How do you write in mandolin tablature?

Answer 1

Mandolin tablature is written on a staff of four lines, each line representing one pair of strings. The top line is the pair of E strings, the second line is the A strings, the third line is the D and the lowest line is the G strings:

E--------------------

A--------------------

D--------------------

G--------------------

Any number, from 0 to 20, represents the fret you want played on that particular string, with 0 meaning the open string (played without being fretted). For example, if you wanted to play the G note at the third fret of the E string, it would look like this:

E--3-----------------

A--------------------

D--------------------

G--------------------

Numers are always read from left to right, regardless of which string the note is played. Playing two full octaves of the G major scale, from low to high, would look like this:

E-----------------------------------------0--2--3---

A----------------------------0--2--3--5------------

D---------------0--2--4--5-------------------------

G-0--2--4--5---------------------------------------

Chords are represented by having the numbers placed directly over one another on their respective string lines. A G major chord would be represented like this:

E--3------------------

A--2------------------

D--0------------------

G--0------------------

Answer 2

First, you must figure out what note you need. Say it is an eighth note. Replace the head of the note with the fingering number. That's it!