# Guitar players - sight reading **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [February 22, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955 "2024-02-22T17:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/21 "2024-02-23T15:56:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Some musical snobs would even make fun of guitarists for not being able to read “real” music and relying on tabs. Musician Joke: How do you get a guitar play to turn it down? Put a chart in front of him. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/22 "2024-02-23T17:32:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > This is very different from, say, how I play harmonica, where I don’t know what all the notes are unless I sit down and think about it or play along with the piano, but I can “hear” what I want to play instinctively. Right… I think (hope) I could pick up just about any stringed instrument, and after a minute or two of experimenting so I’ve figured out the string intervals, I might get some music out of it. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/23 "2024-02-23T17:41:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > > [@velomont](#): > > > > With this, if you never plan on playing to or for anyone else, can you do without an amp? > > Sure. Especially if you live in an apartment. Your neighbors won’t hear anything. Your spouse will barely hear it either. It’s like playing a unplugged guitar. And you can record stuff to your music software easily. At a pinch the output of a headphone amp like that could go directly into the line input jack of your computer, if it has one. If it doesn’t, USB interfaces like Focusrite are inexpensive (and you’ll probably want one if you are going to record songs with vocals, for example). ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/24 "2024-02-23T17:50:16Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > > [@aceplace57](#): > > > > Sure. Especially if you live in an apartment. Your neighbors won’t hear anything. Your spouse will barely hear it either. It’s like playing a unplugged guitar. > > And you can record stuff to your music software easily. At a pinch the output of a headphone amp like that could go directly into the line input jack of your computer, if it has one. Both pieces of information are really interesting as we are actually moving into an apartment in about a month or two, and I’m retiring. I look forward to exploring with this sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/25 "2024-02-23T17:58:56Z")
Recording music is a lot of fun. And it doesn’t cost a lot nowadays: as opposed to when recording studios like Abbey Road were big business and charged an arm and a leg per hour… 😉 Ask anything… I think we have quite a few experts here. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/26 "2024-02-23T18:06:01Z")
For recording, I just bought myself a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3 and have been having a blast with it. My brother bought me my first electric guitar, a Telecaster, for Christmas, so I figured I had better start recording some music with it and my keyboards. I run it through Logic (but Garageband works fine, too), and there’s plenty of amp and pedal simulations out there to keep me occupied. It is so much fun and I would definitely recommend a setup like this to anyone. The Focusrite also has a microphone input (XLR), and it cost me like $60 used. Now I need to figure out where my mic went. I have an SM-57 somewhere in the house that a friend of mine left with me in a pile of stuff after his divorce. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/27 "2024-02-23T18:10:05Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Recording music is a lot of fun. And it doesn’t cost a lot nowadays: as opposed to when recording studios like Abbey Road were big business and charged an arm and a leg per hour… 😉 Hehe, and all they had was a lousy four track. My home board cost less than a grand and can do 12 tracks in and out of the computer at a time. And that’s just a limit on what it can do at once, the DAW has unlimited tracks to record to. All that said, my band is going to a studio in March. A real room that’s been treated for drums and a guy who already knows how to mic a drum kit in that room are pretty much worth the $500/day we’ll be paying. They should have their 1" tape machine hooked up by then, too. So we’ll track the bass and drums to it. As to the OP: Even back when I read music regularly, I couldn’t really sight read. I’ve always been someone who could read well enough to (usually) figure out what it should sound like, and memorize it. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/28 "2024-02-23T19:00:02Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > All that said, my band is going to a studio in March. A real room that’s been treated for drums and a guy who already knows how to mic a drum kit in that room are pretty much worth the $500/day we’ll be paying. Yes, recording a live band is a different kettle of fish: especially drums. Definitely a skill. But putting together a quite good demo at home is not hard these days. It’s a bit off topic, but I would suggest MTPower drum kit: ‘[https://www.powerdrumkit.com/](https://www.powerdrumkit.com/)’ No association, just a satisfied user. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/29 "2024-02-23T19:52:51Z")
I second the recommendation. The sounds are far better than what came with my e-kit. EZDrummer is quite good, too, but I never shelled out the bucks for it, just played around with a demo a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/30 "2024-02-23T21:02:47Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > It’s a bit off topic, but I would suggest MTPower drum kit: > [@pulykamell](#): > > EZDrummer is quite good, too, but I never shelled out the bucks for it, just played around with a demo a few years ago. Hehehe, thank you guys, but since I’m a Linux user and don’t want to mess with Wine, I use Hydrogen for my songs that seem to want normal-ish drum samples. > **[Hydrogen](http://hydrogen-music.org/)** > > The digital home of the advanced drum machine. It’s FOSS, so no guilt in not paying, and they have binaries for Mac and Windows, as well. I used for the drums in this. Even though, I’m not super enthused at this mix anymore, the samples sound good. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VftighogQN8/maxresdefault.jpg "XL 01296479 and HMSS SAM") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VftighogQN8) I’ve also got an electric Simmons kit, but I’ve decided I’m largely hopeless at the drums. If you’ve decided I’m your drummer, you have made a grave mistake. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/31 "2024-02-23T21:32:05Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Recording music is a lot of fun. And it doesn’t cost a lot nowadays: as opposed to when recording studios like Abbey Road were big business and charged an arm and a leg per hour… But you may have to trade your Cadillac for a microphone. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/32 "2024-02-24T15:46:40Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > But you may have to trade your Cadillac for a microphone. Oh no… not the pink one? I suppose, if you want a U87. Seriously though, an SM57 is useful for just about everything and is good enough for anything short of high end professional work. (And even then, I think you’d find that a few of those were used on many famous records). Perfectly OK for vocals too… a 58 might be a little more resistant to pops, but I’ve used a 57 for vocals on lots of recordings and gigs. Built like a tank too… pretty much indestructible, unlike some expensive condenser mics which have to be handled with a certain amount of care… ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/33 "2024-02-24T16:15:28Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I suppose, if you want a U87. Heheh, Elwood was a harmonica player, so I always imagined he was trading for a 520DX. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/34 "2024-02-24T16:55:57Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Heheh, Elwood was a harmonica player, so I always imagined he was trading for a 520DX. Um, I feel like I’m missing some oblique cultural reference connected to cadillacs and microphones here?? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/35 "2024-02-24T16:59:32Z")
Naw, but just about any blues harmonica player wouldn’t mind playing through a Shure 520DX: > **[520DX - Microphone for Harmonica - Shure USA](https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/520dx)** > > With signature green and chrome die-cast casing, the "Green Bullet" is the definitive blues harp voice. I’ve actually got the empty carcass of one sitting around here. I should probably locate some guts. ETA: And I’d rather have a 440 Interceptor than a Cadillac, any day. 🤡 ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/36 "2024-02-24T17:21:51Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Um, I feel like I’m missing some oblique cultural reference connected to cadillacs and microphones here?? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nrKmNkDcDuk/hqdefault.jpg "The Blues Brothers - You traded the Cadillac for a microphone?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrKmNkDcDuk) ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/37 "2024-02-24T17:25:42Z")
Oh, I get it. Y’know, I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen that movie all the way through, just clips. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2024, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/38 "2024-02-24T17:28:06Z")
Worth a watch. There are lots of bits that are really funny, plus a lot of references that people still make, e.g., “I hate Illinois Nazis.” ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2024, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/39 "2024-02-25T22:06:52Z")
Well, I don’t know, but I was watching just now one of the great Seymore Bernstein Youtuber videos, and this bit from the Brahms Op.117/1 came up. Just now, I only can reach a guitar from my chair. One in standard tuning, one in open G. The top-most melody is fine to read, give oneself a second to remember to take the top “E”, remember it’s an Eb, and that it’s written in concert key. And then, you’re basically playing by ear. A tablature arrangement would be a lot handier. Anybody could draw one out, or one of several. Tablature notation goes back to the pre-baroque Renaissance days of, like, playing lutes and all that. It’s not a strange conception at all. [![](https://i.ibb.co/8DZGzMS/Screenshot-2024-02-25-13-38-51.png) ](https://i.ibb.co/8DZGzMS/Screenshot-2024-02-25-13-38-51.png) ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955/40 "2024-03-18T23:04:38Z")
As I was just now flipping through David Oakes’s _Music Reading for Guitar_ (which is somewhat humbling…it’s very simple reading, no chordal work, but one forgets sometimes), I remembered what is probably the most useful tool I have in my bag. [![](https://i.ibb.co/X7ggc7R/71x-Xhmr-Tg-PL-AC-SL1440.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/X7ggc7R/71x-Xhmr-Tg-PL-AC-SL1440.jpg) Yes, it’s a slight PITA to keep the rubber stamp clean and all that, but I find this dual approach works very well for me. Sitting in a car or whatever, waiting for something? Boom, write it out on either tab or regular, and all that. One of my favorite little toys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-players-sight-reading/997955.md?page=1)