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Every budding guitarist will need to know how to play guitar tabs, it is one of the first lessons they get and it is a the most efficient way of representing written music for guitar. Few guitarists play off normal sheet music. Instead they will use something called tabs (tablature). Tabs fall into two categories: chord tabs and music tabs. Both of which will be explained below:

Guitar Chord Tabs for Beginners

Consider the neck of the guitar in a vertical position with the thin string (first string) being the vertical line on the right and the thick string (sixth string) on the left. This is presented in the diagram on the right, the top line normally being the end of the neck at the head stock and the lower lines represent each fret down the neck or fingerboard.

A chord is shown by adding dots corresponding to finger positioning.

For example, This diagram is the tab representation for the  D chord. The number 1 is referring to your first finger which should be placed on the third string (G-string) – second fret. While your second finger goes on the sixth string second fret and your third finger on the fifth string third fret.

The tab for a chord is instantly recognisable and once you understand what you are looking at it is easy to read and apply to your hand.

With this D chord the O shown at the top of the third string means the string should be played open while the X’s on the fifth sixth string means they should not be played at all.

All the strings in the chord, with the exception of any marked with X, should sound clean and clear when strummed or picked individually. There should be no buzzes or dead spots audible. If there is deadness then readjust your fingers and try again. This may take a few attempts when starting out and you may be surprised how hard you have to press down. It is usual for your fingers to hurt, but they will harden in time.

TIPS: 1. Use a pick! It gives a clearer sound. Use a thin one initially (0.38mm)

2. Press down on the strings with your fingertips only.

3. Don’t press down on the underside of the guitar neck with any part of your palm as this will mute the thin E-string.

Here is an E-chord. Your first finger should go on the third string first fret, Your second finger on the fifth string second fret and your third finger on the fourth string second fret. As you can see the diagram is easier to understand than the explanation.

The E-chord is played with three open strings and again every string should sound clear.

Practicing chords can be slow going when your fingers are not used to the positions but with daily practice it won’t take long. If you find your fingers hurt too much take a break and come back to it later.

Sometimes the tab is depicted on its side. In this case the thin sixth string is on the top and the thick first string on the bottom. This is how guitar music tabs a shown.

Guitar Music Tabs for Beginners

The picture below shows a simple practice scale for guitar on a music tab. It also has the sheet music above it. The music is showing a repeating 1-2-3-4 beat pattern and as you can see there are four notes in each bar. The number on the tab lines shows the fret to be played – these lines are guitar strings. So the first note is the sixth string first fret. The second note the fifth string second fret, and so on.

The fingers to use are not specified but you would be expected to use first, second, third and forth finger respectively for each note as the scale covers four frets. This system of using one finger to a fret is the basis for progressing onto solos.

Notice, for the second bar your fingers move down a string, otherwise it is the same pattern again. And likewise for the third. It this piece of music the double bar at the end means go back to the start and repeat the piece, thus you have a simple finger exercise for practicing.

Obviously, guitar tabs get more involved for the more advanced music but the principles of how to play guitar tabs remains the same.

For an idea of how long it will take you to learn check out this article.

 

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