Tablature (or tab) is a type of music notation that is designed for fretted string instruments.
It's origins go back to the renaissance. A lot of music for the lute was originally written in tablature.
Nowadays tablature is commonly used to notate modern guitar music.
A guitar tablature staff consists of 6 lines that represent the 6 strings. The low E is at the bottom, the high E at the top :
Example 1
We can put numbers on the lines. Each number represents a fret on the guitar neck. A 0 means open string, a 1 first fret, a 2 second fret, ...
Here is the tablature for the chord shape of C :
Example 2
All numbers are on one line above each other, meaning all notes should be played at the same time as a chord.
When the numbers are next to each other on the staff they should be played after each other. Advancing from the left to the right on the staff = advancing in time.
In the following example you first play the 5th fret on the E string, then the 3rd fret, again the 5th, then the 3rd fret on the A string...
Example 3
You can't read rhythm on a guitar tab and you can't read the exact length of a note. Tablature can give you a slight indication though on how long a note is by leaving more or less space between the numbers.
In example 4 the note played on the 5th fret on the E string lasts longer then the same note in example 5 :
Example 4
Example 5
When all notes are evenly spaced, as in example 3, you can assume that all notes are of equal length, usually quavers or eight notes.
It will be a lot easier to read a guitar tab if you know the song or have a recording of it so you know the rhythm.
The next examples show you the use of symbols for guitar techniques used on this site :
Example 6 shows you a hammer on.
Example 7 shows you a pull off.
Example 8 shows you a slide.
Example 9 shows you a ghost note. A ghost note can be played by fretting a note, but not picking it. Ghost notes are barely audible, but they do a lot to the feel of the music. The note on the 7th fret is a ghost note
Example 9
Example 10 is a bend.
Guitar tablature vs. standard notation :
- You can't read rhythm on a guitar tab
- You can't see the duration of a note on tablature
- Guitar tablature is instrument specific (only for fretted string instruments)
- You can't read in what position to play in standard notation
- Guitar tablature is easier to learn then standard notation
Example 11
