How to Understand Guitar Sheet Music
Upon first glance, guitar sheet music looks like a big mess of lines and random numbers which have no discernible pattern. However, as with learning any new language, once you have mastered the basics, the rest tends to fall into place nicely. To unlock the wealth of knowledge and enjoyment found within the numbers and lines of guitar sheet music, follow the tips below and practice, practice, practice!
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Instructions
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Locate the six horizontal lines which appear under the music notes. The six lines will stretch across each page of music. These six lines represent the strings of a guitar. The top line on the sheet music represents the high E string on the guitar. This is the smallest-diameter string on the guitar. The bottom line represents the low E string on the guitar. This is the string with the largest diameter on the guitar. The remaining four lines refer to the remaining strings.
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Note that a series of numbers appear over one or more of these lines. The numbers on the sheet music represent the frets of the guitar. For example, if a particular line on the sheet music has the number "4" printed over it, this means that you are to play the fourth fret on that particular string.
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Often you will see a series of numbers arraigned vertically over the lines representing the strings. For example, you may see the number "4" printed just above the number "2." These vertical numbers instruct the player to play these two strings simultaneously at the corresponding fret positions. In this example, the player should play the fourth fret on one string and the second fret on the corresponding string at the same time.
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Lines which have an "x" printed over them denote a muted string. This means that the player should strike the string, but should do so while applying some pressure on the string, but not enough pressure to cause the string the press against the fret. This gives a "clink" sound when properly played.
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