| Tab or Tablature is the most commonly used | | | | you probably knew the song BEFORE trying to |
| way to read music for guitar. You can learn the | | | | find Tabs for it. So, you know the rhythm. |
| system in a couple of minutes. | | | | But the second problem is the tricky part. |
| Is basically the combination of two elements: | | | | There are specific symbols to establish how notes |
| The string number,which sometimes is not even | | | | should be played BUT, unless you have software |
| specified in the printed sheet. | | | | designed for Tablature, those symbols are not |
| The fret number (the numbers that you see all | | | | found on a computer keyboard. |
| across the page). | | | | Those symbols are mostly little curved lines, little |
| Sometimes it also includes chords,for example: F, | | | | curved arrows and weird long curved lines. You |
| Dm, Gm7. | | | | can see all of that if you buy, for example, a |
| One of the most widely found complaints among | | | | guitar or bass magazine. |
| students is the fact that they can not understand | | | | But people started to use the Web to post |
| anything about the tabs they download. | | | | thousands of Tabs (millions today) simply by using |
| You surf the web for your favorite songs, you | | | | the available characters on their keyboards. So, |
| find tabs and you print them but, you find some | | | | instead of entering the symbol for a BEND, they |
| strange symbols like:p (between numbers) This | | | | used the letter b. Instead of the tab symbol for a |
| means Pull off. | | | | SLIDE, they use the letter s , or the diagonal line |
| Place your fingers on the specified fret numbers, | | | | on your keyboard. |
| hit the first note and release the finger | | | | After many years of practicing this method, the |
| corresponding to the LAST number (note) | | | | most commonly used keyboard characters |
| WITHOUT using your pick or your right hand. In | | | | became standard for web surfers and today, |
| other words, the sound of the last note must be | | | | when you print tablature, you will probably find |
| obtained by the movement of your left hand with | | | | those strange character indications between |
| no help from your right hand. Example: | | | | numbers (the numbers are the notes). |
| ---------3-p-2----------. | | | | But do not think that Tab symbols became |
| / (between numbers) This refers to a SLIDE. | | | | extinct. There is computer software specifically |
| Place one finger in the first note and SLIDE, using | | | | designed for Tablature. I had the fortune of |
| the same finger to the last specified location. | | | | finding one piece of free Tablature software that |
| Example:---2 / 5----. You hit the string only ONCE | | | | contained all the symbols and actually plays the |
| with your pick or your finger from the right hand, | | | | song with a pretty good guitar sound as you type |
| to play the FIRST note. The sound of the other | | | | in the notes. It is really cool, but a few days ago I |
| note comes from the slide movement of the left | | | | tried to visit their web site to look for updates |
| hand finger.h (between numbers) The opposite of | | | | and the page did not exist anymore. |
| pull off, which means HAMMER. | | | | I will start looking for other choices on my own |
| You strike the first note only ONCE. The sound of | | | | but I recommend you to surf a little for Tab |
| the second note will be produced by hitting hard | | | | software and you will probably find hundreds of |
| the second note with ANOTHER finger. | | | | places. |
| Example: ------2-h-4--------. Use one finger to play | | | | ONE PIECE OF ADVICE THOUGH. Not all Tab |
| the first note, hit hard the second note with | | | | posting sites are made by professional musicians. |
| another finger. | | | | Some web sites are posted by beginners and (or) |
| There are 2 major problems in Tablature: | | | | kids with no real music education and those Tabs |
| Tabs do not specify rhythm (duration of notes). | | | | may not be even close to how the real song |
| Tabs were invented before computer keyboards. | | | | sounds like. So try to find professionally designed |
| The first problem should be no problem because | | | | music sites. |