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Guitar tabs (or tablatures) are as special as that breed of musicians called guitarists. To begin with, guitar tabs are different from the regular sheet music. They have six lines representing each string of the instrument unlike five in sheet music.
Not as difficult as the classical notations, you can learn how to read guitar tabs quite fast. But though they tell you where to place your fingers, the rhythm and tempo is up to your musical ears.
Here are the basics of how to read guitar tabs:
1. The strings:
The six lines that you see in the tab are the six strings of the instrument: E,B,G,D,A,E . The thickest is at the bottom and the thinnest at the top.
E (high) ---------
B ----------
G ---------
D ---------
A ---------
E (low) ---------
2. The frets:
You probably know that the spaces between the little metal bars on the neck of the guitar are the frets. Now the numbers that are written on the string show you on which fret of that string you have to place your finger.
For example the number 4 on the line A means that you have to press the fourth fret on the string A.
3. Learning to play
Numbers stacked vertically in a tab are strummed together. A “0” on a fret means that you have to play it open; with no fingers on the fret. A string with an “X” means that the string is not to be played at all.
However, the tab doesn’t tell you how long to hold the note. Some writers try to solve this problem by spacing the notes in the tab. But the best way is to hear the song and then practice.
4. The symbols:
The subtle techniques of the guitarist are represented by various symbols in the tabs. Some of these symbols are:
'h' - hammer on (picking a note and hammering the second as an echo)
'p' - pull off (the opposite of a hammer)
'b' - bend string up (you actually bend the string and get a shaky effect)
'r' - release bend (much like the bend, this also tells you when to release and go to the next)
'/' - slide up (play one note and then slide the finger up to the next)
'\' - slide down (the opposite of slide up)
'T' – tap (you tap the note without strumming)
There are other symbols which you can explore as you go along. The meaning of these symbols may change slightly with the author of the tab.
Guitar tabs are a perfect way to spread the magic of the guitar with relative ease. So once you learn how to read guitar tabs you can strum away your favorite song till you reach the level of excellence that you are aiming for.
Category: MusicLearn How To Read Guitar Tabs Fast was written by:Author:Yoga PriyakaraAdded: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:08:59 -0400 This Article Has Been Read 123 times View all Yoga Priyakara's articlesAbout the Author: Free Online Slide Guitar Lessons , The Electric LIght Orchestra Band and more at http://www.TheGuitarWebsite.com |
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