How To Read Music

Know that a beat is a steady pulse. Beats can occur at different speeds and are usually measured by BPMs — beats per minute.

Determine how long to hold each note. A sixteenth note for one-sixteenth of the time as a whole note, an eighth note for one-eighth of the time, a quarter note for one quarter, and a half note for half the time as a whole note.

The symbol that appears at the beginning of every music staff is called a clef symbol. The treble clef symbol looks like an ampersand, while the bass clef symbol looks like a reverse C with a colon next to it.

Draw five horizontal lines with the marker on a piece of paper, leaving enough space to write a letter between each line. Now write the letters E, F, G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G from the bottom line diagonally to the top line, alternating writing the letters on the line and in the spaces. This is the treble clef staff. Begin memorizing it.

Draw another five horizontal lines on a piece of paper. Now write the letters G, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, and B from the bottom line diagonally to the top line, alternating writing the letters on the line and in the spaces, ending with the B resting above the top line. This is the bass clef staff, which you should also memorize.

Pick up your sheet music, and begin reading it. Determine how many beats each note gets and the letter of each note. Soon you will be able to make music from what you’ve learned!