Learning how to read guitar tabs is an essential skill for any aspiring musician. Guitar tablature, or “tabs”, offers a straightforward way to notate music that is accessible even for beginners. Unlike traditional sheet music, which uses intricate symbols, tabs provide a visual layout of the guitar fretboard, simplifying the process of knowing where to position your fingers.
Whether you’re looking to strum along to popular tracks or create your own melodies, mastering how to read guitar tabs will open up a world of musical creativity and expression. Get ready to dive into the exciting journey of guitar playing!
What Are Guitar Tabs?
Guitar tabs are a type of musical notation created for guitar players, offering an easier method to read and perform music. Differing from standard sheet music, which shows notes on a staff, tabs use a six-line diagram representing the guitar’s six strings. Each line corresponds to a string, with the bottom line representing the lowest E string and the top line representing the highest E string.
Numbers placed on these lines indicate which fret to press down, helping musicians easily identify where to position their fingers. For example, a “0” means to play the string open, while a “3” tells you to press down on the third fret.
Tabs often include additional symbols to represent techniques such as bends, slides, and hammer-ons, making them a versatile tool for learning songs across various genres. By using guitar tabs, players can quickly capture the essence of a piece of music without needing extensive music theory knowledge.
How To Read Guitar Tabs?
It’s time to go into details for each step of learning how to read guitar tabs. By following these steps, you’ll be able to read and play any song you desire, giving your musical journey an exciting start!
Step 1: Using Tabs to Play Notes and Chords
Understanding guitar tabs begins with recognizing how they represent notes and chords on the guitar’s fretboard. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Interpret tab notation as a visual representation of the guitar’s strings
Tabs display six horizontal lines that represent the six strings of the guitar. The bottom line corresponds to the lowest E string (6th string), and the top line corresponds to the highest E string (1st string). This arrangement mirrors how the guitar is oriented in front of you, making it intuitive to follow.
- Use the numbers on the tab to know where to place your fingers on the neck
The numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example, if the 4th line has a “2,” it means you should place your finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th string (A string). Familiarizing yourself with the fretboard will help to speed up this process.
- Play numbers that are stacked vertically at the same time
If you see numbers aligned vertically, this indicates a chord. To play a chord, you should strum all the corresponding strings at once. For example, if the tab shows “0”, “2”, “2”, “0”, “3”, or “X,” it means you’re playing an open E minor chord. The “X” signifies that you do not strum that string.
- Read the tab from left to right
Like reading words on a page, you should read the tab from left to right. Each number represents a note to be played in sequence. As you progress through the tab, keep an eye on changes in notes to stay in rhythm.
- Watch for lyrics or changes in chords
Often, tabs are accompanied by lyrics or chord names above the lines. This provides context for when to play chords, especially in a song format. Paying attention to these indicators can help you align your strumming with the vocals or changes in the piece.
To become comfortable with playing notes and chords using tabs, start with simple songs. Many classic rock or pop tunes are tabbed out online, allowing you to build your confidence gradually.
Step 2: Understanding Special Symbols
Beyond simple note reading, guitar tabs often utilize a variety of symbols to represent playing techniques. Mastering these symbols adds depth to your guitar playing.
- Identify additional symbols in the tab
As you become more proficient with basic tabs, you’ll encounter various symbols that represent specific guitar techniques. Familiarizing yourself with these will greatly enhance your playing ability.
- Recognize the symbol for hammer-ons
A hammer-on is executed by playing a note and then “hammering” a finger onto the next fret without picking again. In tabs, a hammer-on is usually represented by an “h” between two numbers. For instance, “5h7” means to fret the 5th fret, pluck the string, and then hammer-on to the 7th fret.
- Understand the symbol for pull-offs
A pull-off is the opposite of a hammer-on, where you pluck a string and then pull your finger off to let the next note sound. In tab notation, pull-offs are represented with a “p.” For example, “7p5” indicates playing the 7th fret and pulling off to the 5th fret.
- Learn the symbol for string bends
String bends allow you to raise the pitch of a note by pushing the string upwards. This is denoted in tabs by an uppercase “b.” For instance, “7b9” means to play the note at the 7th fret and bend it to reach the pitch of the 9th fret.
- Identify symbols for slide techniques
Slides involve moving your finger along the string from one fret to another. In tabs, slides are typically indicated with a forward slash (/) for sliding up and a backslash (\) for sliding down. For instance, “5/7” means to start at the 5th fret and slide up to the 7th fret.
Besides, we also can see an uppercase “S” or a lowercase “s” to indicate a slide. The uppercase “S” means playing the note and then sliding downwards, while the lowercase “s” indicates sliding upwards.
- Recognize symbols for tremolo bar techniques
You can create pitch variations if you have a guitar equipped with a tremolo bar (whammy bar).
- If you see “\n/,” where n is a number, perform a tremolo bar dip by quickly hitting and releasing the bar to lower the pitch by n semitones. For example, “\5/” means lowering the pitch by 5 semitones.
- If you see “\n,” fret note “n,” play it, then press the tremolo bar deeply to drop the pitch.
- If you see “n/,” raise the tremolo bar after playing note “n” to increase the pitch. Some guitars allow you to invert the bar for this effect.
- For “/n\,” perform an inverted dip by pressing and then raising the tremolo bar.
- Understand the symbol for vibrato
Vibrato involves slightly bending the string while holding a note to create a richer tone. In tabs, you may see a tilde (~) or (v) following the number. For example, “7~” means to play the note at the 7th fret with vibrato.
- Learn the symbols for muting techniques
Muting can create sharp, snappy sounds by preventing the strings from ringing out. They might be represented with an “x” above the tab or directly on the line. For example, if the tab says “x”, you should strum the muted string while applying pressure but not enough to create a pitch.
If you see “PM,” use palm muting. For right-handed guitarists, rest the edge of your right palm on the strings near the bridge. Strum with the same hand to produce a muted, subdued sound. Move your hand closer to the neck to mute the notes more.
- Identify the symbol for tapping
Tapping is a technique that uses the fingers of your picking hand to sound notes on the fretboard. In tab notation, this is illustrated with a “t.” For instance, “12t15” indicates you should tap at the 15th fret after playing the 12th fret.
- Recognize symbols for harmonic techniques
Guitar tabs indicate various harmonic techniques, producing bell-like tones through specific fretting methods.
- Natural harmonics are shown with “< >” (e.g., <7>). Place your finger lightly on the metal line at the fret’s right edge and pluck the string for a clear tone.
- Pinch harmonics use brackets (e.g., [n]). Strike the note with the pick while your thumb lightly touches the string. Adding vibrato with your fret hand enhances sustain. These are challenging and need practice.
- Tapped harmonics are marked by two notes, with the second in parentheses (e.g., n(n)). Fret the first note, then tap the string at the second note’s fret with your picking hand.
- Understand the symbol for trills
A trill involves rapidly alternating between two adjacent notes, which adds flair to melodies. This is often represented as a “tr” or with two numbers surrounding the “tr.” For example, “7tr5” means to trill between the notes on the 7th fret and the 5th fret.
- Learn the symbol for tremolo picking
“TP” – this technique refers to playing a single note repeatedly at a rapid pace. It’s indicated by indicating a straight line or waves under a single note or chord.
By mastering these techniques and understanding guitar tablature, you’ll unlock a wide array of playing possibilities.
Conclusion
Overall, learning how to read guitar tabs is a fundamental skill for any guitarist, providing a clear and straightforward way to access a vast range of music. By mastering the basics of tab reading and familiarising yourself with various playing techniques, you’re on your way to expanding your musical repertoire and improving your overall guitar skills.
So, don’t hesitate to practice and apply what you learn; with time, you’ll find reading tabs feels as natural as playing the guitar itself!