Get Adobe Flash player

Learn How To Read Music In 5 Minutes


by Drew Ward


If you want to learn how to read sheet music, it is important to be patient and dedicated. The key trait that all musicians who play in an orchestra or in a band possess, is the ability to play written notes on their instrument. Many will find this a difficult thing to master at first, but playing musical scores will become easier the more one practices.

A staff is a set of 5 lines and 4 spaces where notes are written on. It is essential to know which pitch on your instrument is represented by each line and space in order to play a song accurately.

The most commonly used form of note names is called Solfege which is the usual Do, Re, Mi names. Some countries will use an alphabetical system starting from A to G. This does not typically change the way the song is played, but only what the pitches are called.

The names of the notes also depend on which clef a particular staff is using. The clef literally means key and determines in which range the note is to be played. The Treble and Bass are the two most commonly used clefs. If you imagine a piano keyboard, the Treble range stars from middle C (Do) and onwards, while the Bass Clef range is generally found below middle C.

The next important thing to learn is the different type of notes. The first three notes usually learned by beginner musicians are the Quarter Note, Half Note, and Whole Note.

The different type of notes determine the length of time in which we play a given note. The Quarter Note is written as a black note with a stem and is generally held for 1 beat. The Half Note is transcribed as a white note with a stem and is held for 2 beats. Finally, the Whole Note, which is held for 4 beats is written as a circular note with no stem. Learning how to read music can be complicated at first, but be sure to start practicing using an easier song.




About the Author: