How to read guitar tabs

The first step: Understand the finger codes. You will understand it just by looking at the picture. It is best to memorize it first so that you don’t understand it later^^

The second step : Understand the guitar chord chart

Guitar chord chart (1)

I think this is more intuitive and easier for you to understand. This is also the opinion of this site's chord quick check. But sometimes you need to pay special attention. Not all scores will be marked with finger codes, so you have to find a reasonable pressing method without being too forced.

Guitar chord chart (2)

The following is the guitar chord representation commonly used in books. This is the most common chord diagram, but the above diagram is turned 90 degrees, with chord codes attached.

Guitar chords: C, Am real person demonstration of pressing method

Step 3: Understand the position of the root note of the chord

What is the root note?

< p>Simply put, the root note is the lowest note in the chord composition. The following is a diagram of the scale positions of the first three frets of the guitar. If you still don’t know the root or tonic position of the chord, I suggest you print the following table and stick it on the side of the guitar so that you can look down at it if you forget. If you understand the chord chart, you can read it yourself first, starting from the root note and slowly playing down one by one.

We usually find the root note on the thicker 4, 5, 6 strings of the guitar

For example: the root note of the Fmaj7 chord is F

So when we put When Fmaj7 is pressed, play the 4th string, which is naturally F

Therefore, as long as you know the position of the (note) on the guitar fretboard, you will naturally know the position of the (root note)

< p>Step 4: Get to the point - TAB guitar tab

The position of the right hand: as shown in the picture above

The ring finger of the right hand: responsible for plucking the 1st string (the thinnest one) String)

The middle finger of the right hand: responsible for plucking string 2 up

The index finger of the right hand: responsible for plucking string 3 up

The thumb of the right hand: responsible for plucking string 4 down Strings

The thumb of the right hand: responsible for plucking the 5th string

The thumb of the right hand: responsible for plucking the 6th string (the thickest string)

What the numbers represent

Tab tablature - Numbers on the line: represent the meaning (which cell) the left hand should press on. For example, if the number 3 is on the 1st string, it means that the left hand should press on it. Hold the third fret of the first string, and at the same time play the first string with your right hand.

You must first understand the note

That is, the length of the note. This needs to be discussed in a new article. The algorithm of musical notes is a part that requires personal teaching by the teacher, but it is also an extremely important part.

Simple practical operation

Embracing guitar tabs

Guitar. Fingering practice: Slow Soul slow soul music

Guitar fingering practice: Waltz? Waltz

Step 5: Choose the right guitar tab

Many guitar tabs There are only chords and lyrics. It is not very appropriate to only read this kind of music score. The following is the most basic information that a good music score will indicate, which is also the structure of the music.

★ Rhythm pattern. Rhythms

★ Key

★ Speed

★ Melody

★ Chord

If Lyrics don't count. If there are only chords on the score, the beat and single note among the three elements of music will be missing. It's like - the recipe only has the ingredients but no (detailed instructions) to make a complete dish. Just look at this Notation will hinder the integrity of your learning, and you will often encounter the following problems

When a certain note is to be sung, which beat should it correspond to?

The chord should be played? When it comes, at which beat of this section is it?

How to temporarily change the key and rhythm pattern?

Which section only needs to be played in the basic pattern? Just fine?

Which section can be used for rhythm changes?

These important information

must be marked on good guitar tabs

Metaphor of cooking

Before cooking, you must first understand the dish (materials and detailed methods), that is, you must first learn how to read the "recipe" before you can start cooking.

Before you want to create your own "new dishes", don't you also have to learn to make many "old dishes" from your predecessors before you can develop new dishes?

Similarly, if you can read guitar tabs (recipes), it will be beneficial to practice brushing and fingering techniques written by others (cook more dishes)! There are some blind spots in self-learning, and it may be difficult. It is recommended that you first find a teacher to learn how to count beats (notes) and practice the changes in the arrangement and combination of different beats, so that you can understand the fingering and brushing methods (recipes) in the book. ~

Learn from a teacher

If you are serious about learning to cook (guitar) and hope that the food you cook (playing guitar) will be equally delicious (sounds good), the fastest way That's it - learn from a teacher, because the process of learning cooking (learning guitar) involves many details, which cannot be explained in a few words, and there is no such thing as a quick fix. Of course you can explore it yourself, but it will cost you a lot of time. Calculating the energy and time you spend, it’s really not worth it.

If you don’t understand the importance of reading music, let alone the changes in playing, as for the view of time signature, you won’t be able to read it in a day or two. It is recommended that you find a teacher nearby and make one. Study systematically.

Step 6: Changes in playing

Permutations and combinations

You may play the same from beginning to end at first, but over time you will get tired of playing. At this time, you will start to want changes. In fact, there are infinite variations of fingering and brushing techniques for the same rhythm pattern. If the basic patterns are all right and you are proficient, you can start trying the variations. It is true that everyone's accompaniment style is different. The original method is actually just a permutation and combination. As long as the principles and taste of the original rhythm pattern are grasped, and the speed is correct, then you can play freely.