Ask Tyra #2

Benjamin (9 years old) from Tennessee asks: Do I have to learn to read music if I can already play by ear? Reading music slows me down, and I can play better if I just listen and copy what I hear. Besides, I know of a lot of really big stars who never learned to read music and they did just fine. Tyra’s answer: "Playing by ear" is an accomplishment that not everyone can do. In fact, it’s a great ability to have. At the same time, music is a language! If you want to really understand what others are saying in that language—and be able to communicate well—you will need to learn how to read it as well as speak it. There have been a number of studio sessions where I was called instead of other guitarists because the producer needed someone who could read music. Playing by ear isn’t a bad thing... in fact, it can take you a long way. My experience is that some of the best musicians can do both. If you only learn how to play by ear, or if you only learn how to read written music, you may limit how far you can go. The music industry is tough enough without placing any additional limitations on yourself.