Originally Posted By: bobcflatpicker
Is being able to sight read music a good thing?

Yes.

Is it necessary to be a good musician?

Hell no!

Is it necessary to study music theory?

Absolutely hell no!

Is standard notation for stringed fretted instruments superior to TAB?

Standard notation is a far inferior method to convey what should be played when it comes to stringed fretted instruments. Especially since almost all TAB programs include standard notation.

The snobbery from the folks who subtly imply that musicians who don't sight read are somehow less of a musician than readers is repugnant. It's sad to see it still persists on here. I wish I could say I was surprised.


I read standard as well as tab. I find for guitar that tab can be helpful if you are trying to learn maybe what the original artist did. But I can play from standard notation just as well. I also can learn songs from listening. I don't believe anyone thinks you are any better or worse if you don't read, but it certainly helps when communicating with other musicians. Especially those that pretty much only read music to play. I know many classically trained musicians that can't play without music. Just as I know many people that can't read a lick of it but can play quite well. Reading just opens up more of the world of music for me. Most of those great players like to say they didn't read, but I think if the truth were known they either did read some, or wished they did. Sinatra didn't read music but he was professionally trained as a singer and over time he could read a chart and understand the intervals and notes he was seeing.

For some it is not necessary and they don't want to spend the time doing it and that is perfectly fine. The beauty of music is that everyone is different and that is ok.

My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.