How to Read Tablature

HOW TO READ TABLATURE

Most of the guitarists use the common alphabets A, B, C, D, E, F, and G to represent the notes on the fret-board. But however, there is one more technique or language in which the songs can be written so that the guitarist is able to read it and play. It is known as the TABLATURE. It is the most popularly used technique all over the world. As well most of the songs posted on the internet use the same technique.

In this technique, instead of using notes, directly the fret-number is used to represent the note.

Firstly the fret-board is used to display the notes used.

For e.g.

e------1----------------------------------          This thing can be read as “play 1^st fret on 

B----------2------------------------------          e-string followed by the 2^nd fret on B-string 
G---------------3-------------------------         and then the 3^rd fret on the G-string.
D-----------------------------------------          (i.e. instead of using notes we use the

A-----------------------------------------           fret-numbers on the string that is to be

E------------------------------------------          plucked.)

How to recognize when to play a chord by using this technique

The chord can be represented by writing the fret-numbers exactly one below the other.

e-------0------------0------------------------                         Whenever such kind of patterns 

B-------1------------0------------------------                        appear in a tablature strum the 

G-------2------------1------------------------                         strings those are numbered.

D-------2------------2------------------------

A--------------------2-----------------------

E-----------------------------------------------

Using this technique other special effects such as hammer-ons etc. can also be displayed.

e---2h3-------------------------------                             h- hammer on

B-----------4h5-----------------------                             p- pull off

G---------------------------------------                            ^- vibrate

D---------------------5p6-------------

A------------------------------6^7----

E----------------------------------------

This is the most popular technique to represent the guitar notes. And mostly there are no problems communicating by using this language.