What is the best way to learn to sight read?

[w3stie]

I guess I'm going to get a lot of responses to practice practice practice, but I'm looking also for more specific techniques. What computer programs or apps are available these days? I have had a little formal training and got to Grade 5 in classical guitar (Trinity COllege), but I only read well enough to play single lines. The set pieces I memorised laboriously. I'm still doing the mmenomics Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit and so on. I guess a program of learning that I could see progress in doing 30 minutes a day would be suitable.

[Lunchie]

You kind of nailed it with practice. I recently started reading music for the guitar, i use to play trumpet in high school but that was 11 years ago now. What i do is see what key its in, then scan for sharps and flats. If theres tabs i see where the writer is playing on the neck and then take a bash at it.

[Hoopermazing]

Guitar Pro 6 and Anki flashcards (on computers and phone)

[klasaine]

These two.
You will not find anything better on line or in other books ...
http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Studie.../dp/0634013351
And this ...
http://www.amazon.com/Melodic-Rhythm...d_bxgy_b_img_b


Extra credit ... http://www.amazon.com/Selected-Duets.../dp/1423445325

http://www.amazon.com/Niehaus-Basic-.../dp/1934638005 (also volumes II and III)


*and if you really want to make a man out of yourself sight-reading wise ... http://www.amazon.com/Rhythmical-Art.../dp/0793505011

If you use one or more of these books and you can truly dedicate 1/2 hour a day to sight reading you will get better. These are the standard, tried and true methods.

[Paul in Colorado]

I can't read for guitar, but I'm getting pretty good on mandolin. It's all about repetition. Do it over and over and over and over until your eyes glaze over and your fingers bleed. Then do it more.

[Donelson]

I don't believe there is an easy solution for you. Computer stuff: useless distraction.

Immerse yourself in notation. There are tons of classical guitar books out there. Read piano music. Write out music that you think up. Transcribe stuff that you like. Get used to the written form of music.

Clarinet & trombone books are good as they have the same written range pretty much as guitar (trombone in bass clef mainly, but the same pitches).

Mainly though, as a rhythm section player, get your leadsheet/chart skills together: form, chord symbols, rhythm figures, dynamics, etc.

Hope that is helpful!

[Mike Bruce]

Teaching yourself can be successful, but every so often a teacher can help you cut through the murkiness, insecurities, related technique, and help you fix errors. This can save you time.

[Hiker]

At times when you can take ten minutes or more, you should pick up sheet music (at lunch, on the couch, or during a break at work) and read it quickly-starting with the treble or bass clef, key signature, etc. This is without guitar!

The idea of reading quarter or sixteenth notes is not staring at them-but quickly recognizing the notes. What you're doing during practice with the guitar is putting two & two together by fingering the notes as you read.

Take time daily (if possible) to just read sheet music-quickly, and away from the guitar while gaining speed & comfort with the process.

[w3stie]

Thanks for the input everyone. It looks like I'd feared... there's no other road than regular practice.

Hiker, I like the idea of just reading sheet music during the day. Are you suggesting I mentally rehearse the fingering?
Klasaine, I'm a little worried by the comments about Levitt's book, e.g.

This will be the most boring, most useful book you'll ever come across. Playing this (and its companion Advanced book for positions 8-12) each all the way through once a week for about half a year was seriously the best thing I ever did for guitar.

So is there no other way than daily drilling this dull repetitive stuff into my hands over and over. No flash cards or other methods ... ?

[klasaine]

Lol! It's not the most boring. If you want boring I can recommend some seriously boring reading studies. The Leavitt books are all really musical IMO.
Any method or graded studies book can get a bit monotonous. You're working with and through a process. It's always good to supplement with just playing through tunes i.e., a song book that you just leaf through, pick a tune and read it (to the best of your ability).
Sort of like a science class - read the chapter (possibly boring?) then do the lab (the semi-real world application).

*Playing duets with another guitar player is a great way to ...
1) make it less tedious,
2) get better faster (because it's more fun you'll do more of it).

The Leavitt books have some duets and I think I recommended a Voxman 'clarinet duets' book(?)
(I think Larry F knew H. Voxman personally).

[Larry F]

Originally Posted by klasaine

Lol! It's not the most
The Leavitt books have some duets and I think I recommended a Voxman 'clarinet duets' book(?)
(I think Larry F knew H. Voxman personally).

Yes, I did. Our music building in named after him. He died earlier this year. He was a beloved gentleman who contributed a ton to the world of music.

[w3stie]

Does anyone know where I can downoad a copy of Leavitt's Reading Studies for Guitar [Mod. edit]? There is no Kindle version on Amazon. Thanks