When the numbers are in line with each other vertically, they represent a chord. Guitar tab is read left to right, and all notes indicated are in chronological order.
When learning how to read guitar tabs, it’s important to understand that 1 represents the first fret, 2 the second fret, 3 the third fret, and so on. If the string has a 1, then that means you must play using the first fret. The frets are numbered 0-24, and start at the nut (the piece closest to the headstock), and run the entire length of the guitar neck.įor example, if the string has a 0, that means you play that string “open,” or without using your fretting hand.
These numbers represent the frets on your guitar, which are the metal strips found on the fretboard. On each line of tab you will also see numbers. If you’re ready to learn about what guitar tabs are and what they can be used for, you’ve come to the right place. It can also be an easier way to learn, since knowing how to read guitar tabs doesn’t require any special knowledge other than locating the strings and the frets on your guitar. For this reason, understanding guitar tablature is particularly useful for beginners, and allows students to learn how to play the guitar without ever having to learn how to read traditional musical notation.Īt School of Rock, we teach students how to read guitar tablature since it can show you both chords and single notes –– making it the fastest way to learn your favorite songs. This comes in handy, especially since the guitar has many different places to play the same notes. But when compared to standard music notation, guitar tablature offers a serious advantage: it shows you where to play the notes on your guitar. Guitar tabs share similarities with music staff notation by showing you what notes to play, how long to play them, and what techniques to use. Guitar tablature, usually referred to as “tab”, is a method of notating music that empowers beginner guitarists to learn songs quickly and easily.