Since so many guitarists are self-taught or have had a few lessons from a friend it is common that they have not had much need or want to learn to sight read music. Tablature (tab) is a method of explaining a piece of music in a more visual way and can be much easier to understand for the guitarist as the information is laid out in a way that directly reflects the strings and frets of the guitar.
The strings are on lines that are usually labelled and fret positions are shown by numbers on the lines. Most often the low E string (thickest) is the bottom line and the high e (thinnest) is the top line for a piece in standard tuning. The vertical lines usually show a point where the piece of music will repeat from but can also show bars of music depending on the writer of the tab.
Standard tuning tab.
e---------------|-----------------B---------------|-----------------G---------------|-----------------D---------------|-----------------A---------------|-----------------E---------------|-----------------The numbers on the lines show you which fret to play on the guitar. below is the C major scale this would be played by putting your finger just behind fret number 3 on the A string (2nd thickest) then the 5th fret on the same string. We then move to the next string, D, and play the second, third and fifth frets and on the G string second fourth and fifth frets.The notes in this scale are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C …Hey I bet you didn’t expect to learn that in a tab lesson.The C major scalee------------------|B------------------|G------------2-4-5-|D------2-3-5-------|A--3-5-------------|E------------------|Chords Chords are written with all the notes stacked on top of each other below is the chord progression G, C the D. Note that on the C and D chords there are strings that are not labelled with a note, Simply do not strum those strings. e--3--0--3--|
B--0--1--2--|
G--0--0--3--|
D--0--2--0--|
A--2--3-----|
E--3--------|
B--0--1--2--|
G--0--0--3--|
D--0--2--0--|
A--2--3-----|
E--3--------|
The major drawback to using tabs rather than standard sheet music is that there is no set way to show how long to hold the notes (however some people try to show it with larger gaps between notes that are held for longer). It is important that you listen closely to the music to hear where the notes change then play along with it until you have it in your memory.
Now for some of the symbols you will find in tabs:
Bends are common in solos, start by fretting the note as normal then bend it until it sounds the same as the next semi tone or next note. This is another time you’re going to have to listen to the music to figure out what to do!
e-----------------------------B--------------7b-----7b------G—9b----9b--------------------D-----------------------------A-----------------------------E-----------------------------Sometimes it is written like this when you need to bend the note and move to the next note quickly.
e-----------------------------B-------------7b5---7b5-------G—9b7---9b7-------------------D-----------------------------A-----------------------------E-----------------------------Also common is the slide represented by / just fret the note then slide your finger to the note on the other side of the symbol.
e-----------------------------B-------------7/5---7/9-------G—9/7---9/11------------------D-----------------------------A-----------------------------E-----------------------------Vibrato is like a wobble sound made by bending the string a small amount up and down quickly and can be shown by either v or ~.e-----------------------------B-------------7~--------------G—9v--------------------------D-----------------------------A-----------------------------E-----------------------------Hammer on is a technique found across the board in guitar music and you fret the first note, pick it then “hammer on” the next note with another finger. In the example below play all the notes on the 9th fret with your index finger and after you pick it hit your ring finger down on the 11th fret to make the note ring out without picking again.
e---------------------7h9-------- B-----------------7h9------------G—------------7h9----------------D---------7h9--------------------A-----7h9------------------------E—7h9----------------------------Just as common is the pull off which is the exact opposite try fretting both notes at the same time pluck the string then “pull off” your ring finger to leave your index finger playing a note without plucking again.
e—9p7----------------------------B-----9p7------------------------G—--------9p7--------------------D-------------9p7----------------A-----------------9p7------------E—--------------------9p7--------With a little practice you should be playing your favourite songs in no time at all.
If there is anything I have missed or anything you would like to know more about please feel free to drop a comment in the box below!
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