rapid lecture of chords

[xxxtof]

Hi,

   Please forgive me if I don't use the exact english terms.

   I often have difficulty to read rapidly chords... For example a chord with 3 notes. Do we read first the low note and place the other 2 fingers accordingly to the low note or read the high note and place the other 2 low fingers ?

   I suppose you may answer read the 3 notes at once. Still, I suppose that there is a preferred voice (low or high ?) that you follow. It helps me placing my hand faster.

   Also, if you have links about basic technics for rapid lecture of scores, it would help me.
   Thanks a lot,

Christophe

[mike_lang]

.

[quantum]

I like to use the visual arrangement of notes on the page to read groups of chords.  For example a triad in root position could have Note-space-note-space-note.  Then you apply the key signature and any accidentals to the chord, this could make such chord major, minor, diminished, etc. The point being the spacing between the notes give you a general idea how to form your fingers to play the chord. 

As you play more chords, you will notice that certain types of chords have certain visual arrangements on the staff - equating to certain hand positions at the keys.  When you become familiar with these, you can begin recognizing chords without reading all the notes.  I like to pick one note to read (top or bottom) and stick to that a particular sequence of chords. 

When you say rapid lecture, I guess you mean fast or fluent sight reading?  One thing that will help you is to read ahead.  As soon as you read a chord, move your eyes to the next chord even though your fingers are not finished playing.  This will build up a buffer in your brain, in case some more difficult chords come up the flow of the music will not be interrupted. It is a good idea to keep your eyes ahead as much as possible.  In essence your eyes are reading a different place in the music ahead of what your fingers are playing. 

[neardn]

I suppose you may answer read the 3 notes at once.

It is impossible to read 3 notes at once. The human mind can only examine one "item" at one time, no matter how close the "items" (or in this case notes) might be together

sight reading is simply recognizing patterns. When you see a C major chord, you don't technically "read" it. You recognize all of the notes as a whole.

As always, the only thing to do is practice.

Looking at the bottom note of the chord is best though

[fenz]

Sometimes I read the low notes and sometimes the high notes... it depends on chord position. I'll read the easiest way to identify the chord