Tabs feature horizontal lines to represent the strings of a guitar, each marked with numbers representing frets where your finger should rest.
The top row represents thinnest string to bottom row representing thickest string; each row contains its numbers in chronological order.
1. Chronological number order
Some songs feature guitar parts composed solely of chords, so their tab may omit standard chord notation and simply list a list of chords for you to play. When doing this, try listening to the song while reading through its tab to understand its rhythm – rhythm markings (w = whole note, h = half note and q = quarter note) should usually be included along with dots indicating other notes within its measure.
A chord can be identified when its numbers appear vertically on a tab, with the numbers stacking vertically indicating it. Strumming all of the strings at once creates the melody for that chord; palm muting (muting a string using palm mutes or muted guitar strings to produce thicker sounds for chords) can add thickness and thicken your sound for rock styles that utilize distorted guitar sounds; it can even be done selectively for particular ones like E and G strings.
2. Vertically stacked numbers
Guitar tabs often utilize vertical lines that represent frets. If a number is stacked vertically, then all those notes must be played simultaneously in order to form a chord and chords are read from left to right on a guitar tab sheet.
Some tabs contain extra symbols and instructions for playing specific notes or chords, such as sliding between notes. H is for hammer-on, where you play it using both thumb and index fingers simultaneously; pull-off means snapping off with left hand, while bend up raises pitch of string;
Sometimes you will also see a scoopy line extending beyond the six string lines, signalling that you need to bend one of them. You can tell how much to bend by looking at the number next to the scoopy line; half means to bend up one fret and full bend requires two frets of bend.
3. Time signatures
When reading guitar chords with tabs, it’s crucial to pay close attention to the time signature at the beginning. The top number tells you how many beats per bar should be counted while the bottom number indicates the kind of note to play – such as quarter notes vs eighth notes etc.
As well as using a numbering system to indicate which frets to play, an up or down slanted line indicates when sliding between two or more notes within a chord – a technique called Legato that gives your chord a smoother sound.
Some chords, known as open chords, do not require all strings to be fretted at once – perfect for beginner guitarists since this requires less finger work while still creating a fuller sound. Open chords are commonly used in songs for creating fuller sounding chords while at the same time strengthening finger strength by not playing single strings for too long at a time.
4. Labels
Beginners may find learning guitar chords difficult, but there are ways to make learning them simpler – one effective solution being using chord charts instead of tabs for practice purposes.
Chord diagrams provide snapshots of your fretboard and display what strings are being played and which finger occupies each fret. Frets are metal strips on your fretboard that enable you to place and alter the pitch of notes that you play; numbers in boxes represent which finger should use it: 1=index finger, 2=middle finger, 3=ring finger and 4=pinky.
Chord charts also allow you to easily identify whether or not a string needs to be bent; a curved arrow pointing up indicates this need, while a straight arrow indicates it should return back to its original note. An important symbol that you should become familiar with is X, which stands for muted strings; O indicates an open string; when encountered, this should be struck with your pick in an upward motion.