The Basics of Guitar Tablature: A Beginner's Tutorial

You've got a guitar and you're eager to learn, which is great! Maybe a friend has already shown you the basics of where to place your fingers for a chord or a riff, or perhaps you've come across a helpful YouTube video that teaches you how to hold the instrument correctly. For many beginners, the natural next step is to learn a song. To achieve this, you'll need to learn how to read some form of music notation, which will give you basic instructions on what your hands should be doing on the guitar.

There are various forms of music notation, with TAB (short for tablature) being one of the most popular for guitar players. We'll explore these different forms to fully understand why learning TAB can be a great option for beginners, as well as consider its drawbacks.

Ways to Read Music on the Guitar

So, what are the various ways to read music on the guitar? While the main focus of this blog is Guitar TAB, it's important to explore some of the other forms of music notation used on the guitar. This will give us a good understanding of why we'll be focusing on TAB in the early stages of your playing.

1. Traditional Notation

Traditional notation is one of the oldest and most universal methods of writing music, suitable for all instruments. It offers a comprehensive and precise way of representing music through all sorts of funny scribbles, symbols and so on. While it excels at detailing note names and the speed of notes to be played, it can be considered overkill for beginners, especially if Classical or Jazz music isn't your primary focus. Learning traditional notation is a lengthy process and may risk taking away the excitement of learning to play the guitar for some beginners. It's all about context. In music, nothing is inherently good or bad, and you'll often encounter contradictions. What may be considered a "bad" technique at one stage could become a useful tool later on. So, remember to keep an open mind to the bigger picture. Learning to read notation may be something for you at a later stage.  

2. Chord Charts

Chord charts are a simplified form of traditional music notation that focuses on the chords in a piece of music. Their sole purpose is to indicate which chords to play and how long each chord should last. While they often omit rhythm, there's usually plenty of space for a tutor to add a shorthand note such as a strumming pattern for example.

These types of chord charts are commonly used in popular music and serve as an excellent way for beginners to quickly learn songs without getting bogged down by too many details. Typically, chord charts are presented as a grid with chord names either within or above the grid. Sometimes, chord diagrams are also included above the grid for added clarity. 

3. Lyric Sheets with Chords

Lyric sheets with chords combine the lyrics of a song with the corresponding chord symbols placed above the words. When written out correctly, the chord symbol indicates which chord should be played at the specific word or syllable, helping you know when to change chords. However, this format can have drawbacks, as it may not always clearly indicate the timing or speed of chord changes. To read this style effectively, you typically need a good sense of the song's rhythm and melody. Like chord charts, there's often room to add shorthand notes for additional details.

Both chord charts and lyric sheets with chords often lack precise instructions on what to do, making them somewhat vague in guiding the player, especially with more intricate guitar parts. 

4. Guitar TAB (Tablature)

And finally, the topic of this blog: Guitar TAB. Guitar TAB has always been the easiest and fastest form of music to teach because it provides a visual representation of the guitar fretboard. Each line represents a string, and numbers indicate which fret to press down. It's essentially coordinates on the guitar. This makes it easy for beginners to learn new songs quickly by showing them exactly where to place their fingers on the fretboard. 

How to Read Guitar TAB

Reading TAB is relatively straightforward once you grasp the basics. In TAB notation, each line represents a string on the guitar, with the bottom line representing the low E string and the top line representing the high E string. The numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press down. Additionally, other symbols are used to indicate techniques like bends, slides, and hammer-ons, adding more detail to the notation. You'll learn these symbols as you go along.

So, here is a very simple piece of tab for you to try yourself. See if you can get it together, and let us know if you then work out what piece of famous music it is!

Pros of Guitar TAB

Direct Information: TAB provides direct information on which fret and which string to press and pick, making it easy to learn new songs.

Lots of Free Resources: There are plenty of free resources available online that provide TABs for your favourite songs, making it easy to find new material to learn. Check out ultimate-guitar or songster. 

Guitar Specific Techniques: TAB can be very detailed, indicating not only which notes to play but also techniques like bends, slides, and hammer-ons.

Specialised TAB programs like Guitar Pro or Soundslice are fantastic software options that offer interactive tablature. These programs allow you to slow down and loop sections of a song, making it easier to practice and learn at your own pace.

Cons of Guitar TAB

No Rhythm: TAB often does not provide information on rhythm, which can make it challenging to play songs accurately without a good sense of timing.

Potentially a Lot of Noise: TAB can sometimes be cluttered with too much information, making it difficult to read and understand at first glance.

Over-Reliance on TAB: Relying too heavily on TAB can hinder your ability to develop your ear and understand music theory, which are essential skills for becoming a well-rounded musician.

Only For Fretted Instruments: Guitar TAB is exclusively used for fretted instruments and does not apply to any other instruments, potentially making it difficult to communicate ideas to other musicians.

Conclusion

There are various ways to approach reading music on the guitar, each with its own set of pros and cons. Whether you choose traditional notation, chord charts, or Guitar TAB depends on your priorities and goals as a guitarist. If your priority is strumming, starting with TAB may not be the best option. However, if your focus is on riffing or fingerpicking, TAB can be a great place to start.

If you were to ask me what the best approach is, I'd say it's a hybrid of everything. I appreciate the detailed rhythm information found in traditional notation, the quick note-finding ease of TAB, and the clarity of the chord diagrams presented above. But for the early stages, one thing at a time!