UNIT 2.1B
Understanding Guitar Tab
Guitar tablature, usually referred to as “tab”, is a method of notating music that empowers beginner guitarists to learn songs quickly and easily. Guitar tabs share similarities with music staff notation by showing you what notes to play, how long to play them, and what techniques to use. But when compared to standard music notation, guitar tablature offers a serious advantage: it shows you where to play the notes on your guitar.
This comes in handy, especially since the guitar has many different places to play the same notes. For this reason, understanding guitar tablature is particularly useful for beginners, and allows students to learn how to play the guitar without ever having to learn how to read traditional musical notation.
Guitar tablature is fantastic since it can show you both chords and single notes –– making it the fastest way to learn your favorite songs. It can also be an easier way to learn, since knowing how to read guitar tabs doesn’t require any special knowledge other than locating the strings and the frets on your guitar.
This comes in handy, especially since the guitar has many different places to play the same notes. For this reason, understanding guitar tablature is particularly useful for beginners, and allows students to learn how to play the guitar without ever having to learn how to read traditional musical notation.
Guitar tablature is fantastic since it can show you both chords and single notes –– making it the fastest way to learn your favorite songs. It can also be an easier way to learn, since knowing how to read guitar tabs doesn’t require any special knowledge other than locating the strings and the frets on your guitar.
What do guitar tabs look like?
Guitar tablature is the visual representation of the notes in a song. Standard guitar tab consists of six horizontal lines, with each line representing the six strings on the guitar. When looking at guitar tab from top to bottom, the top line represents the high E string (the thinnest string) followed by lines that represent the B, G, D, A and low E strings (the thickest string).
This also reflects the view of the strings as you look down while holding your guitar. For this reason, think of guitar tablature as your roadmap, for it will provide you with the fastest route to learning songs.
This also reflects the view of the strings as you look down while holding your guitar. For this reason, think of guitar tablature as your roadmap, for it will provide you with the fastest route to learning songs.
On each line of tab you will also see numbers. These numbers represent the frets on your guitar, which are the metal strips found on the fretboard. The frets are numbered 0-24, and start at the nut (the piece closest to the headstock), and run the entire length of the guitar neck.
For example, if the string has a 0, that means you play that string “open,” or without using your fretting hand. If the string has a 1, then that means you must play using the first fret. When learning how to read guitar tabs, it’s important to understand that 1 represents the first fret, 2 the second fret, 3 the third fret, and so on.
For example, if the string has a 0, that means you play that string “open,” or without using your fretting hand. If the string has a 1, then that means you must play using the first fret. When learning how to read guitar tabs, it’s important to understand that 1 represents the first fret, 2 the second fret, 3 the third fret, and so on.
How do you read guitar tabs?
Guitar tab is read left to right, and all notes indicated are in chronological order. When the numbers are in line with each other vertically, they represent a chord. A chord is played by strumming all the indicated strings at the same time. Guitar tab notation is better for the beginner than standard notation, for it tells you what notes to play to make the chord and where you can find them on your guitar.
For beginners to read guitar tab successfully, they must familiarize themselves with the 6 strings and the locations of the various frets. This will allow them to locate the proper notes to play while using the guitar tab as a guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE GUITAR TAB STAFF
The guitar tab staff looks similar to the staff used in standard notation. One major difference is that the staff lines in guitar tab represent the 6 strings, not the actual notes.
The top line represents the high E string and the bottom line represents the low E string. This makes playing guitar tab easy for beginners, and the staff will also be labeled “TAB” so it’s not confused with standard notation.
UNDERSTANDING GUITAR FRETS
The guitar frets are the metal strips that run across the fretboard.
Most guitars will have 19-24 frets. Each fret is one note or a half step from the other (which can also be referred to as a semitone). There are 12 notes (or frets) in each octave, and most guitars have fret markers on the side of the neck or on the fretboard. These markers are typically at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12 frets, and can help you easily recognize the fret positions when playing.
Remember: when looking at guitar strings, fretted strings are indicated by numbers, and open strings are indicated by the number “0”. This shows you to play the string “open” without using your fretting hand. You simply pick or pluck the string and let it sound.
UNDERSTANDING GUITAR TAB CHORDS
While chords do not have any special symbols in guitar tab, they can be identified easily by their position. When several notes are shown to line up vertically, they are played together making a chord. If a chord is arpeggiated, it will appear as single notes even though you are fretting a chord.
For beginners to read guitar tab successfully, they must familiarize themselves with the 6 strings and the locations of the various frets. This will allow them to locate the proper notes to play while using the guitar tab as a guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE GUITAR TAB STAFF
The guitar tab staff looks similar to the staff used in standard notation. One major difference is that the staff lines in guitar tab represent the 6 strings, not the actual notes.
The top line represents the high E string and the bottom line represents the low E string. This makes playing guitar tab easy for beginners, and the staff will also be labeled “TAB” so it’s not confused with standard notation.
UNDERSTANDING GUITAR FRETS
The guitar frets are the metal strips that run across the fretboard.
Most guitars will have 19-24 frets. Each fret is one note or a half step from the other (which can also be referred to as a semitone). There are 12 notes (or frets) in each octave, and most guitars have fret markers on the side of the neck or on the fretboard. These markers are typically at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12 frets, and can help you easily recognize the fret positions when playing.
Remember: when looking at guitar strings, fretted strings are indicated by numbers, and open strings are indicated by the number “0”. This shows you to play the string “open” without using your fretting hand. You simply pick or pluck the string and let it sound.
UNDERSTANDING GUITAR TAB CHORDS
While chords do not have any special symbols in guitar tab, they can be identified easily by their position. When several notes are shown to line up vertically, they are played together making a chord. If a chord is arpeggiated, it will appear as single notes even though you are fretting a chord.
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