Hi folks,
I've been playing for approaching five years (after a multi-decade break). Looking at sheet music, off the top of my head I can't tell you immediately what any given note is. I have to use a memory tool like "FACE" or "EGBDF", or think "it's just below middle C, so it's a B" etc. And this takes me a second or so, meaning that it's not instantaneous. But I can generally play the right note right away, so my fingers assume the right position.
For reference, I was always terrible at memorizing blanket information, like multiplication tables, formulas, or arbitrary facts. I'm incredibly fast at reading in general, just not music.
Should reading become automatic? Am I missing something? Or are some people just "disabled" at reading music and that's life?
Submitted September 26, 2026 at 03:13PM by bassoonawhat https://www.reddit.com/r/Learnmusic/comments/1wqxew3/five_years_in_still_cant_fluidly_read/?utm_source=ifttt
Javier Rodriguez
Saturday, September 26, 2026