9 Steps To Improve Your Sight Reading

 

The most complicated looking 16th note figures can be more easily understood if broken down into eighth note equivalents.

 

 

 

Before playing any part of the new piece, scan the page for:

• Key Changes
• Time Changes
• Repeat sign, CODA sign etc.
• Extremely high or low ledger line sections
• Complicated looking rhythms.

NOTE: The most complicated looking 16th note figures can be more easily understood if broken down into eighth note equivalents.

• F. Large Interval Skips. G. Written Out Chord Voicings

NOTE: If you do not have time to figure out the complete chord, concentrate on playing the top notes first, since they are sonorally predominant.

• H. Special Effects: Wah-Wah, Slow Tremelo, Echo, Etc.

• Dynamics: ppp, mp, ff, Staccato, Legato, Accented tone Etc.

1. Two from the above procedures, decide on the basic fingerings or areas of the fingerboard you will use to play the piece.
2. Now play the hardest looking thing first. NOTE: This may involve a lifemanship game in which you don't let the other guys know you're practicing the part.
3. You must always be conscious of every note you play. Improving sight reading is: Learning to learn faster through memory. Certain rhythms, tone sequences, chord voicings, tend to become standardized. Once you have seen a rhythm pattern of four eighth notes in a row, you've seen them all. This applies to scales as well. At first glance, a string of 16th notes with a lot of sharps and flats can scare you to death, but on a closer analysis, may turn out to be a simple Db scale.
4. Always force yourself to run down new material very, very slowly and build up the tempo very very gradually.
5. When actually performing the piece for the first time, DO NOT break tempo or meter when you miss a note. Learn to recover quickly and come in strong on the next entrance.
6. NOTE: When the stick comes down, it is better to miss one bar than to miss one hundred.
7. Physically, make your eye read one bar ahead. Make SPECIAL EFFORT to do this.
8. Learn to hear what you see, or be able to sing the part without playing it first. This doesn't necessarily mean: do, re, me, fa, sol, la, ti. do, but it does mean to visualize the fingerings, the string numbers and picking and from this, deduce how the passage will sound. After these conscious analysis' have been made, play the arrangement or composition like a REAL song, as though played by ear and not a plastic fabrication.
9. Writing music by ear (away from the guitar) is another way to concentrate on the disciplines of Sight Reading. Take tunes you can already play by ear and write them down in simple lead sheet form. Melody, chord symbols, fingerings, and string numbers.

The above pointers are on how to behave under pressure. The objective is to shorten the learning curve. In recording or other professional areas of playing, it is not uncommon to learn the music in the time it takes for the copyist to pass out the parts (one to three minutes - that is, if you get yours first). So, if this is the name of the game, practice at home should be carried out with the same spirit. A metronome can be invaluable in maintaining this discipline. It is also important to use the time-clock in the same way. Practice for a pre-determined period of time, and do not go beyond without reward or rest. Reward can be as simple as a drink of water and an opportunity to assimilate.

Glossary of Music Terms

A

• Accelerando (it.) - Gradually increasing the speed.
• Adagio (it.) - Slowly. Also as a name for a piece written in that tempo.
• Agitato - In an agitated, exited or restless style 
• Air - a tune, song or melody. Sometimes found in suites.
• Alegria (it.) - Joyful flamenco dance from the province of cadiz.
• Allargando (it.) - Growing broader, getting slower and louder.
• Allegretto (it.) - Just a "little allegro", slower than allegro.
• Allegro (it.) - Quick, fast, but not as fast as presto.
• Allemande (it.) - German dance in 3/4 time, 16th/17th, rather slow. Like a landler. Often the first dance in the classic suite. 
• Amoroso (it.) - Amorous, loving, affectionately.
• Andante (it.) - Rather slow, at a moderate pace.
• Andantino (it.) - A little faster than andante. (Originally it meant just the opposite, slower than andante, but is no more interpreted like that.) 
• Animato (it.) - Animated, with spirit, lively. (Originally it meant just the opposite, slower than andante, but is no more interpreted like that.) 
• Aria (it.) - A melodic composition like an air, a song or a tune. Originally for a single voice with or without accompaniment. Often also an instrumental piece with a singable melody. 
• Arietta (it.) - A small aria or air. 
• Arpeggio (it.) - In the Style of a harp. The notes of a chord are struck consecutively one after the other. 
• A tempo (it.) - In time, back to original tempo. 
• Aubade (fr.) - a morning music, the opposite of a serenade. 

B

• Barcarolle (fr.)/ Barcarola (it.) - Song in the style of the Venetian gondoliers. 
• Berceuse (fr.) - A crade song, a lullaby. 
• Bolero - Spanish dance in 3/4 time, 19th century. Also known as Cachuca. 
• Bourree (fr.) - old French dance, quick, in double time, often part of suites of pieces 
• Brillante (fr./it.) - In a bright, sparkling, brilliant manner. 

C

• Cantilene (ger.) / Cantilena (it.) - A ballad or light popular song. 
• Canzone (it.) - A song or folk song. 
• Canconetta (it.) - A little song or folk song. 
• Caprice (fr.) Capriccio (it.) Capricioso (it.) - a humorous fanciful composition with a somewhat irregular form. 
• Cavatina - A melody of a simple form. A song without a second part or a "Da Capo" a humorous fanciful composition with a somewhat irregular form. 
• Choro - A typical Brazilian music genre deriving from a mix of different European styles like polka, Scottish, tango and havanaise. Melodies emphasizing 16th notes. Choro means "crying". 
• Courante (fr.) Corrente (it.) - From "running". Old French dance in AB-form and 3/2 time. The second dance in the classic suite. a humorous fanciful composition with a somewhat irregular form. 
• Crescendo (it.) - Gradually getting louder. Abbreviated: cresc. 
• Cueca - Chilian dance written in 6/8 time with the accompaniment in 3/4 time. 

D

• Da Capo (it.) - The sign at the end of a piece saying to begin over from the beginning. Abbreviation: D.C. 
• Da Capo Al Fine (it.) - The sign at the end of a piece saying to begin over from the beginning up to where it says "Fine". 
• Deciso (it.) - Decided, energetic, with firmness. 
• Delicato (it.) - Delicately. 
• Diminuendo (it.) - Gradually getting softer. Abbreviated: dim. 
• Divertimento (it.) - (1) A light composition, (1) A suite for instrument 
• Decrescendo (it.) - Gradually getting softer. 
• Dolce (it.) - Soft, sweetly. 
• Doloroso (it.) - Sorrowful, sadly. 
• Doppio movimento (it.) - Double the speed, twice as fast. 

E

• Entree (fr.) - an introduction, a march-like piece played during the entrance of a dancing group, or played before a ballet. Usually in 4/4 time. 
• Espressivo (it.) - With expression. 
• Etude (fr.) / Study - a usually short composition meant to exercise some special difficulty or technique. 

F

• Fandango (span.) - lively Spanish dance in triple time, beginning slow and getting faster. 
• Fantasia (it.)/Fantasie (ger.)/Fantaisie (Fr.) - A compositions that is not in any of the regular forms. 
• Fine (it.) - The End. This is where to end a piece after a repeat or partial repeat. 
• Forte (it.) - Loud. Abbreviated: f 
• Fortissimo (it.) - Very Loud. Abbreviated: ff 
• Fortississimo (it.) - As loud as possible. Abbreviated: fff 
• Fugue - A polyphonic composition with one or more short themes introduced first by a one voice and repeated by other voices in turn. All this happening with harmonization according to the rule of the counterpoint. 
• Furioso (it.) - Furiously, wildly. 

G

• Galop (fr.) - a lively round-dance in 2/4 time 
• Gavotte (fr.) - French Dance in 4/4, 17th/18th century, still alive in the Bretagne, rather quick 
• Gigue (fr.) - (Jig) lively Scottish or Irish dance in 6/8, 17th/18th century, often the last part in a suite (from English jig, Giga, Geige) 
• Grandioso(it.) - Grand, noble, pompous. 
• Grave (fr.) - Slow (the slowest tempo in music) or deep in pitch 
• Grazioso (it.) - In a graceful style. 

H

• Hornpipe - An old English dance in a lively tempo written in triple and later also in quadruple time. 

L

• Landler (ger.) - A dance in 3/4 or 3/8 time and lively and graceful character. Popular among Styrian peasants. 
• Larghetto (it.) - Rather slow, but not as slow as largo
• Largo (it.) - very slow, broadly. 
• Legato (it.) - In a smooth, connected manner. Opposite of staccato
• Lento (it.) - Slow 

M

• Maestoso(it.) - Majestic, stately, with dignity. 
• Marcato(it.) - With emphasis. 
• Maxixe - A Brazilian dance first introduced in Paris in 1912. It is in 2/4 time of rapid tempo with a slight syncopation. 
• Mazurka - A lively Polish dance in 3/8 or 3/4 
• Meno mosso (it.) - Less movement, slower. 
• Menuet / Minuet (fr.) - Old French dance, in triple time, 17th/18th century, (from menu pas - small step) 
• Mezzo forte (it.) - Half loud, medium loud. Abbreviated: mf 
• Mezzo piano (it.) - Half soft, medium softly. Abbreviated: mp 
• Milonga (it.) - 1.the peppy, cheerful dance milonga as part of the tango; 2.the 'milonga campera' or 'milonga surena', an Argentinean folk music form, often performed just by a singer with a guitar, and of very clear Hispanic influence. The Milonga rhythm is characterized through the division of the 4/4 time in 3+3+2. 
• Moderato - Moderately, in a moderate time. 
• Modinha - Brazilian dance in a sentimental mood, Brazilian love song. 
• Molto (it.) - Much, very much. 
• Moerendo (it.) - Dying away, fading. 
• Musette(fr.) - (1) A small bagpipe or (2) a melody or dance written over a ground note to imitate a the sound of a bagpipe 

N

• Passepied (fr.) - French dance in 3/8 or 6/8 time, sometimes in the German Suites. 
• Passionato (it.) - With passion, with favor. 
• Partita (it) - A Suite. 
• Pavane - Slow solemn dance in duple (or sometimes triple) time, of Spanish origin; generally in three sections, each one repeated. 
• Pianissimo (it.) - Very softly. Abbreviated: pp 
• Pianississimo (it.) - As softly as possible. Abbreviated: ppp 
• Piano (it.) - Softly. Abbreviated: p 
• Piu mosso, piu moto (it) - More motion, quicker. 
• Polacca / Polonaise (fr.) - A Polish dance in moderate 3/4 time reapearting different short motives. 
• Polka - A dance in 2/4 time coming from Bohemia. 
• Prelude (it) - A piece to be played as an introduction or opening piece but often also a single romantic piece, following no specific form. 
• Presto (it) - Rapidly, very fast, faster than vivace
• Prestissimo (it) - As fast as possible. 

Q

• Quadrille (fr.) - French dance 

R

• Rallentando (it.) - Getting gradually slower. 
• Ritardando (it.) - Getting gradually slower. 
• Ritenuto (it.) - Detained, held back, slowed down. 
• Romance (fr.)/ Romanza (it.) / Romanze (ger.)- Romantic, sentimental melody. 
• Rondo - from the French "rondeau". A piece where a main theme reappears in alteration with contrasting other themes. Most often in the form of ABABA or more modern ABACAB and coda. 

S

• Sarabande (it.) - A dance of Spanish origin in 3/4 or 3/2 time. Often part of old suites. It has a steady pace and mostly two parts. 
• Serenade (fr.) - An evening music. A composition for use in the open air at night. 
• Siciliano (it.) Sicilienne (fr.) - - a soft, slow peasant dance in 6/8 or 12/8 time, often in a minor key. Rather similar to a Pastorale, usually in ABA form. It usually has a melody in dotted rhythms, with a broken chord accompaniment. 
• Sonata (it.) - A composition for one or two instruments with several movements, each following specific forms and characteristics. 
• Sonatina (it.) / Sonatine (fr.)- A short sonata, smaller, with less and shorter movements and the subjects not developed at length. 
• Staccato (it.) - In a crisp, detached separated manner. Opposite of legato
• Stringendo (it.) - hasting the movement, becoming faster, pressing. 
• Study / Etude - a usually short composition meant to exercise some special difficulty or technique. 
• Suite (fr.) - A set or series of movements, each consisting of a dance form (Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Gavotte, Menuet, Bourree, Passepied, etc.) and all in the same key. Often proceeded by a Prelude. 

T

• Tango - A dance originated in the streets and salons of Buenos Aires, Argentine. It is characterized as very as passionate. 
• Tarantella - A rapid Italian dance (supposed to cure the bite of a tarantula). 
• Tempo (it.) - Time in the meaning of "rate of movement". 
• Toccata (it.) - Brilliant, prelude-like composition. 
• Tranquillo (it.) - Tranquilly, quietly, calmly. 

V

• Valse(fr.) - See Waltz
• Variations - A theme repeated several times, each time with modifications in time, melody or harmony, but still staying recognizable as the original theme. 
• Vivace (it.) - Lively, very fast. 

W

• Waltz / Valse (fr.) / Valce (it.) / Walzer (ger.)- A dance form said to originate in Bohemia or the German landler. It is in 3/4 time. "Classical" waltzes are compositions in waltz-form but not for dancing. 

Carcassi, Matteo (1792-1853 Italy) Sheet Music

Gallop    No difficulties, sounds nice. 

Andantino from "The Nouveau Papillon" op.5    Simple piece with very beautiful melody.  

From the six caprices op.46:

Caprice No.2    This one is my favourite among the six.

Caprice No.4    Very vivid and has to be played fluently and fast (like all of these six).

Caprice No.5    Listen, how the melody lies in the arpeggios and changes to the bass notes.

 

From the 25 progressive melodic studies op 60:


Etude no.3 op60 - Andantino     One of the easier ones and fun to play.

Etude no.7 op60 - Allegro     Try this one to help you build up some speed or to prepare for Recuerdos de la Alhambra. 

Etude no.9 op60 - Allegro grazioso  

Etude no.11 op60 - Agitato     Quick changes between upper and lower melody. 

Etude no.13 op60 - Andantino grazioso    The melody in the lower notes and quick chaneges from arpegios to tremoloes. 

Etude no.14 op60 - Allegro moderato    Practice this kind of flowing melody line 

Etude no.16 op60 - Andante     This one has a beautiful melody. 

Etude no.22 op60 - Allegretto    The melody lines run over all 6 strings - good practice 

Etude no.25 op60 - Allegro brillante    Now this one is something else to play right. 

 

Download: Carcassi, Matteo Sheet Music