Reading Guitar Tabs.
Printed From: Progarchives.com
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Forum Name: Music and Musicians Exchange
Forum Description: Talk with and get feedback from other musicians on the site
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31350
Printed Date: November 26 2024 at 06:04
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Topic: Reading Guitar Tabs.
Posted By: Trickster F.
Subject: Reading Guitar Tabs.
Date Posted: November 21 2006 at 12:50
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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 |
Replies:
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:04
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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.  ------------- 
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Posted By: OpethGuitarist
Date Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:06
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^^ 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 |
Posted By: Trickster F.
Date Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:12
I also use PowerTab, because it offers Sheet Music format in addition to Guitar Tabs. Very convenient.
 What you said cleared everything, thanks a lot!
 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
 ) , 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!  ------------- sig |
Cygnus X-2 wrote:Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: November 21 2006 at 13:36
Yes, it's exactly the same thing. One fret down = one key right. |
Posted By: Trickster F.
Date Posted: November 21 2006 at 14:10
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Alright, got it, thanks for the confirmation!
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 |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date 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. |
Posted By: Trickster F.
Date Posted: November 21 2006 at 14:50
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Alright, that's actually what I suspected! Thanks again. ------------- sig |