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GUITAR TABS BASICS

GUITAR TABS BASICS - WHAT IS A TABLATURE?
Tablature or tab is a generic system of musical notation commonly written for the guitar, but it can be used for any fretted stringed instrument. It is an old notation system, much of the music for the lute and classical guitar during the renaissance and baroque eras was originally written in tablature

While standard musical notation represents the pitch and
rhythm of notes, tablature gives you a visual representation
of the strings and frets of the guitar and tells you where to
put the fingers to produce the desired notes.Tab represents
the performance of the music, rather than the music itself

Like standard notation, tablature consists of a series
of horizontal lines forming a staff. Each line represents
one string, so most guitar tabs have a six-line staff

Looking at a guitar tab is like looking down at the fretboard in front of
you, so that the headstock is on your left and the body is on your right

e |-------------------------|
B |-------------------------|
G |-------------------------|
D |-------------------------|
A |-------------------------|
E |-------------------------|

Note: This is a Text or ASCII Tab. Because of its simplicity, this kind of Guitar
Tabs are the most popular on the Internet and they're the subject of this article

Tab Basics

Tablature is a six-line staff that graphically represents the guitar
fingerboard. Each line corresponds to one string of the instrument. The
top line is the highest pitch string (or high E) and the bottom line is the
lowest pitch string (or low E).Below, is a tab with the string names at
the left (representing the notes of the strings played open)

1st string - e |------(thinnest)-----|
2nd string - B |---------------------|
3rd string - G |---------------------|
4th string - D |---------------------|
5th string - A |---------------------|
6th string - E |------(thickest)-----|

On the lines will appear numbers - these numbers will tell you where to
fret the strings. If a "0" appears, play the open string. In the following
tab play the sequence of notes - E F F# G G# A - on the bottom
E string by moving up one fret at a time (starting with the open string)
Guitar Tabs are read from left to right

e |-------------------------|
B |-------------------------|
G |-------------------------|
D |-------------------------|
A |-------------------------|
E |-----0--1--2--3--4--5----|

As in standard notation, if two or more notes have to be
played together, they are written one on top of another

e |-------3-----------------|
B |-------------------------|
G |-------------------------|
D |-------------------------|
A |-------2-----------------|
E |-------3-----------------| (Basic G Chord)

In this case: play the e string fretted at the 3rd fret, Do Not play the
B, G and D strings, play the A string fretted at the 2nd fret and the E
string fretted at the 3rd fret.In tablature it is implicitly assumed that
a string is not played if it is not marked

On a similar basic G-chord tab:

e |-------3-----------------|
B |-------0-----------------|
G |-------0-----------------|
D |-------0-----------------|
A |-------2-----------------|
E |-------3-----------------| (Basic G Chord)

"0" means play the string without any fingering. So in this case you play
the e string fretted at the 3rd fret, the B string open, the G string open,
the D string open, the A string fretted at the 2nd fret, and the E string
fretted at the 3rd fret. Also, you might see the G chord written like this:

e |-------------3-----------|
B |------------0------------|
G |-----------0-------------|
D |----------0--------------|
A |---------2---------------|
E |--------3----------------|

It means: strum the strings starting at the bottom string. Each string
is hit slightly later than the last string, but all notes will ring together

Below is another guitar tab of the same shape but now the
gaps between the notes are bigger. So you would pick the
strings separately instead of slowly strumming the shape.

e |----------------------3--|
B |-------------------0-----|
G |----------------0--------|
D |-------------0-----------|
A |----------2--------------|
E |-------3-----------------|

Tablatures often signify the chord being played, above the staff

A E
e |---------0-----------0-------------0-----------0----|
B |-------2---2-------2---2---------0---0-------0---0--|
G |-----2-------2---2-------2-----1-------1---1--------|
D |---2-----------2-----------2-------------2----------|
A |-----------------------------2----------------------|
E |-----------------------------------------0----------|

Learning to read guitar tabs is also a great way to learn the different
techniques that are used on the guitar. Get 100% correct tablatures

Symbols Used In Guitar Tabs

A lot of other important information can be included in a guitar Tab. The standard
practice is to write letters or symbols between notes to indicate how to play them

For a detailed explanation go to:
GUITAR TABLATURE SYMBOLS

Tablature vs. Standard Notation

Guitar Tabs Advantages

• Since it is a visual representation of the instrument's fretboard,
tablatures are easier to read. Tabs are easier and more direct
• Instead of using symbols, tablature uses ordinary characters and
numbers. This makes it easy to write and distribute electronically
• Unlike music notation, tablature doesn't take years to master. So,
you can play it with a minimal knowledge of notes or sheet music
• Guitar Tabs give you the tuning of the piece. For instance, normal
tuning: e, B, G, D, A, E or an alternative tuning: e, B, G, D, A, D
• If you use different tunings, guitar tab does not deviate from
the standard number positioning. In the case of standard notation,
every piece has to be re-learned for every tuning

Guitar Tabs Disadvantages

• Tablatures are instrument-specific while standard notation
is generic. Only a guitarist can read tablatures
• Tablatures do not represent the rhythm or lengths of the notes, only their pitch. So some players have listen to the song before; while others have to read tablature and standard notation in tandem, this way you can see the note values and rhythm as you follow the tab (printed Guitar tabs are accompanied by standard notation)
• Fingering (which finger to use) and picking are not always shown in tablatures. So most times you will have to figure them out yourself

Even though it is a popular and enjoyable way of reading guitar music,
guitar tabs do have its shortcomings. The best is to become well-versed
in both standard notation and tab. Also see, Do I Need Guitar Lessons?

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