The History of Reading Music Notes

 So often I am asked if I would teach students online how to read music notes. I have done a few posts on the subject but oh my goodness... it would take a little awhile of repetitive teaching to go over the lines and spaces of the treble and bass staff. Then the rest is up to you to learn with practice over time. For some, especially with adults, you'll be a quick learner.

Anne Crosby is one of my favorite online teachers. These next charts are from http://pianoanne.ca/

• Treble Clef Space Notes: F - A - C - E (I Look At You And I See Your FACE)

•  Treble Clef Line Notes: E - G - B - D - F (Every Good Boy Does Fine)

• Bass Clef Space Notes: A - C - E - G (All Cows Eat Grass)

• Bass Clef Line Notes: G - B - D- F - A (Good Boys Do Fine Always)

There are so many free and low cost apps/games online for you to use on reading notes. The old fashioned way is to make or purchase flash cards. I love these powerful learning resources through repetition. If you're online a lot of the time and you are a visual learner, check out these great sites.

If your curious about the history of reading music notes, wikipedia offers some valuable information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_notation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shape_note

 Online Links

1. http://www.musictheory.net/exercises/note

Great in identifying notes for older students.

 

2. http://musicteachersgames.com/linesSpaces

Simple and advanced reading of the staff notes.

3. http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_quizzes/quiz_word_warrior_treble.htm

Identifying words by answering the music notes.

4. http://www.teoria.com/

5. http://www.emusictheory.com/

Hope this is helpful in kick-starting your journey to reading music notes on the staff.

You may be interested in, Musician Transformation 44pg Guide (Free Download)

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"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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How To Play Worth It All

Ben Cantelon, Jonathan Smith, Benji Cowart and Jason Ingram wrote a beautiful song, Worth It All from the album 'Everything in Colour' that I absolutely love. It's so very easy to play with a relaxed rhythm in the Key of E. The chords mostly played over and over are C#m7, A2, E, B.

 Intro

C#m7  A2  E (2xs)

Verse 1

C#m7  A2         E                        C#m7      A2          E

 All I am, Lord here before You, reaching out for more     

C#m7        A2      E          B/D#  C#m7     A2           E

You're the promise never failing, You are my reward   

  C#m7  A2         E

You are my reward 

Chorus

        A             E                  C#m7         B

I let go of all I have, just to have all of You

             A                       E               C#m7   B

And no matter what the cost I will follow You

            A                     E                 C#m7    B

Jesus, everything I've lost I have found in You

              A                       E           B

When I finally reach the end I'll say

                              C#m7  A2  E

You are worth it all                    

Verse 2

C#m7         A2       E                    C#m7        A2   E

 There's no riches, earthly treasure that will satisfy        

C#m7   A2     E              B/D# C#m7    A2        E

 Every longing for You, Jesus, set this heart on fire

C#m7    A2          E

 Set this heart on fire

Chorus

      A           E             C#m7        B
I let go of all I have, just to have all of You
       A               E            C#m7  B
And no matter what the cost I will follow You
       A               E           C#m7     B
Jesus, everything I've lost I have found in You
       A                 E           B
When I finally reach the end I'll say
                 A   C#m7 B     
You are worth it all

alternate ending)

B                         A    C#m7  B

You are worth it all               

You are worth it all               

Bridge

 

Amaj7                             E/G#
 When I'm there in Your glorious presence 
  Bsus                  C#m7                  
 Every knee is bowed before You
Amaj7                     E/G#    Bsus          C#m7
Hear the sound of heaven singing: You are worth it all
Amaj7               E/G#
All the saints cry Holy, Holy
Bsus                     C#m7
 Angels singing worthy, worthy
Amaj7                      E/G#      Bsus         C#m7             
 Forever I will shout Your praises: You are worth it all
Amaj7                            E/G#                              
 When I'm there in Your glorious presence 
Bsus                 C#m7                      
 Every knee is bowed before You
Amaj7                      E/G#    Bsus            C#m7
Hear the sound of heaven singing: You are worth it all
A
All the saints cry Holy, Holy
B
 Angels singing worthy, worthy
A/C#                               B/D#                A  C#m7
 Forever I will shout Your praises: You are worth it all
B                   A C#m7 B
You are worth it all

Chorus (2xs)

      A           E             C#m7        B
I let go of all I have, just to have all of You
       A               E            C#m7  B
And no matter what the cost I will follow You
       A               E           C#m7     B
Jesus, everything I've lost I have found in You
       A                 E           B
When I finally reach the end I'll say
                 A   C#m7 B     
You are worth it all

Enjoy the song and if you're thinking about, 'How do I find the key to a song?', take a look at this music resource from Hear and Play... Finding The Key

If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider following on Bloglovin' Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Pinterest, too!

 "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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Boogie Your Way To Dexterity

Boogie Woogie patterns are not only fun, but a great way to develop finger (and, in the case of organists, foot) dexterity. Here are some patterns to practice, based on the 12 bar blues form.

The first patterns are for the right hand alone. Next, there is a variety of left hand Boogie bass lines. Finally, there are two examples of organ pedal patterns. For the last pattern, get your right foot off the volume pedal and play the upper notes in each eighth-note grouping!

All patterns can be played together, so get your musician friends to join in... or create a duet with yourself by taping one set and playing along with the recording using a new set of patterns the second time around.

 Boogie Your Way To Dexterity

By Bonita Luciotti

Right Hand Pattern #1

 4/4 time, play 3 notes in a triplet:

C/C, D, E, E, F, G, G, F, E, E, D, C // C, D, E, E, F, G, G, F, E, E, D, C // repeat

4/4 time play 3 eighth notes as a triplet:

F/F, G, A, A, Bb, C // repeat // C/C, D, E, E, F, G, G, F, E, E, D, C // repeat

G/G, A, B, B, C, D, D, C, B, B, A, G // F/F, G, A, A, Bb, C, C, Bb, A, A, G, F

C/C, D, E, E, F, G,G, F, E, E, D, C // repeat // repeat // C, rest, C, rest //

Right Hand Pattern #2

C/E, F, G, G, A, Bb, Bb, A, G, G, F, E // repeat // repeat //

F/A, Bb, C, C, D, Eb, Eb, D, C, C, Bb, A // repeat // C/E, F, G, G, A, Bb, Bb, A, G, G, F, E //

repeat // G/B, C, D, D, E, F, F, E, D, D, C, B // F/A, Bb, C, C, D, Eb, Eb, D, C, C, Bb, A

C/E, F, G, G, A, Bb, Bb, A, G, G, F, E // repeat // repeat // E, rest, E, rest //

Left Hand Pattern #1

/CG,  /CG, Eb, E,  /CG,  /CG, Eb, E // repeat // repeat // repeat //

/FC, /FC, Ab, A, /FC, /FC, Ab, A // /FC, /FC, Ab, A, /FC, Ab, A //

/CG, /CG, Eb, E, CG, CG, Eb, E / repeat / /GD, /GD, Bb, B, GD, GD, Bb, B //

/FC, /FC, Ab, A, /FC, /FC, Ab, A // /CG, /CG, Eb, E, /CG, CG, Eb, E // repeat //

/CG, /CG, Eb, E, /CG, /CG, Eb, E, /CG, rest, /CG, rest //

Left Hand Pattern #2 (done in jazz eighths)

Use the octaves on the downbeat of each measure and then on & 4 &

1  &  2  &  3   &  4   &

C, C, E, F, F#, G, G, G // repeat // repeat // repeat //

F, F, A, Bb, B, C, C, C // repeat // C, C, E, F, F#, G, G, G // repeat // G, G, B, C, C#, D, D, D // 

F, F, A, Bb, B, C, C, C // C, C, E, F, F#, G, G, G // repeat // repeat // C, rest, C, rest //

Left Hand Pattern #3 (done in "jazz eighths')

C, C, E, E, G, G, A, A // Bb, Bb, A, A, G, G, E, E // C, C, E, E, G, G, A, A //

Bb, Bb, A, A, G, G, E, E // F, F, A, A, C, C, D, D // Eb, Eb, D, D, C, C, A, A //

C, C, E, E, G, G, A, A, // Bb, Bb, A, A, G, G, E, E // g, G, B, B, D, D, B, B //

F, F, A, A, C, C, A, A // C, C, E, E, G, G, A, A, // Bb, Bb, A, A, G, G, E, E // 

C, C, E, E, G, G, A, A // C, rest /CC, rest //

Spinet Pedals

C, E, G, A // Bb, A, G, E // C, E, G, A // Bb, A, G, E

F, A, C, A // repeat // C, E, G, A, // Bb, A, G, E // G, B, G, G //

F, A, F, F // C, E, G, A // Bb, A, G, E // C, E, G, A // C, rest, C, rest //

Console Pedals (done in "jazz eighths")

C, C, E, C, G, C, A, C // Bb, C, A, C, G, C, E, C // C, C, E, C, G, C, A, C //

Bb, C, A, C, G, C, E, C // F, F, A, F, C, F, D, F // Eb, F, D, F, C, F, A, F //

C, C, E, C, G, C, A, C // Bb, C, A, C, G, C, E, C // G, G, B, G, D, G, E, G // F, F, A, F, C, F, D, F //

C, C, E, C, G, C, A, C // Bb, C, A, C, G, C, E, C // C, C, E, C, G, C, A, C // C, rest, C, rest //

Resources for you:

Hanon 1 - Finger Exercises

Pitch Ear Training Software 

If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider following on Bloglovin' Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Pinterest, too!

 "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King