FAO Musicians

USDevil

Soldier of Fortune
Newbie
Joined
Jun 11, 2004
Messages
6,078
Location
Afghanistan
Alright, I've been playing guitar on and off for about 12 years, but my recent layoff has been about 2 years due to other hobbies of mine and no one to jam with. I can figure out average to above average songs on my own, and have no real trouble playing a variety of music. But the one thing that has always bothered me is my inability to read music and figure out timing signatures. My main interest in this is the music I listen to is in the vein of Tool, Coheed & Cambria, etc. that have significant shifts throughout the songs as well as the drummer playing a different timing than the guitars. I'm also interested in learing the drums in the near future, and I figure it might make the transition easier.

Can anyone recommend a site that lays it out pretty easily for someone to teach themselves how to read sheet music, or at the very least, explain how time signatures work?

To clarify, I'll figure a song out, but if someone told me what the time signature was I wouldn't have a clue what they were talking about. Or if they went on about quarter notes and others.

Basically I picked up the guitar 12 years ago without any music theory knowledge. I only knew that I wanted to feckin' rock.
 
Alright, I've been playing guitar on and off for about 12 years, but my recent layoff has been about 2 years due to other hobbies of mine and no one to jam with. I can figure out average to above average songs on my own, and have no real trouble playing a variety of music. But the one thing that has always bothered me is my inability to read music and figure out timing signatures. My main interest in this is the music I listen to is in the vein of Tool, Coheed & Cambria, etc. that have significant shifts throughout the songs as well as the drummer playing a different timing than the guitars. I'm also interested in learing the drums in the near future, and I figure it might make the transition easier.

Can anyone recommend a site that lays it out pretty easily for someone to teach themselves how to read sheet music, or at the very least, explain how time signatures work?

To clarify, I'll figure a song out, but if someone told me what the time signature was I wouldn't have a clue what they were talking about. Or if they went on about quarter notes and others.

Basically I picked up the guitar 12 years ago without any music theory knowledge. I only knew that I wanted to feckin' rock.

I have a book on this, if you're interested I could upload it for you somewhere?
 
I have a book on this, if you're interested I could upload it for you somewhere?

What's the book? It might be easier for both if I "acquire" it elsewhere (by that I mean faster) although I'm thankful for the help.
 
THANK YOU! Looks like it's just what I needed. Going through it right now. Again, a million thanks.
 
For your kind of music you dont need to read the majority of whats on sheets. You just need to know the time signature, tempo and the chord written at the top :P Learn your chords first worry about learning to read sheets later. You can't learn rythm off a sheet. Its all about feeling the song.
 
For your kind of music you dont need to read the majority of whats on sheets. You just need to know the time signature, tempo and the chord written at the top :P Learn your chords first worry about learning to read sheets later. You can't learn rythm off a sheet. Its all about feeling the song.

I have no issues with chords, strumming patterns, solos, etc. I was just interested in basic theory and signatures because I have no clue what they mean, and I kind of hate not knowing. My wife was asking too, as she stated interest in learning piano possibly, which actually made me want to learn piano as well as the drums in the future.
 
I have no issues with chords, strumming patterns, solos, etc. I was just interested in basic theory and signatures because I have no clue what they mean, and I kind of hate not knowing. My wife was asking too, as she stated interest in learning piano possibly, which actually made me want to learn piano as well as the drums in the future.

For basics wikipedia is actually not bad.