Reading tablature.

Reading music is difficult and very time consuming. When you see a musical staff you'll be overwhelmed by the seeing different shapes of which you may not be familiar.

This doesn't mean that reading music is not good. In the long run, it helps a lot. As my blog has mainly tabs of what I am teaching, this post will cover "how to read tabs".

First question that will arise on your mind will be, what are tabs? Tablature is also called reading musical notation; however in an easy way. It's much more simpler than reading a musical staff. I don't know who invented this system however it's very helpful for all the guitarists.

The first thing to remember or I will say is to memorize that guitar has six strings.

The lowest thin string is the 'E' string. The right order from lowest string to the thickest string on the top of the guitar is E,B,G,D,A and E.

Check out the following figure:

--------------------
--------------------
--------------------
--------------------
--------------------
--------------------

By seeing the above thing, you may think what the hell is this! The six lines above correspond to the six strings of your guitar.

The following figure will explain it better:


e--------------------
b--------------------
g--------------------
d--------------------
a--------------------
e--------------------

Now check out the following figure:


e--------------------
b--------------------
g--------------------
d--------------------
a--------------------
e--2------------------

The number on the above figure indicates that you have to use your left handed fore finger to play the second fret on the e string. Frets are the vertical lines (partitions) on the neck.

e--------------------
b--1------------------
g--2------------------
d--2------------------
a--------------------
e--------------------

When you look at the above figure, you will have to play all the strings at the same time because this is an A minor chord and all the notes are positioned.

Other things that we have to remember is when you hammer on or pull off you use the 'h' sign and 'p' sign respectively. For more information about hammer ons and pull offs, click on Legato playing

The following is a hammer on example:

e--------------------
b--------------------
g--------------------
d--------------------
a--------------------
e--2h4-----------------

The above example means put your finger on the second fret and then hit your ring finger on the fourth fret in hammering style until you hear a sound of a new note.


The following is a pull off example:

e--------------------
b--------------------
g--------------------
d--------------------
a--------------------
e--5p3-----------------

The above example means that you keep your fore finger on the third fret and your ring finger on fifth fret. Now play the top 'E' string and then lift your ring finger. You will hear two notes.

Tabs is an easy reference for learning new songs.