How to Read Sheet Music (notation) for Guitar

This guide will give you a good introduction to reading music notation - a guide for students learning a 6-string guitar
(electric, acoustic & classical).

Labelled diagram of music notation:

The diagram below is an example of music notation using the treble clef stave that 6-string guitarists use:

Treble Clef Up Stroke This bracketed area is a bar

Key Signature

#3
Down stroke

& 4

Time Signature These 5 horizontal Bar line End bar line
lines are a stave (at the end
of a piece)

Notes on the stave

The diagram on the right is a Treble Clef or G Clef - it is called this as it surrounds the
G line. Now you know where the note G is you can count up (G, A, B, C etc) and
down (G, F, E, D etc) the spaces and lines to find out where the other notes are. It is
& w G line
also important to mention that the musical alphabet goes from notes A to G.

&
Treble Clef/G Clef

D E F G A B C

&
Here are some easy ways to help you remember where the notes on the stave are:

Spaces Lines
w w w
& wF A
& w w & w w w

15

C E E G B D F

This spells FACE Rhyme: Every Green Bus Drives Fast

23

&
You will also see notes that go above and below the stave. For these notes we use ledger lines to show us the pitch

w
of the note. For example:

w w w w w

31

&
& w
w w w w w
w
E F G A B C D G A B C D E

39

& R

MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 1 Copyright 2014 DS Music

47
Guitar Fingerboard (Standard Notation) Note Finder

w w
6 5 4 3 2 1
& 6 5 4
w3 2
w
1
String Numbers
& w w w
w w
w
w
Open &
& w
& w w w
w w
w
w w
w
E A D G B E w
w
w w
w
w
Strings
w
w w w
& #bww w w w
w
& #bww w ###bbbw w
w w
w
&
& w #b ww w ###bbbw
ww #bw
w
ww
ww w
w
& w ###bbb w
A# D# G#
F Bb Eb Ab C F 1st Fret
w
w #b w
ww
w
ww #bw ww
w
w
#bww w #bww w
& w w ###bbbww ###bbbw
ww
w
ww
& w w
w ww
ww #bw
F# C# F# &
& #bb ww
& w w
w
w
w
w w
w #bw
Gb B E A Db Gb
2nd Fret
##bb ww
w
ww w
w w
#b w
w w
& w #bww w w w
w
w
&
& w w ###bbbw
ww w
w w
w w #bw ww w
A#
G C F Bb D G 3rd Fret &
& w w
w
w w
w w
w
w
w w
#bww w #bww w
& #bww w w ###bbbw ###bbbww
ww
& #b ww w ###bbbw w
w #bw w
w
ww
w #bw ww
& ###bbb w
& w
ww ###bbb w ww w
w
G# C# F# D# G#
Ab Db Gb B Eb Ab & w
ww #bw ww
w
w #b w
4th Fret
##bb ww
ww
w ww
w w
& w w w w
w
& w w w
w
w w
w
w w
&
& w w
w w
w w
A D G C E A
w
5th Fret
w w
w
w #bww w
#bwww w ##bbbww
& #bwww ###bbw w
w #bw ww
w
A# D# G# C# A# & b ww #bwww ##bbw #bw ww
ww w
Bb Eb Ab Db F Bb & ###bb w
&
ww
##bbw
#bw w #bwww
w
6th Fret
##b www
w ww w
w #bwww w
& w w w ###bbw
ww w
w
F# &
& w w w
w
w
w
w #bwww
B E A D Gb B 7th Fret &
& w w
w
w w
w
w w
#bww w w w
& w w #bwww ##bbbww w
w
w w
w
A# D# & w
w ###bbw
ww #bw ww
w w
C F Bb Eb G C 8th Fret &
& w w w
w #bwww
w #bww w #b ww w
w ###bbb ww
& #b ww #bww w w
w w
w
w
###bbbw
#bw
w
ww
ww #b w ww
ww
C# F# G# C# &
& ###bbbww w
w w
Db Gb B E Ab Db & ####bbb w
& w #bw ww
w w
9th Fret
w
ww
ww w w w
w w w w
w
w
& w w w w
w w
w
w w
&
& ww w
w w
w
D G C F A D 10th Fret
& w
& w w
w w #b ww w
w
w #bww w ###bbb w
#bww w w
& #bww #bww w #bww
###bbbw
w ###bbbw
ww ###bbbw
#bw
w
ww
ww #b w ww
ww
D# G# C# F# A# D# 11th Fret
&
& ###bbbw ww #bw
w
ww
ww #bw ww
w
Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb
& ####bbbbw
& ww
w
ww
ww #bw ww
w
w w
w w w w
w
w
& w w w w
w w
w
w w
E A D G B E 12th Fret
& w
w w
w w
w
& w
& w
& w
w
w
w
w R

Copyright 2014 DS Music Page 2 www.dsmusic.com MUSIC

 Rhythms - Note Values

Here are the most common note lengths:

j r j r
w w
This is a Semibreve (or whole note) - it lasts
for 4 beats
This is a Quaver (or eighth note) - it lasts for
half a beat.
You will also see
quavers grouped


j r as follows:

This is a Minim (or half note) - it lasts for 2
beats

j is a rCrotchet (or quarter note) - it lasts j r

for 1 beat w
This This is a Semiquaver (or sixteenth note) - it
lasts for a quarter of a beat

You will also see

semiquavers


grouped as follows:

Here is a handy chart which explains the breakdown of note lengths:

j r
Semibreve (whole note) w 4 beats

j r j r
Minim (1/2 note)
You can fit 2 of these in a semibreve w w 2 beatseach

j r j r j r j r
w w w w 1 beateach
Crotchet (1/4 note)
You can fit 4 of these in a semibreve

Quaver (1/8 note)

You can fit 8 of these in a semibreve



1/2
beat
a
each

Semiquaver (1/16 note)

You can fit 16 of these in a semibreve




1/4 of a beat each

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 Rhythms - Dotted Notes
If you see a dot after a note this extends the length of the note by half of its value. For example:

j r j r
w w
A dotted semibreve (dotted whole note) is worth
6 beats (4 beats, plus the dot which is 2 beats =
A dotted crotchet (dotted 1/4 note) is worth 1
and a 1/2 beats (1 beat, plus the dot which is
6 beats) 1/2 a beat = 1 and a 1/2 beats)

j r j r
w
A dotted minim (dotted 1/2 note) is worth 3 A dotted quaver (dotted 1/8 note) is worth 3/4 of
beats (2 beats, plus the dot which is 1 beat = 3 a beat (1/2 a beat, plus the dot which is 1/4 of a
beats) beat = 3/4 of a beat)

Here is an example of music with dotted notes in:

& 4
4 j j
w
1 2 + 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 + 1 2 3 4

Rhythms - Rests

Where there is a gap in a piece of music you will see symbols called rests which tell you how long to stop playing for.
Heres a chart to show rests and their time values:

Note Beats Equivalent Rest Name of Rest
j r
w 4
Semibreve rest (suspended from the 4th line)
3rd line)
Note: the semibreve rest also acts as a whole bar rest
j r rest (mounted
on the
w 2
rest
Minim

j r
1

Quaver rest
Crotchet

j r
1/2
j r
1/4
Semiquaver rest
j r
w 6 rest
w 3 minimrest
Dotted semibreve

j r
j r1 1/2 Dotted crotchet
rest
Dotted

j r 3/4 quaver rest
Dotted
j r
3/8
Dotted semiquaver rest

Note: A semibreve rest is also used as a whole bar rest in any time signature (time signatures are
R
explained on page 6)

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 Rhythms - Ties & Tempo Markings
A tie joins two notes of exactly the same pitch together to extend the length of the note. You will see ties over bar lines
or sometimes within the bar to keep the grouping of the notes correct making the music easier to read. You play the
first note and hold it on for the full duration of the two tied notes. For example:

q = 60 A tempo rit. U

4
&4

1 2 3 4 + 1 2 + 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

The 2nd and 3rd notes are tied across the half The last note (crotchet) in bar 3 is tied to the
bar (middle of the bar), so instead of playing two first note (mimim) in bar 4 so this would last
crotchets you would add these together for 3 beats.
therefore making the note 2 beats long.

Pauses
rit.in the above example is a pause U

The symbol above the last note - this means that you sustain this note - the

length of the pause is at the performers discretion. You often see pauses at the ends of phrases and/or at the end of a

piece of music.

+ 1 2 + 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Rit. Rall. & Riten.

The marking above bar 3 is a ritardando (rit.) which means to gradually slow down in tempo (speed). You will also
notice that there is either a line or dots after a rit. which indicates how long the gradual tempo change should last.
For example: rit.
U
You will sometimes see rallentando (rall.) which is an alternative marking

for for the same tempo change. There is also Ritenuto (Riten.) which is fairly similar apart from it means to slow down
the tempo immediately rather than gradually.


2 + 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Accelerando
You may also see accel. (accelerando) marked above the stave which requires you to gradually speed up. This too
usually has a line or dots after the marking to specifiy the length of this tempo change.
For example: accel.

Tempo Markings
At the beginning of a piece of music the tempo is normally stated - please see our example above where the tempo
is q = 60 . The composer/arranger
A tempomarks this tempo so that the performer knows how fast to play the piece. The
number states how many beats per minute and the note value states the type of beat - i.e in our example above
there are 60 crotchet beats per minute. Most performers will use a metronome where you can simply select the
beats per minute and then it will sound a pluse at this tempo for you to play along with (note: metronomes are only
used whilst preparing pieces of music and not during performances).

A Tempo
A Tempo usually appears after a tempo (speed) change, such as a Rit. or Accel. A Tempo means return to the
original tempo which is usually stated at the beginning of a piece of music.
q = 60of the A Tempo sign: A tempo
Here is an example

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Rhythms - Time Signatures

At the start of a piece of music you will see a set of two numbers, one on top of the other. This is called the time
signature and this tells you how to count within that piece of music.

The top number tells you how many beats

## 4
are in a bar

& 4
The bottom number tells you the type of beats,
ie crotchets (quarter notes), minims (half
notes), etc. This number is how many of the
type of beat you can fit into a semibreve - ie
minim would be 2, quaver would be 8, etc

Here is our handy chart from earlier to help you understand how many of each type of beat fits into a semibreve:

j r
Semibreve (whole note) w

j r j r
Minim (1/2 note)
You can fit 2 of these in a semibreve w w

j r j r j r j r
w w w w
Crotchet (1/4 note)
You can fit 4 of these in a semibreve

Quaver (1/8 note)

You can fit 8 of these in a semibreve

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 Here are some time signatures explained:

2
1 =
- There are 2 beats in a bar
2 Semibreve (whole note) beats per bar
- Semibreve (whole note) beats

2
&1 w
1
w
2
w
1 +

2 + 1

w
+ 2
w
1
w
2

2 C 6 3
2 - There are 2 beats in a bar
- Minim (1/2 note) beats
8= 8 2 minim (1/2 note) beats per bar

(2 refers to minim beats as this is how many of that type of beat you can fit into a semibreve)

2
&2 w
2 2 3 3 time, 4 4 cancbe written 22 22 or C C 68 68 38 38
+ + +

c as either
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

4 as4 cut-common
2/2 is also known 4 4 4 and 4

2 3 4 c 2 C 6
4 4 4
- There are 2 beats in a bar
- Crotchet (1/4 note) beats = 2 crotchet (1/4 note) beats per bar 2 8
(4 refers to crotchet beats as this is how many of that type of beat you can fit into a semibreve)

2
&4
1 2 1 + 2 + 1 2 + 1 2

43 44- There are 3 beats in a bar

- Crotchet (1/4 note) beats
c= 2
2
3 crotchet (1/4 note) beats per bar C 6 3
8 8

3
&4
1 2 3 1 + 2 3 1 2 + 3 + 1 2 3

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 44 c
- There are 4 beats in a bar
- Crotchet (1/4 note) beats
2
2= C
4 crotchet (1/4 note) beats per bar 6 3
8 8
4
&4 w
2 23 3 4 4 22 22 68 68
1 2 3 4 1 + 2 3 + 4 1 2 3 + 4 1 2 3 4

4 4 4 4 4 4
4/4 is also known as common time, and can be written as either or c c C C

38 - There are 3 beats in a bar

- Quaver (1/8 note) beats = 3 quaver (1/8 note) beats per bar

(8 refers to quaver beats as this is how many of that type of beat you can fit into a semibreve)

3 j
&8
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 + 1 2 3

6 3
8 8- There are 6 beats in a bar
- Quaver (1/8 note) beats = 6 quaver (1/8 note) beats per bar

6
&8
1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 + 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6

Note: It is important to mention that the above 6/8 time signature is grouped in 2 dotted crotchet (2 dotted 1/4
notes) beats per bar which helps you to play more lyrically - this is counted 123, 456 with beats 1 and 4
being emphasised. This also applies to 3/8 which is grouped as 1 dotted crotchet (dotted 1/4 note) beat per
bar for the same reason - this is counted 123 with beat 1 emphasised.

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 Accidentals
If you play all the notes we have mentioned in the Notes on the Stave section on page 1, you will notice that you

# b #n b n
havent used all of the frets on your guitar, so what are the rest for? Well, these are the in-between notes (the same

# b n
as the black notes on a piano) - the sharps and flats

Sharps - If you see these either in a key signature or before a note in a piece of music this
means to raise that note by half a step (semitone) - move up one fret.

# b n Flats - If you see these either in a key signature or before a note in a piece of music this
means to lower that note by half a step (semitone) - move down one fret.

b n Naturals - You may see a natural sign to cancel out a previous accidental (sharp or flat), or
if it is altering an accidental from the key signature. A natural could be raising or lowering
depending on whether the note was sharp or flat before. If it was sharp then the natural
will lower the note by half a step (semitone) - down one fret, or if the note was flat then the
natural will raise the note by half a step (semitone) - up one fret.

When sharps or flats are seen in the key signature (you will not see both at once) then those sharp/flat signs apply
throughout the whole piece of music (unless otherwise altered within the music score). For example:

### 4 b 4
& 4 & b bb 4
This means
This key signature meansthatthat
all F,
allC & G's in this piece
Thiswill
keybe This means
sharp
signature means that allall
that B, E, A & D's in this piece will be flat
Fs, Cs & Gs in this piece are sharp Bs, Es, As & Ds in this piece are flat
(raise by half a step) (lower by half a step)

If you see sharps, flats or naturals directly before a note then they effect that particular note and last from their
marking for the duration of that bar only and for just that particular note (unless they are cancelled out by another
accidental). For example:

4
&4 # # n etc.etc.

This G would This G sharp has been

ThisbeGsharp
also is also sharp due to Thisout
cancelled G#byis the
cancelled
natural
the G# accidental 2 notes out by the natural
previous

For a list of all the notes on the guitar shown on the stave and on the guitar fretboard please see our guitar fingering
chart on page 2.

MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 9 Copyright 2014 DS Music

 & ### w
b bw w
w
w # w
w<n>
# w
w
w<#>
www
w nw
w
w
w <#> w
w
w & # #### nww
w
w <#>w
w
w
& & #

<#> <n>
Key Signatures
bww w
w w
w w
w
# w
<#>
w w
<#>
& # # w # #nww w
w nw w
w & b w the clef) which
# # w
# w
w w w
#in.wA key signature w
w tells w
A key signature is a combination of sharps or flats found at the start of a piece of music (after
& the key to&play
indicates
played sharp or flat
you which notes (by their placement on the stave) are consistently
(this applies to the note at any octave). For example:

<#>
is thew
has 2<n>
w
w ## # nThis
w
w w
w b bThis
Itw
w
w
<#> &b
w w
& ## ## that #n#Fs w
key signature for D Major. is the key signature for Bb Major.

<#>w
w w #any
# w
ww& Cs- F#w
w nw piece w
w
w any Bsw
w &- Bb
w
It has 2 sharps & C#. This means flats & Eb. This means
& &
music willw
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w
w
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this
w
wby
of that Es in this piece of
music will be flattened (lowered by

<#>
w
half a step (semitone)) half a step (semitone))
w
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w
<#>
w # w
<n><#>
w # # # w #n w
ww the music
w
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w w
w
&
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what
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key
# w
w w w
w w
w w
ww w way through a piece of music, this is because as a piece of
is in, a key signature cuts down on the amount of written accidentals within
&
music progresses &
the
#
key signature change part
it is common for the composer to change key to create a new mood.

<#> <#>
w
<b>w
# n w w keysb (the
w
<n>
w w
<n>
# w
Each major and minor key has an allocated key signature. Here is a diagram of the major keys with their key
w # w # w w
w w key with the same key signature). In the outer ring of the circle w
b w bw w
<#>
# # w w w w
<#>
w & ## #### &#w### n#w w w w w w w
signature and their relative minor minor you

w
w # w
w n w
w w
w & & w
w w w
w w
w
w
will find the major keys with the relative minor keys in the inner circle:
& & # w w w
w w
<n> <n>
bw w wbw
<
w w bw
<n><n> <n>
w w w b w w
<n>
& w
w bbw
wb
www
w bw
ww
ww
w w &w
w & w
w w
w w
<#><nw
w w
<#>w
&&& & w w
ww
w
ww ww# w
www w w
w &
b w w
w b wb ww w
#### ## <#> <#>
w w
<n>
w w
<n>
nw
ww
w w
w w n w
w w
w w
w & #w
w w w
w w
w w
w
& b # & w
w w
w w w
w w w & &
<#>
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<#>
w
& #C b w w
w<
w w b w bw
<#>
w
<#> <#>
w w w b w
<#>
w
w b bb
w
wwww
w b w
www w w
w # # # w
w w
w w
<#
F & a min ## # G # w
w w
ww
w w
ww
w w
w &w
w & b w w
<#>
w
<#>
w n w w n w w & & & w &# w
<#> <#>
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w # # # w # w
w w w
w & # n#w w n w w
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w & # b#b# w w w # &bw w w
w <n>w
w ww
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& b b & ww
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& & bw w w & b w
<#>
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<#>
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b w w n w w &
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w w b b w # b w w w w n w w
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w b bbb
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w & w w b w b w & b w
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wb w bw w w w w w
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w w w w <#>w
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w w nw ww w
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w ## # ##ww w # w wnw w w ww
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w b & b w w w w w
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The sharps or flats in a key signature are always written in the same order:
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& b b b w Flats will walways
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An easy way to remember the order of sharps is by You this simply the reverse of the order
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How to work out what
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Major Keys:
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wlast sharp which is A#, then go
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thew
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If the key signature has sharps, then go to the last sharp
and go up half a step (semitone) to find the major key.
For example if you have the following key signature:
up half
w
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a step
w (semitone) to B and this is
your major key - B major. &
<n> <#>
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signature has flats, go to the penultimate flat Go to the penultimate

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and that is your major key. For example if you have the and this is your major key - Eb major.
following key signature:

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Find out the name of the major key and then go down 3 This key signature has sharps so if we
b w
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halfw
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For example if you have the following key signature:

&
3 half

<n>
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the relative minor - f# minor.
w w
<n>
w w w
<#>
b b of this using a flatwkey signature:
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<n>
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w n w
w w w
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&example & w w w
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<n>
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to the relative minor - c minor.

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www.dsmusic.com
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MUSIC Page 11 Copyright 2014 DS Music

& w w ####
& # &
 Dynamics

Dynamics tell you how loud or soft to play a section of music. Here is a table of dynamics from quietest to loudest:

Symbol Italian English Definition

pp p mppianissimo
mf f ff Very quiet

pp p mp mfpiano f ff Quiet

p mp mf fmezzo ff
piano Moderately quiet

mp mf f ff mezzo forte Moderately loud

mf f ff forte Loud

f ff fortissimo Very Loud

ff crescendo Gradually becoming louder

diminuendo / decrescendo Gradually becoming quieter

You will see dynamic markings underneath the stave and they may change throughout the piece of music as seen in
the below example:

4
&4
p p mp

5 U
&
ff

MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 12 Copyright 2014 DS Music

 19 18 17 16
2 3 4 5 6

Da
&

Navigation
- Repeats, DalSegno & Codas
Capo,

To save writing out lots of repeated music within a piece you will see various symbols to tell you where to navigate to
14 13 12
within the music - Repeats, Da Capo, Dal Segno & Codas being the most common ways.

8 9 10 11

&


Repeat Marks
10 9 8 7
If you need to go back to the beginning of the music you will see one repeat mark at the end of the section they want
you to repeat up to. For example:

4
13 2 14 3 15

&4
4

& 44


&
2 3 4
4
5 4 3 2
17 18 19 20

6 7
&
5 6 7 8

5 8

&
etc.etc.

etc.

So in the above example you would play bars 1-4, then go back to the beginning and repeat bars 1-4, then continue
past the repeat mark on to bar 5 and onwards.

If you need to go back to a specific point within the music then you will see two sets of repeat marks to show you the
exact section: 2 3 4 5 6

44
2 3 4 5 6
&
4

2 3 4 5 6

& 44
&

7 8 9 10 11

7 8 9 10 11
&
7 8 9 10 11

&
&

12 13 14 15

12 13 14 15

&
12 13 14 15
&
&

16 17 18 19 20

16 17 18 19 20
&

16 17 18 19 20

&
&

In this example you would play bars 1-13, then you would jump back to the start repeat mark at bar 9 and repeat bars
9-12, then continue past the repeat mark on to bar 13 and onwards.

MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 13 Copyright 2014 DS Music

1st & 2nd Time Endings
Another way to cut down on writing out excess music is to have a 1st time ending and a 2nd time ending. When you
reach the end of the 1st time ending you will see a repeat mark which will either send you back to the beginning, or
another repeat mark:

1.

1.
2 3 4

44

2 3 4

& 44
&

2.
2.
5 6 7 8

5 6 7 8
&
&

etc.

etc.
etc.

In this example the first time you play you would play bars 1-4, then follow the repeat marks back to bar 1. Then you
would play bars 1-2, but then instead of playing the 1st time ending (bars 3-4) you would play the 2nd time ending
(bars 5-6), then continue on through the music.

Da Capo, Dal Segno & Codas

Da Capo al Fine means 'from the beginning to the end' (Fine means end). In this case you would play from bar 1 to
16 then where you see Da Capo al Fine you go back to the beginning and then when you come across the the word
'Fine' this is where you would finish playing. For example:

4
&4

&
Fine

12 Da Capo al Fine
&

MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 14 Copyright 2014 DS Music

 7

&

Da Capo al Coda means 'from the beginning to the coda'. Here you would go back to the beginning as stated and
then where you see the words 'to coda' or the following
12 symbol fi then you would jump to the Coda Dawhich
Capo alwill
Codabe a

To Coda
&

separate section at the end of the music and will have the coda symbol at the start of it. For example:

4
&4 w
fi Coda

17

&

&

12 fi To Coda Da Capo al Coda

&

17fi Coda

& w

4
&4

Dal Segno means from the sign and is often abbreviated to D.S.7 The sign looks like this %
When you see the words 'Dal Segno' or D.S. then you need to go& find
and
back this
sign
from
and repeat there.

If there are no other instructions then you would play this straight through to the end. For example:

4
12
Fine
&
&4

18

&

8
%
&

22

Dal Segn
&

16

&

Dal Segno
&
R

MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 15 Copyright 2014 DS Music

Dal Segno al Fine means 'from the sign to the end'. In this case when you see D.S. go back to the sign and then
when you come across the word 'Fine' finish playing. For example:

4
&4

%
&
7

12
Fine
&

18

&

22
Dal Segno al Fine
&

4
&4

&

Dal Segno al Coda means 'from the sign to the coda'. When you see D.S. go back to the sign and then when you
see the words 'to coda' or the following
12 symbol fi To
jump
Codato the Coda. The Coda is a Daseparate section at the end of the
Capo al Coda
music and will have the coda symbol &
at the start

of it.

For example:

& 4 &fi
4
17 Coda

7 %
&

12 fi To Coda Dal Segno al Coda
&




17fi Coda


& w

R

MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 16 Copyright 2014 DS Music