- 1). Get familiar with the basics of the music staff. There are five lines and four spaces. Each of these lines and spaces represents a note. Notes higher or lower than those written on the staff are notated by adding lines above or below the staff. A basic book on music notation showing these notes is good to keep on hand while you're getting familiar with the staff. You can also find the information online at no charge (see Resources).
- 2). Begin with a blank sheet of staff paper. Indicate whether the music is treble or bass clef, meaning the notes written will be for a bass instrument (notes in a low range, such as bass guitar) or treble clef (notes in the treble range, such as guitar). A basic music notation book will show you how to draw a treble or bass clef sign.
Indicate a time signature. Common time is 4/4, which means four beats fill each measure. A measure is indicated by horizontal bar lines on the music staff. To fill those measures with four beats, use music notes of various durations that equal four beats. Those durations make up the rhythm of the notes in the sheet music. - 3). Consult a basic book on reading music or a free online guide (see Resources) until you're familiar with the values of music notes and how they combine to create rhythms. A whole note is four beats and takes up an entire bar in common time. A half note is equal to two beats. You can fit two of those in a bar. Quarter notes are worth one beat each, meaning four of them will fit in a bar. Other notes include eighth notes, 16th notes and 32nd notes.
- 4). Notate a few simple melody lines. Choose a key to write your song in. The key of C is a good key to start in. There are no sharps or flats. You'll be using the notes C-D-E-F-G-A and B. Use these notes and keep them confined to the five lanes and four spaces of your music staff. Use your instrument of choice to play a simple melody, then transfer that melody to your music staff. Start by playing all whole notes. This means you will use one note per measure for each note you play. When you feel as if you can begin varying the rhythm, go for a more complex arrangement by combining whole, half and quarter notes. Gradually work your way up to adding combinations of eighth, 16th and 32nd notes.
- 5). Study music theory. You can purchase music theory books at a book or music store. You can also find the information online (see Resources). The study of music theory is lifelong. There's always something new and interesting to learn. If you're serious about understanding music, you'll want to pursue this type of study. Reading basic notation isn't difficult, but obtaining a deep understanding of how these notes work together will take desire, determination and study.
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