Tablature, often called “tab,” is a straightforward system for music notation, especially popular for guitar and bass. You’ll encounter it in music books, instrument magazines, and extensively online. For beginners eager to learn songs quickly, tablature is an invaluable tool.
IMPORTANT: While learning to read guitar and bass tabs and songs is a fantastic starting point, remember that it’s just one piece of the puzzle in becoming a well-rounded musician. To truly grow as a guitarist or bassist, exploring music theory, rhythm, and different playing techniques is essential.
Let’s dive into understanding guitar and bass tabs.
Understanding Strings in Guitar and Bass Tablature
Guitar and bass tabs visually represent the instrument’s strings horizontally. Typically, tabs are written for 6-string guitars and 4-string basses, but you might also find tabs for 7-string guitars, 5-string basses, and beyond, depending on the song’s requirements.
In tablature, the strings are ordered with the lowest-pitched string (thickest) at the bottom and the highest-pitched string (thinnest) at the top for guitar, and similarly for bass. Standard guitar tuning (from lowest to highest) is E-A-D-G-B-e, and standard bass tuning is E-A-D-G. Here’s how they appear in tab:
Guitar Tab:
e ————————————-
B ————————————-
G ————————————-
D ————————————-
A ————————————-
E ————————————-
Bass Tab:
G ————————————-
D ————————————-
A ————————————-
E ————————————-
While some songs might require alternate tunings, this fundamental perspective remains consistent, with the lowest string always positioned at the bottom of the tablature.
Reading Fret Numbers in Tablature
Tablature uses fret numbers to indicate which note to play. These numbers are placed directly on the string line representing where you should fret the note. Guitars usually have between 20 and 24 frets, and basses similarly range from 20 to 24 or more. You’ll see fret numbers from 0, which represents an open string (played without fretting any note), upwards.
Consider this example, applicable to both guitar and bass:
G ————————————
D ——————5—————–
A ——–2—-5———5—-2——-
E —3—————————–3–
This tab instructs you to play the 3rd fret on the E-string, followed by the 2nd fret on the A-string, then the 5th fret on the A-string, and finally the 5th fret on the D-string, before descending back down the same notes.
This sequence can be visualized and heard like this:
[Image of a bass fretboard animation playing the notes from the example tab. Original image URL from the source article should be used. Alt text: Animated bass fretboard showing a sequence of notes played on E, A, and D strings, corresponding to the tablature example.]
Understanding Bars in Tablature
Bars, or measures, are marked in tablature just as they are in standard music notation, using vertical bar lines to divide the music into rhythmic units.
G ——————-|—————–
D ——————-|—————–
A ——————-|—————–
E ——————-|—————–
These bar lines indicate the start of a new musical measure, helping you keep track of the rhythm and timing of the music. Think of bars as organizing the music into counts: 1, 2, 3, 4 [bar line] 1, 2, 3, 4 [bar line] and so on.
Interpreting Rhythm in Guitar and Bass Tablature
Rhythm notation in tablature can vary. In many simplified tabs, rhythm isn’t explicitly indicated; you’re given the sequence of notes but must discern the rhythm by listening to the song. This encourages ear training and is common for learning popular songs quickly.
However, some tabs, especially more detailed ones, include rhythmic notation, often written beneath the tablature lines. This might involve symbols for note durations or, as in this example, a count indicating eighth notes:
G ——————-|——–
D —————5—|——–
A ——-2—5——-|——–
E —3—————|——–
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
In this case, the numbers and “+” symbols below the tab represent the “1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a” count for eighth notes, guiding you on the rhythmic timing of each note.
Common Tablature Symbols for Guitar and Bass
Beyond fret numbers and bar lines, tablature uses a range of symbols to indicate playing techniques. These symbols aren’t always standardized, so it’s common to find a legend at the beginning of a tab explaining any unique markings. Here are some frequently used symbols in both Guitar And Bass Tablature:
String Markings:
/(forward slash): Slide up in pitch.(back slash): Slide down in pitch.^orb: Bend the string up to a higher pitch.r: Release a bend back to the original pitch.~orw: Vibrato (a wavering change in pitch).x: Muted note or ghost note (played percussively with minimal pitch).h: Hammer-on (strike a note by hammering onto the fret).p: Pull-off (sound a note by pulling the fretting finger off the string).t: Tapping (striking a string onto the fretboard to produce a note, often with the picking hand).
Bass-Specific Markings (often below the strings):
Sorslap: Thumb slap (common in funk bass).Porpop: String pop (pulling the string to create a percussive pop sound).Tortap: Tapping (can also be indicated on the string line).
Alternate Tunings in Guitar and Bass Tablature
Another element you might encounter in tablature is alternate tunings. Tabs sometimes specify a non-standard tuning at the top. This could be a precise tuning like Drop D (DADG for bass or DADGBE for guitar), Double Drop D (DADGBD), or Open G (DGDGBD), or another custom tuning. Always check for tuning instructions at the beginning of the tab to ensure your instrument is correctly tuned.
Exploring different tunings can open up new sonic possibilities and are frequently used in various genres. Resources like [guitarplayers.net – link to an article about alternate tunings on guitarplayers.net] and [guitarplayers.net – link to an article about alternate tunings on guitarplayers.net for bass] offer deeper insights into standard and altered tunings.
Why Use Tablature? Benefits for Guitar and Bass Players
Tablature is an accessible entry point into music for both guitarists and bassists, especially before mastering standard music notation or learning all the notes on the fretboard. It’s visually intuitive, directly showing finger placement. Tablature is also incredibly useful for quickly learning songs and sharing musical ideas online. While standard notation offers more comprehensive musical information (including rhythm, dynamics, and instrumentation), tablature excels at providing a fast and effective way to get playing.
Conclusion
Reading guitar and bass tablature is quite straightforward. It’s a valuable skill for any aspiring guitarist or bassist, offering a direct path to learning songs and musical passages. While it’s beneficial to expand your musical literacy beyond tablature over time, understanding tab is an excellent and practical first step.
Continue exploring guitarplayers.net for more lessons, song tabs, and resources to enhance your guitar and bass playing journey!
