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Tuning - Tab Reading - Chords - Beginner Scales - Warm-ups -Terminology - Equipment Dictionary - Guitar Buyers Guide

 

 

 

Basic Tablature Reading:

Guitar tablature usually consists of 6 horizontal lines representing each of the 6 strings on a guitar.

The numbers on each of the strings represents the fret at which you place your fingers. If there is a  "0" that means you play the string without putting your fingers on the fret board, it's called an open note. Look at the example below. You will notice that there are numbers on each of the strings. to the left there are Letters which represent the string tuning. The tuning goes (from top to bottom) High E, B, G, D, A, Low E, and is read from left to right.

E------------------------------------------------0--1--2----------------

B---------------------------------------0--1--2-------------------------

G------------------------------0--1--2----------------------------------

D---------------------0--1--2-------------------------------------------

A------------0--1--2----------------------------------------------------

E---0--1--2-------------------------------------------------------------

Note that the standard tablature starts with the highest (thinnest) string at the top and Lowest (fattest) string at the bottom. If the tablature has no string names to the left then this means it is standard, like the above example.

 

Reading chords as tabs:

A chord in tablature is represented the same way; numbers on the lines. The only difference is that they are played at the same time, and the numbers on the tab are all lined up on top of one another instead of ongoing toward the right.

Here's an example of what an E chord looks like:

E-----------------------------------------------------------------------

B-----------------------------------------------------------------------

G---1-------------------------------------------------------------------

D---2-------------------------------------------------------------------

A---2-------------------------------------------------------------------

E---0-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Reading a chord Chart:

Chord Charts are a little different. They are made up of 6 horizontal lines and 6 vertical lines.  The 6 VERTICAL lines are the guitar strings (left to right) Low E, A, D, G, B, High E. The 6 Horizontal lines represent guitar frets and the dots will fall in between the horizontal lines just like your fingers on the fret board.

Here is an example of a C chord from the Basic Chords page:

......So the first "dot" is on the A string, 3rd Fret.  The second is on the D string, 2nd Fret. The 3rd Dot is on the B string, 1st fret. The white dots on the top of the chord box represent open strings, or strings that you play without fingering the fret board. You would strum this chord from the A string thru the High E string, but you only have your fingers on the A, D, and B strings. Fairly simple, 'eh.

 

There's the basics. Not too hard once you get the hang of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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