If you are a guitarist who does not currently read music notation, I have a challenge for you. Learn some basic sight-reading skills over the next 90 days. Stick with it, practice every day for a minimum of 10 minutes, and no cheating. I always recommend basic classical guitar because the music is much richer and more enjoyable, but a basic guitar method will work as well. I like to “Fast Track Guitar Method Book 1” by Neely and Schroedl.
Music reading is the foundation by which you can make huge gains in your soloing skills, as well as overall mastery of the fretboard. When you are finished the 90 days, think about your overall musicianship. If you don’t like being a more competent overall musician, go back to ignoring music lingo and go back to only speaking guitar lingo. Remember this – if you can have just as meaningful a coversation with a violinist or pianist as you can with a guitarist, then you are a musician. However, many guitarists can only speak guitarese (fret numbers and chord shapes), thus the stigma of guitar as an amateur instrument and guitarists as un-serious musicians will always remain.
And your journey from amateur to competent musician starts with basic music reading skills…..
richards@richardsguitarstudio.com
nate@ultimateguitartraining.com