Forum Home Forum Home > Other music related lounges > Music and Musicians Exchange
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Reading Guitar Tabs.
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedReading Guitar Tabs.
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Trickster F. View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2006
Location: Belize
Status: Offline
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.
sig
Back to Top
Cygnus X-2 View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: December 24 2004
Location: Bucketheadland
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
OpethGuitarist View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer


Joined: June 25 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
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
Back to Top
Trickster F. View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2006
Location: Belize
Status: Offline
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
sig
Back to Top
Vompatti View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: October 22 2005
Location: elsewhere
Status: Offline
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.
Back to Top
Trickster F. View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2006
Location: Belize
Status: Offline
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...
sig
Back to Top
Vompatti View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar
VIP Member

Joined: October 22 2005
Location: elsewhere
Status: Offline
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.
Back to Top
Trickster F. View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 10 2006
Location: Belize
Status: Offline
Points: 5308 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 21 2006 at 14:50
Alright, that's actually what I suspected! Thanks again. Smile
sig
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.285 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.