Tablature is a way of indicating the positioning of
notes and fingering on the guitar fret board. If you can
read tabs, you will be able to play any of your
favourites songs. Aside from traditional music theory,
tabs are among the easiest methods to playing your
favourite songs... quickly!
MAIN POINTS
Basic Tab Lines
There are 6 tab lines representing 6 strings on the
guitar. (The 1st string is the thinnest, and the 6th
string is the thickest).
This indicates:
1st string open, then
3rd Fret, 2nd string, then
2nd string open, then
2nd Fret, 3rd string, then
3rd string open
2nd Fret Fret, 4th string.
Congratulations, you have play the "E minor pentatonic
scale".
This indicates:
6th string open then
2nd Fret, 5th string, then
6th string open then
3rd Fret, 5th string, then
6th string open then
4th Fret, 5th string, then
6th string open then
3rd Fret, 5th string.
FURTHER NOTES TO REMEMBER...
Tab Symbols
There are tab symbols that you need to know before you
want to learn a song in tab format. They are:
h - hammer on
p - pull off
b - bend string up
r - release bend
/ - slide up
\ - slide down
v - vibrato (sometimes written as ~)
t - right hand tap
x - play 'note' with heavy damping
When you see all numbers in a line one after another
...it means strike the string 5 on the 7th fret, then
bend the note up so that it sounds the same as the note
played on the 9th fret.
ADDITIONAL TIP
Tabs are mainly a few lines with numbers on them. Once
you know the basic positioning of where your fingers go,
you are able to get a good feel for the song. Tabs are
an easy way to read music and play a particular song.
Proper music notation is more detailed and requires more
study into it, however if all you want to do is play
your favorite song, tabs are just as easy in the end.
GLOSSARY
h
Hammer On is produced by hitting a note first, before
sliding your finger to another fret while the string is
still ringing out.
p
Pull off is the same as a hammer on - but instead of
placing our fingers onto the string, we are TAKING OUR
FINGERS OFF the string, after striking it.
b
Bends are relatively easy to perform. Bends are shown in
many different symbols. The b and ^ are common symbols
used for bends. The ( ) usually contain a number in
between and tell the player to bend to that note. Notes
without ( ) usually have the note to be bent to next to
the original note.
A bend is carried out by bending the string up on the
guitar to produce a sound similar to that of the fret
noted on the tab.
r
A release is done by picking the note in its bent
position, but letting go of the string so that it can
return to its normal pitch.
/ or \
The symbol \ signifies a slide down the neck, while /
signifies a slide up the neck. The notes are picked in
the order in which they appear from left to right.
v or ~
If you continue to hold the fret down after the slide,
or even after picking any random note, it will cause the
note to ring. This effect is called vibrato which is
fluctuating the pitch of a note.
t
Tapping is where you tap the string repeatedly.
x
Gently rest a finger of your left hand over the
indicated string or strings, and then strum. This will
produce a dull, almost scratchy sound.
Here's a
video for you to learn on how to read guitar tabs:
