Does anyone play guitar from regular music clefs, or does everyone use guitar tabs with one line representing each string?
To: Elio
Thanks for the reply, but that's not what I mean. If someone uses the chord diagrams above the music clef (staff) their not really reading from the clef lines. Is there any reason to learn to play from the clef lines or should I just learn guitar tab notation?
There are benefits to learning how to read sheet music for the guitar, especially for beginners:
1) Timing – Sheet music shows the actual timing of the notes (quarter, eighth, etc.). This is very important for any instrument. Tone and Timing are the two things that make a good guitar player. With sheet music there is no guessing on how long or when to hit the note. Also it indicates the real strumming pattern (saying up, down, down up, doesn’t really do you any good). Tablature does not have any true indication of time.
2) Play Songs – With sheet music you can play any song, even without ever hearing it before. Once again because all the timing is indicated in the sheet music.
3) Music Theory – By learning sheet music, you have an introduction into theory. Music Theory is how good musicians communicate with each other, as well as how composers write music. Yes even the bands you hear on the radio that look like lazy drug addicts can write sheet music. Not all, but a lot of the good ones.
That’s why guitar teachers will try and stress learning how to read sheet music, as opposed to tablature.
The truth is, tablature is just much faster to learn because you don’t have to learn how to read anything. Thus a lot of people learn this way. I learned through tablature, then after moving on to singing and writing my own stuff, I decided to learn how to read sheet music. I’ve found it to be very beneficial.
But starting out, I would say it’s not necessary. But you’ll definitely be doing some good by learning it.
Good Luck.