Originally Posted By: Planobilly
I can drive on either side of the road and read from both left to right and right to left (think Arabic) but I look at the text from the top down.

Notes in the C triad?

C

G
E
C

If I were reading that as a melody, I would read top down. But I know I'm looking at a chord, so I see it as a stack of notes arranged vertically, like on a staff, and start at the bottom.