How does a guitarist play sheet music designed for Piano/Voice/ and Guitar (chord charts)?

Question

I'm looking at piece of sheet music designed for Piano/Voice and guitar, more specifically this piece-

http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0040094


Anyways, it has the piano and voice written out but it only has chord charts for the guitar, how do I know what rhythm to play, do I only play the chord once for eacho chord chart or do I follow the piano rhythm exactly? I do know how to read music and rhythm notation but have never learned using this type or sheet music. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

I follow the melody line, observing the chord names to play, but not necessarily the exact chords shown in diagram. Mindful of the time meter I will ad lib to what I feel is correct until I can listen to the artist's rendition.

Even after hearing the recorded version I will usually play it in my style. If there are certain bass notes in the F clef that captures my attention I will insert those if the song demands it.

Answer 2

There are plenty of great guitar players that can not read sheet music. So is the skill to be able to read sheet music necesarry? No. But would that skill be beneficial. Of course it would be. Being able to read sheet music only further widens your possiblities and potential as a guitar player. I think that guitar tabs are a perfectly acceptable version of guitar music, and i read them. I do also read guitar sheet music. Being able to read and understand sheet music and musical notes will better help you understand the chords. If you ignore sheet music, you can still be a fine guitar player, but i recomend learning it. It is a lot easier to learn it if you have guitar lessons, or a friend who knows how to read sheet music and plays guitar. Given how much you practice, you could probably become a good guitar player in a few months. I have only been playing guitar for 6 months and I do know plenty of songs. I practice as much or maybe more than you, just not for a set time. Some days i practice for 10 minutes, some I get on a roll learning a song and practice for 2 hours. And some days I don't practice at all. I'm on more of a relaxed schedual of learning guitar. As your skill level begins to increase, and it will if you continue practicing, you will play more most likely. Just keep practicing and you will learn to play guitar well.

Answer 3

Both answers above are good, I like to sing the melody, and use a rhythm pattern that fits with the vocal line. If you are playing with a piano, play a rhythm that fits in without stepping on the piano part. Jazz charts are like this (fake charts) the bass, piano, and guitar just have the melody and chords, it's up to them to determine the rhythm. Don't over analyze it, you'll probably end up playing it different every time - which is o.k.

Answer 4

Charts like the one you are working with are reduced to simplification, and are open to interpretation. To get a feel of how a guitar part for this piece may sound, listen to Paulas version. You don't have to stick to what is written or to what you hear unless the chart is specifically written to be played as such. Have fun, be creative.