How to Read Music Videos

Guide Note Learning how to read music will take your abilities as a musician to the next level. If you're thinking of picking up an instrument, the ability to read charts and sheet music will be invaluable to you. On this page is a collection of some of the best instructional videos from around the web that will help you learn how.
Tips for Reading Music
- Mnemonic devices can help you memorize where all the notes are
- Treble clef is generally the most common
- 4/4 is the most common time signature
- Sheet music includes markings for tempo and dynamics
- Accidentals make a note sharp, flat, or natural
- Key signatures establish the key of the song
- Practice makes perfect!
How to Read Music Videos
- YouTube: How to Read Sheet Music - Basic Stuff (Time: 9:56)
- Starting with the basics, you'll need to know where each note is on the musical staff so you can identify it while you're reading.
- YouTube: How to Read Music (Time: 9:04)
- This video starts with the anatomy of a note: heads, stems and flags. Next, you'll learn various note durations which will help you learn to read rhythmic figures.
- ExpertVillage: What are Flats, Sharps & Naturals in Sheet Music? (Time: 2:50)
- This video will tell you how to figure out those odd little symbols next to some of the notes in sheet music.
- ExpertVillage: How to Read Rests in Sheet Music (Time: 2:24)
- Not only will you need to read what you are playing, you'll need to know how to identify when not to play, as well.
- ExpertVillage: How to Read Tempo Markings in Sheet Music (Time: 1:17)
- Tempo markings determine how fast or slow you should play the piece. This video will show you how to decipher them.
- ExpertVillage: Dynamic Markings (Time: 2:40)
- This next video deals with dynamic markings. Dynamics dictate how loud or soft the music is.
How to Read Music Videos Searches
- YouTube: How to Read Music Videos
- Howcast: How to Read Music Videos
- ExpertVillage: How to Read Music Videos
- Wonder How To: How to Read Music Videos
- Google Video: How to Read Music Videos
