understanding guitar tabs

**esgallindeion** · 08-10-2003, 10:49 PM

This is for all those who cannot understand guitar tabs at all. Its really very simple, at least much simpler than staff notations. But tabs usually don't give u a good idea about timing. In any case it is the most convenient way of sharing on the net.

1. First of all, there are 6 lines, each representing a string on your guitar.

E--------------------------------------- (1st string)
B--------------------------------------- (2nd string)
G--------------------------------------- (3rd)
D--------------------------------------- (4th)
A--------------------------------------- (5th string)
E--------------------------------------- (6th/last string)

2. The numbers represent the frest on your fretboard.

E-------------------0------------------------------1--
B----------------0----0-------------------------1----
G-------------0----------0--------------------1------
D----------0----------------0--------------1---------
A-------0----------------------0--------1------------
E---0----------------------------0---1---------------

This tab tells you to pluck open strings from the last to the first and then return to the last after which you play the first fret on each string in the order 6 st string - 5th - 4th - 3rd - 2nd - 1st.

E----------------0--1--------------------- (1st string)
B-------------1--------3------------------ (2nd string)
G----------2--------------2--------------- (3rd)
D-------2--------------------0------------ (4th)
A----0----------------------------------- (5th string)
E-0-------------------------------------- (6th/last string)

This tab tells you to play 6th and 5th string open and then the second fret on 4th and 3rd strings and open 1st string. Then you return playing the 1st fret on 1st string and so on as shown.

I think thats enough for tonight. I'll continue tommorow with different symbols and other stuff.

**Redalert** · 08-10-2003, 10:54 PM

Wow....excellent tutorials....keep it up:D :D :D

**FinalPhase** · 08-11-2003, 12:20 AM

Nice tip man...all newbies should c this...

**scot_hacker** · 02-01-2004, 08:16 PM

And of course if you see more than one note at once, it's a chord:

Gmaj
E---3--
B---0--
G---0--
D---0--
A---2--
E---3--

A string is played open if 0 is indicated. So in this example, the lower two strings aren't played "open", they're just skipped.

Gmaj
E---3--
B---0--
G---0--
D---0--
A------
E------

Elsewhere on this forum I remember having seen an article on hammer-ons and pulloffs.

It's rather inconvenient but tabs can indicate timing (maybe not as well as a staff), but anyway:

W - whole
H - half
Q - quarter
E - 8th
S - 16th
. - note dotted

Code:

    W    H   H    Q  Q  Q  Q     E
E---0--|-2---4--|-5--7--9--11--|-12--||
B------|--------|--------------|-----||
G------|--------|--------------|-----||
D------|--------|--------------|-----||
A------|--------|--------------|-----||
E------|--------|--------------|-----||

Timing is VERY rarely used in writing common guitar tab.

| represents end of a bar, while || represents end of musical piece. Use |: and :| for repeats. If you don't see any fret indicated below a timing, rest that much.

Timing is useful only when you really want to provide a clear description of the strumming pattern:

Code:

    Q  Q  Q    H   Q  Q  Q | Q  Q  Q    H   Q  Q  Q  ||                  
E---0-----0--------0--0--0-|-0-----0--------0--0--0--||
B---0-----0--------0--0--0-|-0-----0--------0--0--0--||
G---0-----0--------0--0--0-|-2-----2--------2--2--2--||
D---2-----2--------2--2--2-|-0-----0--------0--0--0--||
A---2-----2--------2--2--2-|-0-----0--------0--0--0--||
E---0-----0--------0--0--0-|-2-----2--------2--2--2--||

**nisha** · 06-08-2004, 03:48 AM

how do we know which pattern to strum the song ?

**mudgalbharat** · 08-16-2004, 11:53 PM

How do I denote an Fmaj chord sliding downto Gmaj chord ( both barre) ?

regards

**cool_is_rule** · 08-29-2004, 11:56 PM

Thanks a lot . It helped me very much . I m a beginer so it was of great use .

cOoL iS

**jayanth** · 08-30-2004, 08:34 AM

@ Mudgal.. You cannot slide a chord.. Agreeed that in this case its possible.. But thats again not an advised way of playing..

**mubz** · 11-08-2004, 03:37 AM

good job mans keeep itttt upppppp!!

**Kobain** · 01-03-2005, 09:24 PM

some one enlighten me about how do i start learnin my chords.m doin tabs quite decently..ne songs in chords which would help me as a beginner......sos

**rampai** · 03-02-2005, 09:25 AM

thanks for the great intro. It's really helpful.
I have a question.

How to decide which finger to use for which fret?
Is their any chart for it?

waiting for the reply

**satan0508** · 03-03-2005, 04:58 PM

hey man i am new to guitars and this one really helped man thankx a lot way to go man

**Cirus** · 03-14-2005, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by esgallindeion

This is for all those who cannot understand guitar tabs at all. Its really very simple, at least much simpler than staff notations. But tabs usually don't give u a good idea about timing. In any case it is the most convenient way of sharing on the net.

1. First of all, there are 6 lines, each representing a string on your guitar.

E--------------------------------------- (1st string)
B--------------------------------------- (2nd string)
G--------------------------------------- (3rd)
D--------------------------------------- (4th)
A--------------------------------------- (5th string)
E--------------------------------------- (6th/last string)

2. The numbers represent the frest on your fretboard.

E-------------------0------------------------------1--
B----------------0----0-------------------------1----
G-------------0----------0--------------------1------
D----------0----------------0--------------1---------
A-------0----------------------0--------1------------
E---0----------------------------0---1---------------

This tab tells you to pluck open strings from the last to the first and then return to the last after which you play the first fret on each string in the order 6 st string - 5th - 4th - 3rd - 2nd - 1st.

E----------------0--1--------------------- (1st string)
B-------------1--------3------------------ (2nd string)
G----------2--------------2--------------- (3rd)
D-------2--------------------0------------ (4th)
A----0----------------------------------- (5th string)
E-0-------------------------------------- (6th/last string)

This tab tells you to play 6th and 5th string open and then the second fret on 4th and 3rd strings and open 1st string. Then you return playing the 1st fret on 1st string and so on as shown.

I think thats enough for tonight. I'll continue tommorow with different symbols and other stuff.

Hello esgallindeion,I'm a newbie and found your post interesting.
What is a fret and fretboard? Actually I'm learning to play synthesiser.
It also has tunes and tabs for guitar playing. Where can I find "frets"?

**sajid5555** · 03-26-2005, 11:42 AM

hi guys im actually really new 2 guitar i dont know even know how to hold a guitar can u tell me the not how to hold :A, B, C and more thx

**arunav** · 03-29-2005, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by nisha

how do we know which pattern to strum the song ?

actually i am a newbie too and this article has proven to be very helpful.according to me the strumming pattern is something which comes from inside.you have to decide how to strum.try listening to more and more guitar based songs.that really hepls in picking up different patterns.rest all is trial and error concept.