How to read guitar tab

How to read guitar tab with J.S. Bach

Learning to read guitar tabs.


   Tablature is one of the easiest ways to learn music for the guitar without spending countless hours learning about key signatures, whole notes and all of those other musical terms. The basic idea behind tab is how to find the location of a note rather than just the name. This is accomplished with the use of 6 lines, with each line referring to a specific string on the fret board of the guitar. It looks like this:

 

e|--0--2--3---2-p0----0-h2--------------|
B|-----------------4--------0--2--4--5--|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|------------0----2--0-----------------|
E|--3--2--0-----------------3--2-----0--|
Bouree in e minor J.S. Bach

 

  The line labeled “e” is the highest pitched string called (for obvious reasons) High “E.” The rest of the strings are named after their tonal equivalent (the note they make), save for Low “E.” Not because it is the bottom string but because it is the lowest pitched string of the guitar. Ok, ok. Enough with that, lets learn how to read it!

 

  The numbers you see are there to tell you where to fret (which fret and string you press to make the sound). When you see a zero it means that you do not push on that string, just play it “open.” When you see numbers all in the same vertical line of tab it means to play them all at the same time. If you do not see a number on one of the lines the string is not meant to be played.

 

   Occasionally a tab will have some extra symbols aside from numbers, but will be lacking a “Legend.” These symbols are usually, but not limited to:

h – Hammer on
          p – Pull off
          /  – Slide up
          \  – Slide down
          ~ – Vibrato
          x – Muted note
          b – Bend
          r  – Release

   Keep in mind that the symbols should be explained at the beginning of the tab and any other symbols not listed here should be explained in the tab.

 

 

Hammer On's and Pull Offs

    A “Hammer On” is a technique where the first note is plucked and the second note is pressed without plucking or “hammered on.” Hammer ons are especially useful in solos or playing fast riffs. A hammer on would Look Like this:


e----------------------|
B----------------------|
G----------------------|
D----------------0-----|
A---5h7-----0h2--------|
E-------0-0--------3-2-|

 

Pull offs are much like hammer ons except instead of hitting the next note, the string is released to the desired tone. A pull off would look like this:

 

e----------------------|
B----------------------|
G—4p2p0----------------|
D------4p2p0-----------|
A-----------4p2p0------|
E----------------------|

 

Slides

  Slides are very easy to perform. All you do is pluck a note then keeping the string depressed, slide to the next desired note. Slides are very common in solos. They look like this:

 

e--------------------------|
B--------------------------|
G--------------------------|
D------------5-7-5---------|
A------3-5/7-------7\5-----|
E--3-5-----------------5-3-|

 

Sometimes you will run across a slide that doesn’t show where to begin the technique. This is when you want the slide to have a “nebulous” start or finish. As if it didn’t have a starting or ending tone.

 

e-------12-----------------|
B---/12----15p12-----------|
G----------------14p12-----|
D----------------------14\-|
A--------------------------|
E--------------------------|

 

Vibrato

   A vibrato is a decoration normally on long notes used to add style and “flavor” to a melody. It is achieved by slightly bending and releasing the string rapidly, causing the tone to fluctuate. You can also get the desired effect by shaking the hand. It looks like this:

 

e---------------13p10------------|
B---------10-13-------13/15~~~~~-|
G---10h12------------------------|
D--------------------------------|
A--------------------------------|
E--------------------------------|

 

Bends

  Bends are another useful technique often found in solos. The idea behind a bend is to get a smooth transition from one note to another.  Bends are fairly self-explanatory; just bend the string until you reach the desired pitch.  You can do this in both directions.  They look like this:

 

e--------------------------|
B--------------------------|
G--------------------------|
D------5-7-7b9-7b9-9r7-5---|
A--5h7-------------------7-|
E--------------------------|

 

There, I hope that worked for you.  This is kind of a “crash course” in tab reading but it should get you on your way.  Keep playing and never give up!

 

 

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