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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 string and
notes are played. Each line equals the guitar strings.
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When you
read guitar tablature, each line equals each string on the guitar. Look above and
notice each string and its placement.
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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 to 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.
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The
numbers are on each string now and 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 number =
1 Index
2 Middle
3 Ring
4 Pinky
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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.
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The
illustration to the right shows the same A minor pentatonic scale in the root
note position. You should have this fingering pattern memorized.
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The
fingers used to play this scale are: 1-4, 1-3,
1-3, 1-3, 1-4,
1-4
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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.
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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,
From the Jam Room
