Tabs

[monty1104]

Hi everyone. Im starting off playing guitar, and I was wondering if someone could give me a quick rundown on how you read tabs. I really dont understand them. I got a DVD that ive been learning off, but the Tabs explanation blows. Somebody help please!

 

[wally funk]

there are many different styles of tabs on the net, as the people who make them often suggest they've found an easier way to understand tabs.

 

[mr_cellotape]

Somebody help please!

What sort of tabs? Ones that are just text that looks like this:

e|------------------------------------------------------
B|-7-7-5-5-4-4-----5-5-4-4------------------------------
G|-------------6-6---------6-6-4-4-6-6-4-4-----4-4-6-6--
D|-----------------------------------------6-6----------
A|------------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------

e|------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------
G|------------------------------------------------------
D|-4-4--6b1/2-6-4---------------------------------------
A|------------------------------------------------------
E|------------------------------------------------------

Is that what you've been looking at? If so, the letters are obviously the strings, and the numbers are the frets. More than one number in a column means it's a chord. You generally have to work out the timing by working it out yourself, and almost all tabs are in some way inaccurate.

I'm sure there's probably new methods/forms of tabs now days, but I'm a bit out of the loop, so I can't help you there. But if those are the type of ones you've been looking at and you don't get it, lemme know and I'll have another crack at explaining.

 

[monty1104]

What sort of tabs? Ones that are just text that looks like this:

[/font]
Is that what you've been looking at? If so, the letters are obviously the strings, and the numbers are the frets. More than one number in a column means it's a chord. You generally have to work out the timing by working it out yourself, and almost all tabs are in some way inaccurate.

I'm sure there's probably new methods/forms of tabs now days, but I'm a bit out of the loop, so I can't help you there. But if those are the type of ones you've been looking at and you don't get it, lemme know and I'll have another crack at explaining.

OK, that makes sense. When it just has one fret of one string, you just play that string though right?

 

[BomberGal]

OK, that makes sense. When it just has one fret of one string, you just play that string though right?

Yes. For example in the tab mr_cellotape posted, the first thing you play is just the B string, while holding down the B string on the 7th fret. Then play it again. Then move to the 5th fret, play the B string twice again. And so on.

 

[Sherrinator]

If you want to learn to play 6-string well learn chords, then you will be able to interpret tablature. Personally i hate tablature.

 

[monty1104]

Ive been learning chords. Just that some music I get off the net only comes as tablature, so I just wanted to get my head around it.