[ Sharps and flats ][ Guitar notes ][ Guitar Exercises ][ Picking Exercise ][ A
minor grouping ] [ Hammer-on Bending ][ Guitar Tablature ]
Guitar Tablature Instruction.
Learn how to read guitar tablature
This guitar lesson explains how to read and
use guitar tablature. Guitar tab is used in
place of music notation.
Guitar tablature instruction: A six line staff
that represents the guitar fretboard. When
reading tablature,
numbers indicate which fret you play. Each
line equals the guitar strings.
|
When you read guitar tablature, the
lines above represent each string on
the guitar. Look above and notice each
string and its placement. The red line
above shows the Low E string which is
the fattest string on the guitar.
|
Illustration 2
You do not have to use your middle
finger, you can use your index finger
if you like. |
Look at the the first tablature
example above. This tab box
above has the number 2 which
represents the second fret, on
the 3rd
string. Play the 2nd fret
G
string
Illustration 2 now. The
note you just played is the A
note.
Look below for another example of illustration
2. Each line in tablature represents each of
the guitar strings. The numbers on each line
or string is the fret number you play. So, the
illustration below has the number 2 on the G
string, this means you play the note at the
2nd fret G string. This would be the A note.
e-------------------skinny E string
B-------------------
G----2-------------play
the note on the 2nd fret
G string.
D-------------------
A-------------------
E-------------------Fat
E string
The next illustration below shows a 12 on the
first string E and a 12 on the second string
B. Both of these notes are played together at
the 12th fret E and B string. Play both of
those notes together. These two notes are the
E note and B note. Recall that I stated all
notes repeat after 12 frets. Look below for an
example of these two notes.
e-------12-----------skinny E, this is
showing the note on the 12th fret.
B-------12------------this
is showing the note on the 12th fret on the
B string.
G-------------------
D-------------------
A-------------------
E-------------------Fat
E string
The illustration below has the E major chord
illustrated.
Look below and notice how the E chord would be
displayed in tablature. Since all the notes
below are lined up on top of each other, they
would be strummed together.
e -------0-------------skinny E string,
0 means leave open, don't fret but strum.
B -------0-------------The
0 means leave open, don't fret, but strum.
G ------1--------------note
on 1st fret, G
string
D ------2-------------
note on 2nd fret, D
string
A ------2-------------
note on 2nd fret, A
string
E ------0--------------Fat
E string, don't fret but strum.
Look below and notice how the A minor chord
would look like in tablature.
e -------0-------------skinny E string,
don't fret, but strum.
B -------1-------------
note on the 1st fret, B
string.
G ------2--------------note
on 2nd fret, G
string
D ------2-------------
note on 2nd fret, D
string
A ------0-------------
don't fret, but strum.
E --------------------Fat
E string, don't fret but strum.
The next Illustration below is that famous A
minor pentatonic scale again. This time it is
shown in tablature and also in the
Root Note Position 5th Fret. In the
last lesson, I had you working on the A minor
pentatonic scale with the fingers highlighted.
This time in the image below, the frets are
numbered on each string. I stated earlier that
it is important to learn the fingering pattern
system. The reason for this is because
eventually we will only be showing the numbers
representing the frets on the strings and not
the fingers to play each note of the scale.
You will eventually have the fingering for
each scale memorized anyway.
|
The numbers on each string represent the frets and
strings being played.
Look how it starts at the 5th fret
low E string and works its way
through all the strings, then ends on
the high E or 1st string 8th fret.
Listen
Watch a Video playing this scale
Each finger
1 = Index
2 = Middle
3 = Ring
4 = Pinky
|
Look at the image below and notice how
it starts on the
Low E string 5th fret. In the
image below the index finger is
playing the note on the
Low E string at the 5th fret.
This first note would be the first
5 or 5th fret below.
The numbers below the strings are the
fingers that play the notes through
the scale, look to the left and notice
what number equals each finger.
The scale above is the same scale as
below. The image above is shown
in tablature.
|
|
The illustration to the right shows
the same A minor pentatonic scale in
the root note position. You should
have this fingering pattern memorized.
|
The fingers used to play this scale
are: 1-4,
1-3, 1-3,
1-3, 1-4, 1-4
|
|
|
Here is a sample lead using the Am
pentatonic root note fret position.
Notice how it starts on the A note 7th
fret, play this over the Am chord. The
numbers under the lead are the suggested
fingering pattern to use.
|
We still need to practice some finger
exercises and understanding tablature will
make the exercises that much easier to work
on. Don't worry if you don't have the A minor
pentatonic scale in the root note position
memorized we will be working on it again.
Finger
exercises
Good Luck,
Guitar Secrets
Copyright © 1998 - 2013 Guitar Secrets Inc. All rights reserved
Lead Guitar Made Easy, A Visual Learning Experience
Email us Information Privacy Disclaimer
Customer Service
Guitar Lessons
No part of this work may be reproduced without the permission in writing from
the publisher.
Free online Guitar Lessons
›
Play Along CD ›
Special offers
›
View
Cart
›
Guitar Links ›
