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Trickster F. View Drop Down
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Points: 5308 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Reading Guitar Tabs.
    Posted: November 21 2006 at 12:50
I do not play the guitar myself, but would really like to play some of my favourite tunes, which can be only found in such shape on the internet.
 
Could anyone explain or, even better, offer a link that explains how to read the tabs? I am trained on reading sheet music only.
 
Thanks,
Ivan.
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Cygnus X-2 View Drop Down
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Points: 21342 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:04
Tab is easier for me to read than strict sheet music. I'll explain how they are read.


E -------------------------------- high E string
B -------------------------------- B string
G -------------------------------- G string
D -------------------------------- D string
A -------------------------------- A string
E -------------------------------- low E string

The numbers that correspond to each string represent the fret number on the guitar, so:

E -0------
B -0------
G -1------
D -2------
A -2------
E -0------

Means that you leave the low E string unfretted, while fretting the second frets of the A and D strings, the first fret of the G string and then you leave the B and high E string unfretted. What I just wrote was a chord, when all the numbers are lined up on top of each other that means they are played together. When they are not lined up on top of each other, the notes are played individually.

Hopefully that was helpful.Smile
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OpethGuitarist View Drop Down
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Points: 1655 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:06
^^ what cyggie says
 
id recommend getting PowerTab or GuitarPro programs, which also makes things much easier for the guitarist
back from the dead, i will begin posting reviews again and musing through the forums
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Trickster F. View Drop Down
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Points: 5308 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:12
Originally posted by Cygnus X-2 Cygnus X-2 wrote:

Tab is easier for me to read than strict sheet music. I'll explain how they are read.


E -------------------------------- high E string
B -------------------------------- B string
G -------------------------------- G string
D -------------------------------- D string
A -------------------------------- A string
E -------------------------------- low E string

The numbers that correspond to each string represent the fret number on the guitar, so:

E -0------
B -0------
G -1------
D -2------
A -2------
E -0------

Means that you leave the low E string unfretted, while fretting the second frets of the A and D strings, the first fret of the G string and then you leave the B and high E string unfretted. What I just wrote was a chord, when all the numbers are lined up on top of each other that means they are played together. When they are not lined up on top of each other, the notes are played individually.

Hopefully that was helpful.Smile
 
I also use PowerTab, because it offers Sheet Music format in addition to Guitar Tabs. Very convenient. Smile
 
What you said cleared everything, thanks a lot! Clap 
 
One question to those who play the guitar though, since the only string instrument I have at home is balalaika (the infamous Russian instrument - I got it from my grandfather and just played a melody on it from April Ethereal, hehe Tongue) , so I am not too any knowledgeable there.
 
Is going by frets down and down the same thing, note wise, as going from left to right on a piano (a common example, I actually play brass)? If that's the case for the guitar as well, then I think I know how I will try to read some tab music and try to reproduce it on my instruments.
 
Thanks once again! Big smile
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Vompatti View Drop Down
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Points: 67407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:36
Originally posted by Trickster F. Trickster F. wrote:

Is going by frets down and down the same thing, note wise, as going from left to right on a piano (a common example, I actually play brass)? If that's the case for the guitar as well, then I think I know how I will try to read some tab music and try to reproduce it on my instruments.
 
Thanks once again! Big smile

Yes, it's exactly the same thing. One fret down = one key right.
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Trickster F. View Drop Down
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Points: 5308 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 14:10
Alright, got it, thanks for the confirmation! Big smile
 
One more question though, how am I supposed to find out the length of each note/chord? I can't see any hints here...
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Vompatti View Drop Down
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Points: 67407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 14:20
You have to listen to the record to find out the note lengths, tempo and other details. Short notes are usually close to each other in the tab, but not always.
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Trickster F. View Drop Down
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Points: 5308 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 14:50
Alright, that's actually what I suspected! Thanks again. Smile
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