How to Read Music
Music Notes
There are only seven letters used for notes in music. They are:
These notes are known as the musical alphabet.
The Staff
These five lines are called the staff or stave.
The Treble Clef
This symbol is called a treble clef. There is a treble clef written on the staff at the beginning of every line of guitar music.
The Quarter Note
This is a musical note called a quarter note.
Music notes are written in the spaces and on the lines of the staff.
The Note G
This is a G note. The note G is placed on the second line of the staff. To play the note G, pick the open third string.
Music is divided into bars by bar lines. In your first song, G for Giraffe, there are two bars of music. There are four G notes in each bar. As you play the notes in each bar, count 1 2 3 4 aloud.
Remember to pick downwards. A downward pick is shown below the notes by a a . In this book, all notes are played with a downward pick movement.
The Four Four Time Signature( * )
These two numbers are called the four four time signature.
They are placed after the treble clef.
The * time signature tells you there are four counts in each bar.
Here are four bars of the note G in * time. Count aloud as you play.
Things to Remember
- Sit up straight.
- Keep the guitar upright.
- Count aloud as you play the notes.
- Use a downward pick motion.
- Support your right hand.
