The Song Bird Music

Guitar Sheet Music And Guitar Tab… Which One Is Better?

Being able to read guitar sheet music can prove an invaluable asset in today’s market. We all know that becoming a pro guitarist means entering a very competitive field. You need every advantage you can get, and then some. Before we go any further let’s first answer one basic question: isn’t being able to read guitar tabs good enough? If you’re looking to make a name for yourself or earn a living as a guitar player then the answer would be “no”. This by no means negates the importance of tab, but in a world that is often oversaturated with guitar players, knowing how to read guitar sheet music can make the difference between success and failure. Let’s break things down so we can understand them better.

Guitar Tab

While tablature or tab seems to be a rather recent invention that came along with the electric guitar, the truth is that it has been around for hundreds of years. Even before the invention of the instruments we know today as “guitar”, we see examples of tablature being used usually with fretted instruments such as the lute. Examples of tab in the Western world today date as far back as the 1300’s. In Asia tabs was used even before that.

In today’s world guitar tab is composed of six lines that represent the six guitar strings, four in the case of the bass guitar on which numbers are placed which correspond to the frets on the guitar. Most tabs, tablature, tab formats today do not show you the rhythm. The information presented gives you a clear picture of what strings and frets should be played. The tablature format does not give you information in regards to the notes (pitches) that are being played.

Sheet Music

The sheet music for guitar on the other hand provides you with rhythmic as well as note (pitch) information. This is very important becauseit is like getting a detailed blueprint of a hotrod car. It allows you to see “inside” and understand exactly how the parts work. This is fantastic because you can use this information to fix your hotrod if it breaks down, or build yourself a new one. In much the same way, knowing how to read sheet music allows you to understand and break things down, analyze your favorite artists or composers and use those techniques when building your own material, songs.

The ability to “see” inside the music gives you a huge advantage by allowing you to manipulate and direct the musical flow of your ideas in such a way as to achieve maximum impact. To put it plainly, the ability to understand sheet music will allow you to create and juggle musical ideas with skills far beyond what other musicians posses.

In reality, I don’t think that all can be reduced to a question of guitar tablature versus notation. Traditional guitar sheet music does have its problems when it comes to marking strings and frets to be used. Traditional notation for the guitar does allow for the string to be identified. This, when used in conjunction with the indicated note gives you the fret number. However this tends to fill up the visual space making the notation much harder to read and follow. A combination of sheet music with tablature attached seems to be the best answer. Notation will also allow for the indication of the finger that needs to be used for certain note.

While a combination of notation and tablature will yield the best results, we will focus more on sheet music in this article because of the simple fact that most guitarists know how to read tablature, so it’s the learning of sheet music notation that will set you apart from the rest of the herd.

Learning to read notation… hell or heaven sent

If you understand the benefit of being able to read sheet music but are intimidated by the look and feel of sheet music notation, then take a deep breath and relax because always seem worse than they are. I know the feeling of looking at notation and feeling like you are looking at ancient hieroglyphs. In truth music is not nearly as complicated as it seems at first glance. It just takes a little patience and perseverance to learn but the results are definitely worth it.

You might be thinking that you will never be able to crack the code of notation. Guess I’ll just have to prove to you that it’s not nearly as difficult as you may think by showing you some notation basics right here and now.

Say hello to the musical notes

Sheet music is usually written on staff made up of five lines. You can write notes either on the line or in between the lines. One easy way to remember the notes that are on the lines of the staff is by recalling the following acronym: Every Good Boy Does Fine (E G B D F). This corresponds to the notes on the lines of the staff as read from the bottom up. In order to remember the notes that are in this space is between the lines, just remember FACE (F A C E as read from the bottom up). So now, if you have to tell me what note resides on the fourth space of the staff, as read from the bottom up, you can easily think of FACE and figure out that E is the note we were looking for. There you have it, less than a minute and you already know all the notes that are on the staff. If you just put a blank staff in front of you and quiz yourself over what note lies on a particular line or space, you’ll soon be able to recall them without thinking of the acronyms listed.

Final note

So as you can see learning how to read music is not that difficult, and while it may take a little bit of time to take it all in, the benefits are huge. Stick with it and you will soon see yourself standing head and shoulders above the crowd of guitarists out there.

About the Author

With a vast experience, Ben Dressen teaches guitar and performs in the NY area. Visit him and get a free sheet music and tab classical piece and free tips at his
guitar sheet music
store
classical guitar tabs
.

Luna Sea Tab Guitar Drums Bass score RARE Japanese Sheet music Piano Vocal Jpop $499.99

DEEP PURPLE Book Guide WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE Sheet Music Song Book Tab Manual $285.00

DEEP PURPLE Book Guide THE BEST 191 Pgs 2003 Sheet Music Song Book Tab Manual $170.00

Rare Original 1988 Metal Cinderella Night Songs Guitar Tab Sheet Music Songbook $140.00

KING’S X self-titled Song Book RARE Songbook 1992 GUITAR TAB BOOK of Sheet Music $109.97

RARE ANTIQUE ITALIAN SHEET MUSIC TAB BOOK – Gaetano Donizetti ~ La Favorita $99.99

RARE ANTIQUE ITALIAN SHEET MUSIC TAB BOOK – Vincenzo Bellini – Norma $99.99

RARE ANTIQUE ITALIAN SHEET MUSIC TAB BOOK – Gaetano Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia $99.99

ANTIQUE ITALIAN SHEET MUSIC TAB BOOK – Bellini I Puritani canto e pianoforte $99.99

No Doubt Return of Saturn Guitar & Bass TAB Book Score Sheet Music 2001 Rare $95.95

Throwing Copper – Live – GUITAR TAB/Notes – Hal Leonard Sheet Music Songbook $69.00

THE BEATLES COMPLETE SCORES GUITAR SHEET MUSIC BOOK TAB $67.95

iron maiden tabs songbook sheet music tablature $65.00

Supercell feat. Miku Hatsune Band Score Book / TAB, Sheet Music $58.32

BLEACH OP Band Score Sheet Music Book/Anime,TAB,Guitar $58.32

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits GUITAR TAB/Note Sheet Music Songbook $54.00

GREEK MUSIC BOOK – SHEET BOUZOUKI BAGLAMA + TAB & CD $52.90

TOTO Japan original band score/tab BOX SET sheet music Steve Lukather Porcaro $49.99

Cat Stevens Izitso Piano G-Tab Sheet Music Song Book $49.99

SONG BOOKS SHEET MUSIC TABS PAUL MCARTNEY ROCK AND ROLL $48.70

LEGENDARY BASS GUITAR SONGS TAB SHEET MUSIC SONG BOOK BOX SET $48.95

Legendary Acoustic Guitar Songs (Unnumbered) Guitar Tab Sheet Music $47.32

Legendary Bass Guitar Songs Bass Guitar Tab Sheet Music $47.32

Final Fantasy Guitar TAB 25 Sheet Music Book w/CD $48.42

Final Fantasy series Guitar TAB 26 Sheet Music Collection Book w/CD $48.42

Rare Go Go’s Beauty and the Beat 1982 Guitar Tab Sheet Music Book Songbook $48.00

slayer riff by riff guitar tab songbook tablature sheet music $45.00

iron maiden a real dead one guitar tab songbook sheet music transcriptions $45.00

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI REBETIKA +CD TAB # 1 $44.90

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI REBETIKA +TAB CD #2 $44.90

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI AKIS PANOU +TAB $42.90

Mudvayne: L.D.50 Guitar Tab Sheet Music $41.00

Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream Guitar Tab Tablature Song Book Sheet Music $41.75

Dragon Warrior (Quest) Guitar TAB Sheet Music Book $41.22

Bass Tab White Pages Bass Guitar Sheet Music $39.42

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Stadium Arcadium (Bass… Bass Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $39.42

Coldplay: Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends (C… Guitar Tab Sheet Music $39.42

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Stadium Arcadium (Guitar De… Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $39.42

Jam With Seventies Rock Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $39.42

metal church blessing in disguise tabs songbook sheet music guitar tab $40.00

DOKKEN Songbook 1989 Authentic BASS SUPER-TAB BOOK of Sheet Music 10 Songs $39.97

One Piece Band Score Sheet Music Collection Book/TAB $39.42

Secret of Mana (Seiken Densetsu) TAB guitar sheet music $39.42

Animation Songs With The Guitar! TAB Sheet Music Collection Book / Anime $39.42

slayer seasons in the abyss japan band score with tab songbook sheet music $38.00

The Banjo Picker Fake Book Jigs Reels Tab Sheet Music $37.99

BEST of NEIL YOUNG GUITAR Songbook SUPER TAB Song Book Sheet Music 12 songs $37.77

ROCKSCHOOL HOT ROCK GUITAR GRADE 3 TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK + CD’S NEW $37.11

Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul – Combined TAB and PVG Edition Sheet Music NEW $36.26

AC/DC: Backtracks – Guitar TAB Sheet Music NEW $36.26

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI REBETIKA +TAB # 3 $35.90

Studio Ghibli Guitar TAB Sheet Music Collection Book $35.82

Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle of Wight Guitar Tab Sheet Music $34.68

AC/DC – Bonfire Guitar Tab Rock Metal Sheet Music Book $34.95

Greatest Rock Guitar Fake Book Notes & Tab Sheet Music $34.95

AC/DC Plug Me In Guitar Tab Rock Metal Sheet Music Book $34.95

Gundam BEST Guitar TAB Sheet Music Collection Book $34.92

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI COLLECTION +TAB # 3 $34.90

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI REBETIKA LAIKA +TAB#3 $34.90

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI COLLECTION +TAB # 1 $34.90

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI COLLECTION +TAB #2 $34.50

STEVE MARTIN RARE BIRD ALERT BANJO TAB SHEET MUSIC SONG BOOK W/CD $33.95

PRINCESS PANG Songbook GUITAR TAB Book 1992 Self Titled Song Book of Sheet Music $33.71

INXS ROCK BAND SCORE Songbook TAB 1990 ALL Instruments Song Book Sheet Music $33.38

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI BEST COLLECTION +TAB $32.90

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI REBETIKA +TAB # 1 $32.90

Bob Marley: Songs Of Freedom Guitar Recorded Versions Guitar Tab Sheet Music $31.58

Ludovico Einaudi: The Classical Guitar Collection Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $31.52

Led Zeppelin: Mothership (TAB) Guitar Tab Sheet Music $31.52

Jam With Nineties Rock Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $31.52

The Sound Of The Jam Guitar Tab Sheet Music $31.52

Hard Rock Guitar Bible Guitar Tab Sheet Music $31.52

Joe Bonamassa: Collection Guitar Tab Sheet Music $31.52

Jam With Eric Clapton Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $31.52

Guitar Hero: Guitar Recorded Versions Guitar Tab Sheet Music $31.52

JAM WITH CARLOS SANTANA GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK CD $31.58

Play Guitar With… 20 Metal Bands Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $31.52

AC/DC FAMILY JEWELS GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK. LEARN $31.50

GREEK MUSIC BOOK -SHEET BOUZOUKI REBETIKA +TAB # 2 $32.00

AC/DC BACKTRACKS GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC SONG BOOK $31.95

JAM WITH GARY MOORE GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK & CD $31.58

MASTODON LEVIATHAN GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK NEW $31.52

Poison Flesh And Blood Guitar Tab Tablature Song Book Sheet Music $31.30

Bob Dylan Anthology Guitar TAB Sheet Music Book NEW $30.96

Modern Guitar Anthems: Blue Book Guitar Tab Sheet Music $30.00

Rodrigo Y Gabriela: 11:11 Guitar Tab Sheet Music $29.94

Metallica: Kill ‘Em All Guitar Tab Edition Sheet Music $29.94

Play Guitar With… 20 Rock Classics Guitar Tab Sheet Music, CD $29.94

Dire Straits: Brothers In Arms (TAB) Guitar Tab Sheet Music $29.94

Coldplay: The Singles & B-Sides (TAB) Guitar Tab Sheet Music $29.94

Queens Of The Stone Age: Songs For The Deaf Guitar Tab Sheet Music $29.94

slayer seasons in the abyss guitar tab songbook sheet music tablature $30.00

Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium Transcribed Score / Sheet Music / TAB $29.99

Bluegrass Mandolin Jack Tottle Sheet Music Tab Book NEW $29.99

Guitar Tab White Pages Vol 2 150 Songs Sheet Music Book $29.99

Acoustic Guitar Tab White Pages Sheet Music Song Book $29.99

Guitar Tab White Pages Vol 3 Sheet Music Song Book NEW $29.99

Classic Rock Guitar Play-Along Tab Sheet Music Book USB $29.99

AC/DC – Anthology Guitar Tab Metal Sheet Music Book NEW $29.99

Hard Rock – Guitar Play-Along Tab Sheet Music Book USB $29.99

Getz/Gilberto $8.49 Originally released in March 1964, this collaboration between saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist João Gilberto came at seemingly the end of the bossa nova craze Getz himself had sparked in 1962 with Jazz Samba, his release with American guitarist Charlie Byrd. Jazz Samba remains the only jazz album to reach number one in the pop charts. In fact, the story goes that Getz had to push for the relea…

Backatown $7.55 TROMBONE SHORTY BACKATOWN…

Jazz Samba $10.59 Guitarist Charlie Byrd was invited to travel and play in Brazil during a cultural goodwill tour sponsored by the Kennedy administration in 1961. He was completely enamoured by the music, and when he returned, he headed straight for the recording studio to make the now classic Jazz Samba. Collaborating with Stan Getz on tenor sax and backed by a band that included Gene Byrd (bass, guitar), Keter Be…

Pat Metheny Group $10.38 No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: METHENY,PATTitle: PAT METHENY GROUPStreet Release Date: 02/29/2000…

This is Spinal Tap (Special Edition) $5.49 The hilarious mock-rockumentary from director Rob Reiner and stars/co-scripters Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer follows the disastrous U.S. tour of Spinal Tap, a raucous British heavy metal band that has seen better days and gone through more than its share of drummers. Biting satire features the songs “Sex Farm,” “Big Bottom,” “Stonehenge” and more; cameos include Billy Crysta…

Fender Presents: Getting Started on Electric Guitar — A Guide for Beginners $19.99 Over 3 hours long with 50 interactive guitar lessons on DVD. Covers tuning, essential chords and scales, practice tips, rhythm techniques, play-along tracks with a band, 3-D fretboard graphics, instrument care, and more. Includes 5 languages: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, and German. Hosted by Keith Wyatt of the Musicians Institute….

No Quarter – Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded $13.13 Decades after the death of drummer John Bonham and, for all intents and purposes, the demise of the group, Led Zeppelin’s popularity continues unabated–and why not, as long as they keep coming up with offerings as worthy as No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded. Originally released on CD in 1994 and then in a remastered version simultaneously with this DVD, the 115-minute program (includ…