Guitar Tablature

Guitar tablature (tab for short) is basically a diagram and simple number system that will allow you to easily read and play any riff, song, or solo you can imagine on the guitar.

The Strings:

Here is an example of a blank guitar tab sheet.
E|———————————————————————————————————

B|———————————————————————————————————

G|———————————————————————————————————

D|———————————————————————————————————

A|———————————————————————————————————

E|———————————————————————————————————

The strings here are named to make it easier to decipher which string is which. The bottom string represents the low E string which is the biggest and thickest string on the guitar. All the strings go in the same order that they are on the guitar all the way to the high E string which is the thinnest string on the guitar.

Here is a diagram of a D major chord:

E|———-2———————————————————————————————-

B|———-3———————————————————————————————-

G|———-2———————————————————————————————-

D|———————————————————————————————————

A|———————————————————————————————————

E|———————————————————————————————————

The numbers here represent which fret you will place your fingers. As you can see, on the G string your will hold down the 2nd fret, the B string - the 3rd fret, and the E string - the 2nd fret. When all the numbers are in line or on top of each other like in this diagram it means that your strike all the strings at the same time and play them simultaneously. So in this diagram you would play the D major chord by strumming it once.

Here is an example of tab where you do not strike all the strings simultaneously:

E|———-2———————————————————————————————-

B|—————–3—————————————————————————————

G|————————-2——————————————————————————-

D|———————————————————————————————————

A|———————————————————————————————————

E|———————————————————————————————————

In the diagram above, you would strike each string individually. This is still a D major chord but you would play it one string at a time. So you would start on the high E string, then play the B string, and finally play the G string. The distance between the numbers on the tab will help you determine how long of a pause to take between playing each string.

Tab Symbols:

Here are some symbols that you will frequently see after numbers on the tab diagram:

h - hammer on, p - pull off, b - bend string, up r - release bend, / - slide up, - slide down, v - vibrato (sometimes written as ~), t - picking hand tap, x - play ‘note’ with heavy damping or do not play at all

Some of these terms we will cover in more detail later but for now it is good to have a reference so you know what they mean.

Guitar Tablature Software

Power Tab is another program for writing guitar tab but it is available free of charge. You can use it to write guitar and bass tabs. The Power Tab Editor also imports MIDI files, and can also export to ASCII Text, HTML, and MIDI formats.

Using TablEdit guitarists can create, edit, print and play back guitar tabs. TablEdit also generates tabs and musical notation for harmonica, mountain dulcimer, diatonic button accordion, drums, violin, tin whistle, recorder, Xaphoon, autoharp, pedal steel guitar, piano, and banjo. You can download the free trial version of TablEdit and use it indefinitely as long as you can put up with the nag messages and the fact that you cannot save edited tabs.

TuxGuitar is an open source software for writing and playing back a number of tablature formats. TuxGuitar has many handy features including editing tabs and scores, autoscroll while the music is being played back, effects like bends, slides, vibrato, hammer-ons and pull-offs. With TuxGuitar you can also manage tempo and time signature. A bonus is you can import and export files from Guitar Pro versions 4 and 5.

The big disadvantage with reading, writing guitar music using tablature has always been the fact that tab does not show tempo and rhythm. This means that unless you are already familiar with the piece of music you are learning, you might be struggling to get the right note values and rhythm. With guitar tab software this problem is eliminated because even if you are working from imported ASCII tab the software tells you what the piece sounds like through the MIDI playback and the standard music notation features. My advice is to download all the programs and try them out to see which one best suits you. for the most recent version of all these programs, just do an internet search by product name.

Guitar Tablature History

In the earliest days, music for the guitar was written in a form known as tablature. This system indicates exactly where the fingers are to be placed by showing the strings as six lines, with numbers (or letters) representing the frets. Here is an example:
➤The word TAB is conventionally placed at the beginning of the line to distinguish these lines from those of the musical staff. Here, the lines represent the six strings, the first string being the top line.
➤“0” stands for open string. Play the first string with the right hand; do nothing with the left.
➤“1” stands for the first fret. Place a finger behind the first fret on the same string. Play the note.
➤“3” stands for the third fret. Finger the third fret, play the note.
➤The vertical line marks off the measures, as in conventional notation. Note that the numbers have nothing to do with the fingers. In this example they happen to coincide, but they refer only to the frets.
Now try playing these examples in succession:
0131
0
If something sounds familiar, you’re doing well!
The rhythm can be expressed in various ways in tablature, but before discussing this we need to learn some basics in this area.

Guitar Chords

Chords are groups of notes that, when played together, make a pleasant sound. Chords are used to accompany melodies. Each chord is named for its bass note, and is made up of the first (bass note), third, and fifth notes in a scale. The first thing most people want to learn to do on the guitar is to play simple chords.
The first chord we learn is known as the C chord, since it is built on the bass note C.
Try placing the fingers as in the illustration, keeping the following points in mind:
➤Press just behind the fret. If you are too far back the string will buzz against the fret.
➤Keep a slight curve on the fingers—don’t let the joints straighten out or give way. ➤Keep the thumb behind the neck, slightly forward of the first fret. Don’t bend this joint—keep it back.
➤Don’t press too hard. Accuracy is more important than force. ➤When you are ready, sound the chord by sweeping your thumb across the upper five strings.
There is a great pleasure in hearing your first chord when the guitar is in tune and resonant. When you have it right, take the hand away and do it again from scratch. Continue until you can find the chord quite easily.
There is a fair amount of detail involved in the correct placement of the left hand, and good habits formed at this stage will pay off tremendously as you continue. The chord can be shown graphically in various ways. Perhaps the easiest to recognize is the chord block showing part of the guitar fingerboard with round dots representing the fingertips.

Guitar Tuning

With your first string in tune, it is possible to tune the rest of the guitar string by string.
Here’s how:
➤Put a left-hand finger just behind the fifth fret of the second string and sound the string with any right-hand finger. It should sound the same as the first string open (i.e., with no frets used). If it doesn’t, tighten or loosen it until it does.
➤With the top two strings now in tune, put a finger behind the fourth fret of the third string. When you play it should sound the same as the second string. If it doesn’t, tighten or loosen as above.
➤With the top three strings in tune, place a finger behind the fifth fret of the fourth string. Adjust it to sound like the third string.
Electronic Tuning
Tuning can also be made almost foolproof with electronic tuning machines, in which either a meter or colored lights tell you when you’re in tune. The cost of these is naturally higher than that of tuning forks or pitch pipes, but they are accurate and easy. The best kind allow you to play a note and then watch a needle that shows whether you’re sharp or flat.
String Stretch
After putting on a new string, there is a tendency to believe that the string is slipping, because the pitch will drop slightly over a period of time after being tuned up. Actually this is the string stretching, and until the settling point is reached it will be necessary to tighten the string periodically. Professional players hasten this process by taking hold of the string and twisting it to get the stretch out.
The Least You Need to Know
➤The action (or height) of the strings on your guitar is crucial to making it playable. ➤Changing strings is easy, but the process is slightly different for classical, folk, and electric guitars.
➤Buying the right type of strings for your instrument is important to maximize sound and playability.
➤Tune your guitar with a pitch pipe or tuning fork, on a piano, relatively on the instru-ment itself, or with an electronic tuner.

Choosing Guitar Strings

Just as there are different types of guitars, there are different types of strings. Here are the principal types:
➤Nylon strings are used on classical guitars. In fact, it is dangerous to use heavier strings on a classical guitar, because the instrument is not designed to withstand the high tension they produce. The three lowest strings are made of silver-plated copper wire wound on a core of nylon strands. The upper three are pure nylon filaments. ➤Steel strings are designed for acoustic folk guitars. The bass strings are wound on a core of silk or nylon.
➤Heavier wound metal strings are designed for electric guitars. Core and winding materials vary among string makers, and you may wish to experiment with different types to see which produces the sound you like best. Strings are also available with different shapes or contours, from flat to fully rounded. Strings are also sold in light, medium, or heavy gauges. This has to do with the amount of elasticity in the string: light-gauge strings are more elastic and therefore easier to play than heavy ones. Again, depending on the kind of music you play and your own personal taste, you’ll be able to choose the proper string for you. It’s always worthwhile to try different types of strings on your instrument to see if a simple change of strings can lead to improved sound and playability.

Acoustic Guitar Tab

Tablature, or tab, is the ideal way for any beginner guitar player to learn or for a more seasoned guitarist to learn new material quickly. A basic definition of guitar tab is a diagram showing the guitar strings with the frets where the guitarist is to play the notes indicated by numbers. Quite often a guitarist approaching a new piece of music will struggle with conventional music notation whereas tab is a quick and easy way of getting the “feel of a new piece”. Also a pianist or other musician can look at a piece of guitar sheet music and play it right away but would have no hope of playing from guitar tab because it is only written for one instrument. Another limitation of guitar tab is that you won’t be able to learn the rhythm from it. You will need a strumming pattern diagram or, having heard the song before, have some idea of how to approach the playing of the rhythm. If you are prepared to live with these limitations tablature will be a great tool for you to learn your favorite songs quickly.

When you search the internet for acoustic guitar tab what kind of music can you expect to find? Well, the variety is astonishing. Basically acoustic guitar tab is written with the idea of the guitar supplying the basic accompaniment for the song. So if you are a singer wanting to interpret the lyrics, your interest in an elaborate guitar arrangement may be slight. The second thing acoustic guitar tab usually gives you is the notes for any distinctive melody or riff in the song - music that people recognize before they hear the words being sung. A simple example of this is the few notes repeated throughout the record of “Something” by The Beatles. Of course you are quite free to leave out or change any music to make the arrangement your own.

Acoustic guitar tabs are often finger style arrangements of songs. These arrangements will not be readily available in music stores or the usual sources of sheet music on the internet. Finger style arrangements can give you some added depth to your guitar playing even if you don’t utilize all the techniques shown in the tab. Finally there is one advantage to using acoustic tab for electric guitar players. You can learn the music for the song without having to set up your guitar and amp. You can work on arranging your song for electric guitar once you know the chords and the basic structure.

Guitar Accessories

When buying a new guitar, you should always get a good, sturdy case. Generally, there are three types of cases available:
➤Chipboard: The cheapest, and least protective of your investment. ➤Gig Bag: A lined bag made of vinyl or some plastic material that gives limited protec-tion to your guitar.
➤Hardshell Case: The heaviest and most durable protection you can get. Obviously, you should go for the most protection you can afford. But never ever store or carry a guitar outside of its case, even if it’s just a cardboard one. A case will help protect a guitar from bumps and scratches, and also can protect it against excessive humidity, sun-light, or heat, as well as other less-than-favorable conditions. Other accessories you might consider are electronic tuners, extra sets of strings, straps, and guitar instruction books and videos. All of these items can be useful, although you don’t need to buy them all at once.

Common Guitar Brands

Guitar makers come and go but there are a couple of name brands that have been around for many decades that are known for the general quality of their instruments. Here’s a partial listing, with some comments about them.
Japanese/Asian Makers
➤Yamaha: This Japanese maker is well known for the quality of its beginner’s instru-ments. They make a wide variety of styles of acoustic and electric guitars, most of which are copies of popular American models, although a few are original in design to Yamaha. They also make a line of classical-style guitars based on Spanish models. ➤Alvarez-Yairi. This is another Japanese maker that makes a slightly glitzier guitar than Yamaha, with lots of “mother-of-pearl” (actually plastic) inlays. They are known primarily for acoustic, folk-styled guitars.
➤Washburn: Originally, Washburn guitars were made by the Lyon & Healey Company in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The name was revived in the 1970s by a U.S. importer of Japanese guitars. They make a reasonably good line of acoustic, folk-styled guitars, as well as electric instruments.
➤Takamine: A Japanese company specializing in copies of Martin guitars. Very playable and reasonably priced, they are good alternatives for those who want a Martin-style instrument. They also make classical guitars, including some fine handcrafted models under the Hirade brand name.
➤Ibañez: They are best-known for their reasonably priced copies of popular electric guitars, including models inspired by Les Paul and the Stratocaster.
American Makers
➤Guild: This venerable American maker was founded in the late forties to make jazz-style guitars, but they are best-known for their folk, acoustic instruments of the sixties. Not quite as celebrated as Gibson or Martin, Guild nevertheless makes dependable and playable instruments.
➤Gibson: The Gibson Company has a long history, going back to the 1890s. After a period of corporate ownership in the 1970s, the company underwent a remarkable revival. Gibson makes acoustic, folk guitars; arch-top jazz models; and the famous Les Paul electric guitar (as well as other electric styles, such as the Flying V). Gibson has imported less expensive Japanese-made instruments that it has marketed under the Epiphone name.
➤Martin: Founded in 1833, this company still makes its guitars in Nazareth, Pennsylva-nia. Martin makes some classical and acoustic-electric instruments, but basically is known for their large-bodied, Dreadnought (or “D”) styled guitars. The gold standard for acoustic players.
➤Fender: Founded in the early fifties by Leo Fender, this company is famed for two guitars, the Telecaster and Stratocaster, as well as its Jazzmaster bass. Like Gibson, the quality of its instruments declined during a period of corporate ownership from the middle sixties through the late seventies, but has recently come back. Original Stratocasters from the fifties are worth huge sums of money.
➤Ovation: Perhaps the most radical of all new guitar designs came from the Ovation company in the early seventies. Acoustic guitarists either love them or hate them. These guitars have fiberglass bodies with a bowl-shaped back, although the soundboard or face is made of wood. The sound hole design is also eccentric, often featuring (depend-ing on the model) several small holes in the upper left-hand bout of the instrument.
Spanish Makers
➤Alhambra: Good-quality guitars from the province of Valencia, long a center of classical and flamenco guitars.
➤Córdoba: In spite of the name, these traditional Spanish guitars also come from Valencia.

Guitar Sound Advice

To save money, inexpensive guitars are usually made of lesser-quality woods. You will rarely find an inexpensive instrument made of solid wood. Instead, laminates (a fancy name for plywood) are used. The appearance will be good, because quality woods are used to for the outer layer, and these guitars are very sturdy and unlikely to crack; but the sound of a plywood guitar is rarely as resonant as one made with solid woods. Sometimes the top, or soundboard, will be solid with laminated wood for the sides and back, which is preferable to plywood throughout.
The best classical guitars have sides and back of Brazilian or East Indian rosewood. The tops are of spruce or Canadian cedar with even spacing between the anular lines of the grain. The neck is usually made of Spanish or Honduras cedar, and the fingerboard of ebony. Folk or acoustic guitars can be made of spruce, maple, rosewood, or mahogany, each having a different characteristic sound. Folk guitars also use ebony fretboards, although cheaper instruments may use a plastic substitute. As well as costing more, the solid wood guitar will need more care since it is more susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity. Exces-sive dryness is a particular enemy of guitars.
At the very minimum, if you are playing an acoustic guitar, try to get a guitar with a solid wood face or top. This will give you the advantage of improved sound. The laminate body, meanwhile, will be better for you as a beginner because it is sturdier—less likely to crack or scratch with mishandling—and overall has less effect on the instrument’s performance. For electric guitars, it doesn’t much matter what is used to make the body. In fact, the ideal is to have a strong, nonresonant body—the opposite of what you’d like in an acoustic instru-ment. Plywood, plastic, fiberglass—anything strong can be used. The body is more important for its decorative value—i.e., how it looks on stage—than its composition.
Fitting an Instrument to You
Besides choosing the type of instrument suited to the kind of music you’d like to play, it’s important that the guitar you choose is one that you are comfortable playing. It’s no good getting a super-deluxe, large-bodied jazz guitar if you are slightly built—no matter how (theoretically) good the instrument might be, you won’t be comfortable playing it.

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