An Introduction to Guitar Tab

While chords are the basis of rhythm guitar and typically the first skill new guitarists work to acquire, learning guitar tab notation can open up the world of melodies and solos. Like the piano (and unlike the violin--in most cases), the guitar is capable of playing melodies and harmonies simultaneously. Classical guitarists use standard notation, like pianists:

But many modern players have discovered that it is much easier to learn to play using a tablature (tab) notation system that has its roots in the renaissance (when lute players needed a quick and easy way to transcribe and learn songs).

The disadvantage to guitar tab is that it typically lacks rhythmic notation, whereas standard notation has rhythm values (half notes, quarter notes, etc.) This makes it impossible to site read an unfamiliar song, unless rhythm values are also included (which can be done but typically is not). However, the tab system can work quite well for familiar songs. It is easy to learn (much easier than standard notation) and is less ambiguous than standard notation because it always specifies exactly which fret and which string should be played (an optional feature of standard notation). It also handles alternate tunings much more easily than standard notation, and it can be written using rudimentary tools. If you look for guitar tabs on the Internet, you might find something that looks like this, which can easily be produced with a text editor like notepad (whereas standard notation can require expensive software programs):

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

While standard notation only has 5 horizontal lines, guitar tab has 6--one for each guitar string. In the example above, the guitar strings are named, but this isn't always the case. If the lines aren't named, standard tuning is assumed. The strings on a guitar tab stave are upside down, with the highest-pitched string ("e") at the top and the lowest-pitched string ("E") on the bottom. The best way to see how this works is to hold your guitar horizontally upside-down next to the guitar tab staves, like this:

The numbers in guitar tab represent frets (not fingers!). A 0 means "open string," so playing the following passage requires only the usage of the right hand:

e|-----------------0--------------------|
B|--------------0-----0-----------------|
G|-----------0-----------0--------------|
D|--------0-----------------0-----------|
A|-----0-----------------------0--------|
E|--0-----------------------------0-----|

The passage below begins with the first (highest) string on the first fret:

e|--1-0-0-0-------------------0---------|
B|----------3-3-3----1-1-1-1------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|

You can also play multiple notes at the same time:

e|--0-0-0-0-------------------0---------|
B|--1-1-1-1-3-3-3----1-1-1-1--1---------|
G|----------0-0-0----2-2-2-2------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|

When creating guitar tab arrangements I generally like to combined the best of both worlds and include both notes and tab, to provide the musician with a good balance of playing ease (tab) and rhythmic reference (standard notation). Here's an arrangement that includes these elements: