Learn How to Read Guitar Notes and Symbols

How to Read Guitar Notes

Let us begin to define the basic beats, measures/Bars and rhythm, the type of note names beats, the measures and time signatures.

Defining the Beats

In measure one there are four quarter C notes played to the tune of twin-kle twin-kle.

In measure two there are two minims and the syllable used is Star.

In measure three there are Eight notes and for each syllable how I wonder is used.

Starting from measure 1 try to get a steady rhythm when you play through the measures.

Read Guitar Notes and Symbols:

Dots and Ties

Dots when placed after a note increases its length by one and a half times. In measure 1 of read guitar notes thereis a quarter note (1 beat) and the dot takes(1/2) a beat. measure 2 has a half note(2 beats) tied to a quarter note(1 beat) total time held is 3 beats and a quarter note rest. Measure 3 is a whole note it is held for four counts.

Measure 4 is a dotted eight note and a six-teen note count it as 1ena for each count.

Measure 5 is a sixteen note and a dotted eight note count each note as 1eena.

Measure 6 has a dotted quarter note(1 beat) rest and an eight note(1/2) rest.

Measure 7 of read guitar notes has a half note(2 beats) and it is tied to a quarter note(1 beat) and there is a quarter note(1 beat) rest

Measure 8 has a quarter note(1 beat) tied to an eight note(1/2) followed by an eight note(1/2) and a quarter note91 beat) rest, an eight note(1/2) and another eight note(1/2) tied to the next measure 9 a whole note(4 counts)

in measure 10 the eight notes are slurs meaning the notes are held on a little longer than usual. the > sign means to accent the note and the (.) sign is a staccato means to shorten the note.

measure 11 of guitar notes has a phrase symbol marked over the notes.

Anacrusis-Pick-Ups used in Read Guitar Notes.Anacrusis

Anacrusis

From the pdf file we note that there is a Anacrusis or pick-up note before the 1st measure. This pick-up note leads is a lead into the first measure.

When there is a pick-up note at the beginning, the last measure of the music will compensate for the pick-up notes, meaning if the music is in 3/4 time and the pick-up note is a quarter note then the last measure will have only two beats.

Triplets in read guitar notes.

Triplets

Referring to the pdf file 1st measure note that, When a quarter note/Crotchet(1 beat) is divided into three eight notes, we get an eight note triplet, eight note triplets always has a 3 written above or below the notes. The way to count eight note triplets in time is to say the phrase E-Ven-Ly for each triplet count.

Quarter Note Triplets.(read guitar notes)

The way to approach these quarter note triplets is to play the three quarte notes evenly in the time of a half-note/Minim.

Semiquaver Triplets

When a quaver/eight note is divided into three notes, we have sixteen note triplets, it is approached by playing the three sixteen note triplets in the time of one quaver.

Meters and Compound time(read guitar notes)The basic time signatures we need to get acquainted with to read guitar notes, will be addressed here.

Quadruple meters four beats in a measure e.g. 4/4 time.

Triple meter three beats in a measure e.g. 3/4

Duple meter two beats in a bar e.g. 2/4

Simple Time 4/4, the notes are simple and straight forward like Quarter notes or Half notes in 2/2 time.

Compound Time 6/8 these signatures have a dotted note for a beat, it contains two dotted Quarter notes or six quavers in a measure.

These compound time signatures always have the beat divided into three's as the beat is always a dotted note.

Compound Time

From the pdf chart we see the different ways the dotted notes can be written. In the first measure the notes are grouped in three's.

The 2nd and 3rd measures have dotted notes written on it.

Different Compound Time Meters(read guitar notes)

Time Signatures like 6/8, 9/8 or 12/8 are all compound time signatures.

Compound Triple Time -9/8 - contains three dotted quarter notes.

Compound Quadruple Time - 12/16 - contains four dotted eight notes.

Summary of read guitar notes.

define the basic beats, measures/Bars and rhythm, the type of note namesGo through the different types of time signatures and learn the compound time signature by heart.

Let us now move to our next interesting lesson:

Music Notation

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