Reading Sheet Music- Part One

Learning to read music is like learning to read for the first time. Translating the dots and dashes into letters, and then translating them into notes is a habit that every aspiring musician needs to learn. I'll be explaining how to read sheet music for piano, but the basic theory applies to any instrument.

As I explained in Piano 101, the notes on a scale are organized in octaves (groups of twelve), starting with C. A whole octave starting with middle C (without the sharps or flats), would look like this:

The starting note is called middle C. It's usually right in the center of a piano. The twirly design in the left corner is called a treble cleft. That indicates that the hand will be playing on or above middle C. The bass cleft (the lopsided frowny face) means it's below middle C, where the left hand usually plays. 

There are many different mnemonics to help remember which notes go where. For the treble cleft, FACE are the notes that are in between the lines, and Every Good Boy Does Fine (EGBDF) is for the notes that are on the lines. On the bass cleft, All Cows Eat Grass (ACEG) is for between the lines and Good Boys Deserve Fudge Always (GBDFA) is on the lines. 

In Part Two, I'll explain more about how the dynamics work, and the specific signs that explain how to play a certain piece.

The Joys of Music

To me, music is pure magic. It's nothing more than different pitches and rhythms, but it stirs souls, changes minds. How is it that words and sounds can make such a profound impact? Every culture has its own styles of music, and every person has their own taste. I can personally testify to the miracles that music works on the soul. It saved my life and changed me inside and out.

Nearly everyone has heard stories of teenagers committing suicide. Every story is heartbreaking in its own way, and every one of them had their own reasons. My reason was as simple as loneliness. I didn't have friends. I was completely alone and I felt invisible. No one saw me, no one cared, and I believed those lies to the point where I nearly killed myself over them. The problem was, people did see me, and they did care; what they didn't do was tell me. If I hadn't found my way out, I would've died. Thankfully, I did find my way out through music. I taught myself to play guitar, I sang, I wrote music, I listened to music... I drowned my sorrow and pain in song. 

It was through music that I found someone who felt the same pain I did, and who had also found solace in music. We saw each other and fixed each other. Music worked magic in my heart and put it back together. My story is just one of many, and I want more people to know that someone sees them. There is hope, and there is always someone who cares. 

Piano 101

Besides guitar, piano is one of the most commonly played instruments. Many people take piano lessons at some point in their life, and it makes its way into most genres of music. Some people get overwhelmed by piano because on the surface, it seems far too complicated and intricate. But just by learning the basics, you can accomplish a lot.
 
Music is made of notes. These notes are arranged on a scale-- A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, with sharps and flats in between. The white keys are whole notes (A, B and so on), and the black keys are the sharps and flats (A#, Bb, etc.).

The easiest way to remember which keys go where are to look at the groupings of black and white. C, D, and E are grouped with two blacks, and F, G, A, and B are grouped with three. For the sharps and the flats, you simply remember this: shaRp is to the Right, and fLats are to the Left. This twelve-note scale is known as an octave. The right hand plays the high octaves, and the left hand plays the low ones.

Just like with guitar, multiple notes played together makes a chord. A simple chord is made of three notes, and a full chord is four. For example, a C major chord is C, E, and G played together, and to make it a full chord, you would also play the C that is an octave higher (making four notes altogether). For most piano songs, the left hand plays either simple or full chords, which called is the base line or harmony, while the right hand does the melody, or the notes. 

Guitar 101

Hello everyone! My name is Elaine, and I like to think of myself as a musician. I play guitar, piano, and I sing. Music is my passion and my life, and it has molded me into who I am. Music is very simple in theory; it's just a bunch of pitches and tones and beats unified into one cohesive whole. In execution, however, it becomes magic. It changes people, lives, and minds. It speaks what the soul feels, communicates what the heart can't. I've had many people in my life teach and encourage me about my music, and I want to share the gifts they gave me. On this journey, I will show how to read music, play guitar, and so many other things. I found true joy once I learned to express myself and I hope to guide others towards experiencing that same release.

I decided to start this off the way I started- guitar. The video quality isn't the best, but I hope that the information is helpful! For more information on chords and songs, I recommend going to www.ultimateguitar.com, or comment below with questions.