Do most rock and roll guitar players know how to read music?

I mean like Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads or Jimmy Hendrix. I know it's impossible to know, but approximately what percent of really good rock and roll guitarists do you think play mostly by ear?|||Typically no. Jimi %26amp; SRV said they couldn't read music. Rock players are known for not reading music. Mostly classical %26amp; studio/session guitarists can read music.|||Steve Howe of YES (who I consider to be one of the best in the world) was once asked if he could read music. His answer was "Yes, but not enough to hurt me".





I read, but haven't a need to score out music since my last progressive rock band at the end of the 70's. (When you're playing a 20 minute long piece that changes time signatures every time you blink, it helps).





Most rockers don't read. Most jazz players do, and for classical it's a requirement. But, if you get a chance to learn how to read music I say do it. It's kind of like being in a country where you don't speak the language. You can get by, but it's a lot easier if you do speak the local tongue.





Greetings from Austin, TX





Ken