|
Guitar
tabs are an essential part of any learning process, and
if you don't know how to read them then it makes life a
bit difficult! Don't be baffled, it's stupidly easy. All
you have to be able to do is... well… read! Basically,
the fretboard is represented by lines each corresponding
to a string, from high to low, like this –
|
If you were to lay the guitar down on your lap, strings
facing up, neck to the left of you, bridge to the right,
this is how it's represented.
So, knowing this, we can now start to form the content.
Taking our template once again, this time I'll draw up the
Gmaj chord.
|
The notes are overlapped at the same interval, meaning they are played
at the same time, thus forming the chord of Gmaj.
Now, I'll draw up the Em scale in tab form, and show how notes that are
played singularly are represented.
|
|
Non of these notes are
at the same interval meaning you should play them singularly, note by
note.
|
|
Symbols
Accompanying tabs are many key symbols. Unlike sheet music, tab is more
universally understood and easier to read, however it's not quite so in depth
when it comes to showing time signatures, note durations, rests, and other
musical features.
That said, tab does have quite a versatile key of symbols that it utilises, and
I'll show a few of them here. You'll find these under, or sometimes above the
note that they affect.
|
|
Palm Muting
|
|
Palm Muting is illustrated by the initials ‘P.M’ here, and any
note(s) that require this technique after the first one are
represented by the “--|”.
|
|
Slides
|
|
This ‘sl’ with a
slanted line between the notes represents a slide, where you fret
the first note (in this case the 5th fret on the A string) and pick
it, then without striking the string again you simply keep your
finger on the fretboard and slide up to the next note (7th fret).
|
|
Hammer-ons/Pull-offs
|
|
Hammer-ons and
Pull-offs. The ‘H’ between notes shows you should hammer on to
the next note, the ‘P’ showing a pull-off. Often, if it’s just
a single action, it will just show the H or the P between the two
notes.
|
|
Two-hand Tapping
|
|
Tapping. The note
that is to be tapped (with a finger from your picking hand) is
marked by the ‘T’.
|
|
Up/Down Strokes
|
|
Up/Down Strokes are
represented by the directional markings underneath each note.
|
|
Harmonics
A.H above
a note shows it’s an artificial harmonic. This is sometimes a more
specific indication shown with a P.H to show it’s a ‘pinched
harmonic’ and is also sometimes shown with the note affected in a
triangle. N.H on a note/group of notes shows a natural harmonic,
where you rest your finger on the string above the fret, without
pushing down, and pick.
|
|
|
|
Burning
Metal Series comes with a 60 Day Money Back Guarantee. If for any
reason you are unhappy with your purchase please contact us for a
full refund.
Email: matt@heavymetalguitarlessons.com
|
|
|
