar with the first position,
try and avoid using it to some extent to avoid memorizing the tunes.
Method books for other instruments (clarinet, flute...) are good sources,
song books of folk music from the library are good sources too.
When you read, do not stop when you make a mistake. Keep going and
try to keep the rythm. Play as slowly as necessary to play and keep
a steady rythm. When you finish a tune, go on to the next. Go through
all the tunes you have, until you run out time or until you utterly fail,
then start over. The importance of keeping going when you make a mistake
can't be overemphasized. You don't want to memorize the piece. Also,
keeping the beat is critical. Drop the odd note if you have to ,
but keep going in time with the rythm. The ear will quickly forget a flubbed
note if you're able to keep the beat.
5. Rythm Studies: do this in parallel with your other exercises.
Many people (me especially...) have trouble site reading not because
they don't recognize the notes, but because they don't recognize
the rythm.
Using your simple songs, clap the rythms. Meaning, put your guitar
down, and instead of plucking the notes, clap the notes. An execellent
book to do this with is Leavit's "Melodic Rythms For Guitar". It
systematically breaks rythms down and presents exercises. Don't
play the exercises, clap the notes. You can read the exercises
later when your sight reading skills become stronger.
6. For this excersize you will need someones help. Prepare to play whilst
reading some music. Then get someone with a piece of card to cover up the
note(s) you are about to play by moving the card along the score. As you
get better, they should be able to cover up notes further and further ahead
of the ones you are playing. If you can read more than two bars ahead of what
you are playing, I reckon you're pretty much there! But this excercise is not
easy, either for you or the person with the card. The person with the card
must be able to read music to some extent, so it may well end up being your
tutor.
7. Tip: Don't burn yourself out on studying reading. Do some everday,
by structuring your practice to include sight reading. This is
something you'll always do in different ways and with different
material as you advance, so don't wear yourself out on it. Do a litle
every day, and the benefits will accumulate over time.
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