As a musician who struggled with reading sheet music when I first started playing, I absolutely love this article and actually felt validated after reading it. I play mostly by ear, using tabs if I'm stumped or in a hurry when trying to learn a song. This doesn't make me less of a musician than someone who does read sheet music. But I do have great respect for those who do!
Certainly you don’t need to read music to be a musician, but that doesn’t mean it’s not very, very useful to be able to do it. Writing music allows you to note down your ideas clearly, in a way that others can read. Reading music lets you see what chords were actually used, rather than what you think you heard.
All good stuff, Chris.
Thanks so much. I need to check out your newsletter
Can I offer you a record contract? For your consideration/amusement: https://miter.substack.com/p/signing-a-dotted-linelabelabel
As a musician who struggled with reading sheet music when I first started playing, I absolutely love this article and actually felt validated after reading it. I play mostly by ear, using tabs if I'm stumped or in a hurry when trying to learn a song. This doesn't make me less of a musician than someone who does read sheet music. But I do have great respect for those who do!
Exactly!
Certainly you don’t need to read music to be a musician, but that doesn’t mean it’s not very, very useful to be able to do it. Writing music allows you to note down your ideas clearly, in a way that others can read. Reading music lets you see what chords were actually used, rather than what you think you heard.
Oh I completely agree. I just think it’s silly when successful pop songwriters want us to gawk at the idea that they can’t do it