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Easy Guitar Tabs - Frequently Asked Questions


1. How do I read and play tablature?
2. What's an easy guitar tab vs. a hard guitar tab?
3. Where can I get guitar tabs for my favorite songs?
4. How can I write and edit my own tablature?
5. What are the limitations to using guitar tabs and how can I overcome them?


Answers

1. How do I read and play tablature?

For starters -- guitar tabs are not proper music notation. They're an easier way to learn your favorite songs.

If proper music notation is what you want -- visit: www.DataDragon.com

...as they provide a great tutorial. But if all you want to do is learn your favorite song quickly and easily -- guitar tabs are the way to go!

Here's how they work....(you'll pick this up in 2 seconds!)

Tablature is a way of indicating the positioning of notes and fingering on the guitar fretboard.

There are 6 tab lines representing 6 strings on the guitar. (The 1st string is the thinnest, and the 6th string is the thickest) They are as follows:

E----------------------------- String 1
B----------------------------- String 2
G----------------------------- String 3
D----------------------------- String 4
A----------------------------- String 5
E----------------------------- String 6

When a number is placed on one of the lines, it indicates the fret location of note for example,

E----------------------------- String 1
B------4---------------------- String 2
G----------------------------- String 3
D----------------------------- String 4
A----------------------------- String 5
E----------------------------- String 6

This means to play the 4th Fret on the 2nd string

E----------------------------- String 1
B----------------------------- String 2
G----------------------------- String 3
D----------------------------- String 4
A------0---------------------- String 5
E----------------------------- String 6

This indicates an open 5th string

E---1------------------------- String 1
B-----------8----------------- String 2
G-------7--------------------- String 3
D---------------2------------- String 4
A----------------------------- String 5
E------------------------12--- String 6

This indicates:
1st Fret, 1st string then
7th Fret, 3rd string, then
8th Fret, 2nd string, then
2nd Fret, 4th string, then
12th Fret, 6th string.

Further Points To Remember...

* Other letters / symbols used in tabs.

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

E---3------------------------- String 1
B---3------------------------- String 2
G---4------------------------- String 3
D---5------------------------- String 4
A---5------------------------- String 5
E---3------------------------- String 6

...it means you play the entire chord using all strings

* When you see tabs that have "h"

E--------------------------------String 1
B--------------------------------String 2
G--------------------------------String 3
D--------------------------------String 4
A---------7h9-----------10h12----String 5
E---0--0----------0--0-----------String 6

....it means to do a "Hammer On" from the 7th fret to the 9th fret and again for the 10th fret to the 12th fret

* When you see other tabs that have "p"

E--------------------------------String 1
B--------------------------------String 2
G--------------------------------String 3
D--------------------------------String 4
A---------9p7-----------12p10----String 5
E---0--0----------0--0-----------String 6

....it means to do a "Pull Off" from the 9th fret to the 7th fret and again for the 12th fret to the 10th fret

* When you see other tabs that have "b"

E--------------------------------String 1
B--------------------------------String 2
G--------------------------------String 3
D--------------------------------String 4
A---------7b9-----------10b12----String 5
E--------------------------------String 6

...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.

Here's a quick tablature legend to keep on file...

Tablature Legend


h - hammer-on
p - pull-off
b - bend
pb - pre-bend
r - bend release (release immediately if no number after r)
/\ - slide into or out of (from/to "nowhere")
s - legato slide
S - shift slide
<n> - natural harmonic
[n] - artificial harmonic
n(n) - tapped harmonic
~ - vibrato
tr - trill
T - tap
TP - trem. picking
PM - palm muting
\n/ - tremolo bar dip; n = amount to dip
\n - tremolo bar down
n/ - tremolo bar up
/n\ - tremolo bar inverted dip
= - hold bend; also acts as connecting device for hammers/pulls
<> - volume swell (louder/softer)
x - on rhythm slash represents muted slash
o - on rhythm slash represents single note slash

- courtesy of Elmore Music


2. What's an easy guitar tab vs. a hard guitar tab?

Easy guitar tabs generally illustrate just the chord patterns such as G / C / D / E. More difficult tabs will show things like fingerpicking notes, lead solos, and muliple guitar parts to a song.


3. Where can I get guitar tabs for my favorite songs?

There are a number of tablature sites online that you can search for your favorite songs on. Two of biggest and most popular are
Ultimate-Guitar.com and Guitar Tabs

Top Tabs:
  • Plain White Ts - Hey There Delilah
  • Coldplay - Viva La Vida
  • Oasis - Wonderwall
  • Metallica - One
  • Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends


  • 4. How can I write and edit my own tablature?

    Guitar-Pro is a great software program that's a multitrack editor and learning program that's a must have for an any level guitarist.


    5. What are the limitations to using guitar tabs and how can I overcome them?

    While guitar tabs can be very helpful for a seasoned guitarist to learn songs to add to their repertoire, they do have limitation for those less skilled. Guitar tabs will not give you rhythm and time, or duration of notes. The also will not tell you how loud or soft to play. If you don't know how a song is supposed to sound it will be very difficult to play using tablature. So, how do you get good enough on guitar to use tabs effectively? Get started here ....

    ...Check out the free video lessons available now!