TABS VS. SIGHT READING

By Randy Garcia

If you're just starting out on the guitar you're probably wondering if you should learn how to read music first in order to play guitar. Most guitar teachers think it's a great idea to teach their beginning guitar students how to read music, however, it really isn't a good idea, it's actually a really BAD idea! The reason is because learning how to read music can be VERY boring and VERY difficult! Especially is you're a beginner! Think about it! If you're a beginner you don't want to have ANOTHER thing to worry about while playing! You want to get right in it and start having fun immediately! Reading music is just another thing to worry about! There's just so many things in reading music that you have to worry about! Such as (but not limited to): Note values, note names, key signature, accidentals (sharps and flats), and more!

An easier way to learn to play is by reading tabs! Tabs are great! And you can find tabs practically anywhere on the internet! All tabs are really is 6 lines to represent the guitar strings from the low E (thickest string) to the high e (thinest string). Then numbers are placed on the lines to represent what number fret you hit on that particular string!

There are, however, a few drawbacks of tabs. One drawback is that tabs don't show rhythmic value. So if you want to learn one of your favorite songs you will have to look at the tabs and listen to how the song is being played in order to get it. Sight reading you can see the rhythmic value of what you're suppose to play so you would really never have to listen to what is being transcribed on the sheet music.

Another thing that most guitar teachers don't take into account is whether or not if a student even NEEDS to learn how to read music! If a guitarists goal is to play their favorite tunes from their favorite bands then learning to read music is definitely NOT necessary to learn in order to reach their goals! However if they students wants to study classical music and play in orchestras then sight reading is VERY important! And even if you don't want to study classical music or play in orchestras it depends on YOU! If you want to learn how to sight read then this is something a guitar teacher should keep in mind! But if you DON'T want to learn it because learning to sight read isn't congruent with YOUR goals then you definitely should NOT be forced into learning it!

If you want to reach your guitar playing goals quickly and easily then you need a guitar teacher who will take your goals into account and bring you results quickly AND easily then CLICK HERE and let's get started! :)