Learning guitar chords or tabs is an effective way to start learning to play music. Chords are composed of groups of notes from a scale played together.
Chords alone don’t tell the full story though; rhythm adds depth and interest to a song’s structure – this is where slides, bends and pre-bends come into play!
Symbols
Tabs provide an effective means of learning music without becoming acquainted with standard notation. But for new guitarists it can be confusing as there are no rhythmic values associated with numbers used as fret markers on a guitar, instead each number indicates one fret on your instrument and you must understand how the six strings of a tab represent themselves horizontally.
As you learn to read guitar tabs, there may be other symbols you come across which may be unfamiliar to you. For instance, these include arrows which show which direction to pick notes (this could simply mean up and down or more specifically indicate techniques such as hammer-ons or pull-offs).
“T” stands for tied note where one note is held longer than another note on the fretboard, while diving (from fretboard) is indicated with a negative sign followed by an approximate number of semitones/fret numbers covered during that dive.
Scales
A scale is a collection of notes used to create melodies over chords, much like an atlas would show you where all the notes on your fretboard lie. No need to memorize it all – simply choose those paths most relevant for you!
Notes closer together or further apart will sound differently, with the interval between them having an effect on how a scale sounds – for instance a major scale will differ greatly from its minor equivalent even though both use identical notes.
The blues scale is one of the most beloved musical scales, used by numerous rock and blues artists alike. Its smooth sound creates an authentic blues experience – perfect for making great bluesy music! Plus it’s very simple to play!
TAB notation often features a curved line connecting two notes with a lower one to an upper note – this technique is known as hammer-on/pull off and allows players to play several notes without using their picking hand.
Chords
Guitar chords form the backbone of many songs – providing melodies with their foundation. Guitarists may represent chords two ways: chord charts or tabs.
Tabs provide an effective and straightforward method for beginners to learn a song without the need to interpret traditional musical notation. Tabs serve as guides for finger placement on the fretboard; each number indicates which string and fret to play.
Some chords require slight string bending to enhance their expressive vocal quality, which can be symbolized in tablature with either a curved line (slur) linking an upper note with its lower note or by using P as an indication.
One thing tabs don’t offer much guidance for rhythm is precise guidance on beat and rhythm structure; standard notation gives more guidance through beat notations that lie below chords. There are, however, newer styles of tab that account for this by using sheet music-inspired rhythmic symbols.
Rhythm
There are various ways to learn guitar – experiment with various approaches until you find one that best meets your needs. Experiment with chords, tabs, music notation or learning by ear until you find what keeps you engaged and motivated on your musical journey.
When numbers appear stacked vertically on a tab, this indicates that all notes should be played simultaneously – an act known as power chording that has become ubiquitous among rock music.
Your music may also feature a curved line (slur) linking two notes at different levels, signalling that you should employ a technique known as hammer on whereby your picking hand hammers the fretboard (or string that has already been fretted) hard enough for that note to sound without your fingers touching it directly.
Some tabs don’t use standard notation to indicate rhythm, instead employing rhythm markings such as whole note; half note; quarter note and eighth note markings instead.