| If you do not know how to read musical notation, | | | | E----0--1--2--3----------------------------------- |
| but lets say you want to learn how to jam the | | | | Chords are represented with numbers written on |
| new Fall Out Boys song on your guitar. You will | | | | top of each other. |
| first need to learn how to read guitar tablature. | | | | Here is what a C Major chord would look like: |
| Don't worry though, because learning guitar tabs is | | | | E------------------------------------------------ |
| very easy once you know all the basics. | | | | B----1------------------------------------------- |
| Guitar Tab Basics | | | | G------------------------------------------------ |
| A standard tablature staff would look something | | | | D----2------------------------------------------- |
| like this:e------------------------------------------------- | | | | A----3------------------------------------------- |
| B------------------------------------------------- | | | | E----0------------------------------------------- |
| G------------------------------------------------- | | | | You will notice that the 1st string (e) , and the 3rd |
| D------------------------------------------------- | | | | string (G) have no numbers, this means that you |
| A------------------------------------------------- | | | | do not strum those strings. They are in a basically |
| E------------------------------------------------- | | | | just muted and not played. |
| When you look at this, you have to visualize that | | | | The biggest disadvantage to tablature is the the |
| each line and letter represent each string on a | | | | fact that you are not able to accurately define |
| guitar. Starting from the bottom to the top they | | | | how long each not should be held for. The best |
| are: | | | | way to figure this out is by listening to the actual |
| E - the 6th string (thickest) | | | | song that you are trying to play. This is actually |
| A - the 5th string | | | | the best way to use tabs. |
| D - the 4th string | | | | Find the tab to the song you want to learn |
| G - the 3rd string | | | | Play that song on a radio, or your computer, or |
| B - the 2nd stringe - the 1st string (thinnest) | | | | whatever means you have |
| Now you will see that there are numbers written | | | | Break the song into sections, starting with |
| into the the staff. Each number represents what | | | | whatever is easiest for you |
| fret you push down and on what string. In the | | | | Slowly begin to put each section together |
| following tab example , each number is lined up on | | | | Although tablature does not give you the exact |
| the A string (5th string) one after another which | | | | timing, they do give you some idea by spacing |
| tells you that they should be played one after | | | | the numbers out. An example would look like this: |
| another. The 0 means that you pluck the A string | | | | E------------------------3------------------------- |
| open (without pushing on the string),1 - move to | | | | B--------------------------3----------------------- |
| the 1st fret pluck, 2 - move to the 2nd fret, 3 - | | | | G-------------------------------------------------- |
| move to the 3rd fret. | | | | D--------------0---------------------0------------- |
| E------------------------------------------------- | | | | A------------2--------------------------2---------- |
| B------------------------------------------------- | | | | E----3-------------------------------------3------- |
| G------------------------------------------------- | | | | You will also come across symbols that are use |
| D------------------------------------------------- | | | | to represent certain actions. |
| A------------------------------------------------- | | | | |