Tablutaure

Badapple

Hi,

I am new to the guitar scene and the forum.

I am having problems understanding tabluture. Are there any websites or members on the forum that could help me out?

Thanks.

FruitarGeek

Hi Badapple. Its really easy once you got it. Allow me to try explain

You have tabs that looks like this:

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

Now the numbers may not always be there, but essentially the 6 lines/numbers represent your guitar strings. So (1) is your small E string, (2) is your B string and so forth.

-------------------------------------------5----8
-----------------------------------5---8
--------------------------5----7--------
------------------5----7--------------
---------5---7--------------------------
-5---8----------------------------------

This is probably what you more used to. So the strings and their order is the same as above except now there is numbers on the tabs. These numbers tell you what fret and on what string you have to play. So for example. The first number you see right at the bottom is a 5 - that tells you, you must put your finger on fret number five on the fat E string. The next number is 8, so then just put your finger on the 8th fret on the same string.

Next we have a 5 on the 'A' String (2nd row): once again, your finger must go on the 5th fret, and then the 7th fret.

So the numbers are only telling you what FRET you must put your finger on.

You might see some like this

(1)---3---------
(2)---3--------
(3)---0----------
(4)---0---------
(5)---2----------
(6)---3---------

Now don't let this confuse you. Take your time. I put the numbers of the strings back in brackets to explain better. Remember (1) is the small/thin E string and (6) is the fat E string.
Ok so when you see these numbers ALL on top of each other, and not like the previous example where they where spaced out, it means you have to play all these numbers AT THE SAME TIME, and not ONE AT A TIME. So what you essentially have here is a CHORD. To break it down:

The 3 on string (6) means you must put your finger on 3rd fret on the (6) string.

The 2 on (5) means you must put a different finger on the 2nd fret of string (5)

[now already you are probably seeing that you have to choose what finger to use carefully. If you used your index finger (pointing finger) for string (6) it would be impossible unless you can detach your middle finger to play the next note on the (5) string. So instead, swap your fingers around. Your middle finger must go on the (6) string and play the 3rd fret, and your index finger on the (5) string . . .]

The 0 on string (4) and (3) means you DONT put your fingers anywhere on that string. We call that an open string, which means you are going to play that string but without putting fingers down. So you must still play strings (3) and (4) just don't put your fingers anywhere

The 3 on string (2) means you must put another finger (your ring finger) on 3rd fret of (2) string and etc etc. Its the same concept all the way through

You should have 4 fingers each touching a different fret. And when you strum the entire thing (even those string with the 0) you are playin a G CHORD.

Now as I said, the numbers in brackets next to the string won't always be there, but the order will usually be the same.

Let me know if you still confused.

Badapple

Thanks Adrian Rogowski. Things seem to fall into place now as I have read up on it before.

I should be fine now thanks.

RobbieZ

A great site to visit is www.justinguitar.com

Bob-Dubery

Two things to beware of
1) Tab is not very good for indicating the relative length of the notes
2) There are a lot of erroneous tabs out there on the interweb.

singemonkey

RobbieZ wrote A great site to visit is www.justinguitar.com

X-rated Bob wrote Two things to beware of
1) Tab is not very good for indicating the relative length of the notes
2) There are a lot of erroneous tabs out there on the interweb.

Another +1

You'll find tab a lot easier to follow if you get a friend who reads music to help you learn to work out the note-lengths from the traditional notation (or try youtube). Put that together with the tab and it becomes a lot easier to figure out what you're meant to be playing.

Badapple

A great site to visit is www.justinguitar.com

Two things to beware of
1) Tab is not very good for indicating the relative length of the notes
2) There are a lot of erroneous tabs out there on the interweb.

You'll find tab a lot easier to follow if you get a friend who reads music to help you learn to work out the note-lengths from the traditional notation (or try youtube). Put that together with the tab and it becomes a lot easier to figure out what you're meant to be playing.

Will try this out thanks guys.

:goodtimes: