How to Play Guitar Tabs
Guitar tablature is an easy way for a beginner to learn to play guitar. It is also a great way for an experienced guitarist that does not read music to learn a new song.
Required Tools
- Guitar
- Guitar Tab book
- Guitar pick (optional)
Instructions
- Your guitar tab book will show long boxes made up of a total (including the edges) of six lines. Each line represents one string on your guitar.
- The top line of the box represents your high E string (the really thin string on the bottom of your guitar as you customarily hold it). The second line represents the next string up (your B string). Each successive line down the tablature represents the next string above the last (as you hold the guitar). The third line is your G string, the fourth line is your D string, the fifth line your A string, and the sixth line the low E string. The sixth line is on the bottom of your tablature and on the top of your guitar (as you customarily hold it).
- The tab illustration places a number on each string. The number represents the fret on which you place your finger for the note. So, if the tablature shows a 7 on the top line, then hold down the high E string on the seventh fret and strum. You will only hold down the string that the fret number is on. You can use your pick to strum, or just your fingers.
- You should strum every string (including those that are not held down) unless the tabs show an X over one or all the remaining keys. If you see an X, it means the string is muted (not strummed).
- A 0 on the tablature means you strum the strings without holding any down over a fret.