What is a guitar tab?

Answer 1

Tablature is a way of reading music on Guitars e.g. Top E ------------0 (0 = the open string so 1 would be the first fret) B------------------0----------- G-------------------------0---------------- D---------------------------------0------------------- A------------------------------------------0---------------------- Bottom E---------------------------------------------------0----------------------- this is in an order so you would play the top E first then B then G and so on and so forth. Also go onto www.ultimateguitar.com for more of this stuff hope this helps

Answer 2

Guitar tab (abbreviation for "Tablature") is a system of notation proprietary to guitar, which allows for playing pieces of music without learning to read sheet music. It is written on six vertical lines, indicating the strings, from thickest on the bottom to thinnest on top. The numbers indicate fret positions, where 0 is an open string, and all numbers above that are fretted notes.

Answer 3

A guitar "tab" (short for tablature) is a set of instructions for playing along to songs and in many cases, being able to write songs.

The standard notation for a guitar tab is each guitar string is assigned a line in the tab, ranging from the highest string at the top to the lowest string at the bottom.

E|-

B|-

G|-

D|-

A|-

E|-

This is the standard tab for most rock- and metal-based songs. Each string is named and goes from highest (high E string) to lowest (low E string).

In order to read a guitar tab, numbers are placed corresponding to what fret is played and on which string.

For example, a "0" (zero) on the A line equates to being an open note on the A string. As you advance further up the numbers, on a standard Electric Guitar being from 0 to 22 (zero to twenty two), you have to press the corresponding fret.

0 (zero) is always an open note, and each number on the line will equal the same number on the fretboard of the guitar.

E|-

B|-

G|-

D|-2

A|-2

E|-0

In this form a simple chord is being played. Because all notes appear on the tab at the same time, it is implied that each note will be played at the same time, hence a chord.

E|

B|0h2-2p0

G|-----------------3\1--1/3------15b17r15

D|

A|

E|

This is a simple method of notation in tabs, meaning "hammer ons" (h) and "pull offs" (p). This is a guitar technique which I will not explain in detail however.

Sliding is also used in the second section. This is noted by the / and \. The forward slash (/) is a slide up (hence the direction of the slash is up). The back slash is opposite the forward slash and implies a down slide.

The third section of the above tab is an instruction for a "bend" note. In this, you "bend" the note to increase its pitch (b), and then release the bend (r) to take it back to the right note for the desired fret.

E|

B|

G|

D|

A|

D|

This is a non-standard tuning instruction, according to the tablature. Any string can change pitch and tone by tuning and will produce different effects and sounds as a result.

full

E|--20^12^9---------)

B|-------------------10/

D|

G|

A|

E|

The use of arrow keys is a more "Advanced" tablature technique. This usually makes the tab less cluttered, especially on more complicated songs, as next to a note there is an arrow, implying the instruction is above the tablature. Above the arrow will be an instruction, such as "t" (tap), "p", "full" (or b, means "bend"), "h", and so on.

The second section of this would show, on a regular tab, a "slide" command. However this is actually an alternate notation for a "full" bend (as opposed to a diminished bend, such as a half or quarter bend).

That's basically all I really know. It progresses in difficulty the more you read though so I tried to keep all the simple tab techniques and features at the top, and then progress into "advanced" at the bottom.

Good luck.