Before You Begin

Before you tackle these steps, get your hands on some beginner-level sheet music to use as a reference as you're going along. See if you can find a copy of a song you like. This will be a tremendous help in familiarizing yourself with the basic fundamentals we'll present.

Another big help will be to find yourself an instrument. Even though you don't need one to read music in general, an instrument can be invaluable when it comes to understanding how a note's sound relates to what appears on paper. We'll focus on music for keyboard instruments, such as the piano or organ. However, music theory is generally universal, regardless of what instrument you're playing (including your voice).

If you don't have access to an instrument of your own, try renting or borrowing one from a friend. Sometimes community centers or religious organizations have instruments (especially pianos or organs) that are available for public use. Even if you're planning to sing the music you learn to read, it's important to know how it should sound and where to start.