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Lesson time: (1min 51sec)
James Barratt makes the case for sight reading - why it matters for gigs and pit work, and how to break it into manageable steps.
This lesson is part of the course Rockschool Guitar Grade 8
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Okay, guys,
I just want to quickly talk to you about sight reading and how useful this can be to you as a guitarist and as a musician.
It's a little bit of a controversial subject among popular guitarists. We're kind of renowned for perhaps not being the best readers among other musicians, which is perhaps true of some groups. However, it is a really, really useful skill.
It's come in really handy for me ever since I've made it a focus of mine to get better at it. Although it can seem like quite an overwhelming topic, we can really break it down into nice, easy, digestible steps.
I've prepared a PDF for you to download that walks you through the basics of how to approach sight reading:
Not only is it useful in these scenarios, but it's also beneficial for learning your pieces. Rather than just having to focus on learning by ear from the backing tracks, if you can read, then you can learn it directly from the sheet music.
Additionally, it helps in terms of transcribing your own solos. Understanding the process of sight reading allows you to write those out effectively.
Looking ahead into potential careers as a musician, if you want to work in theatres or pits, sight reading is an absolutely essential skill. You can't work those jobs without being able to read.
In many gigs, you're usually presented with charts if you're covering for someone. It's really helpful to avoid the pressure of looking at a page, thinking, "I have no idea what this is."
So, just some basic reading skills can really help you go a long way. Please do download that PDF and check it out!
