• Registered: 2008-03-19
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Tabs

Can someone tell me how to read tabs?  I don't have any problems with chords for a self-taught dummy, but tabs......   What's with all those numbers?

2 Reply by alvee33 (edited by alvee33 2008-03-19 10:58:02)

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Tabs

The numbers are set on to lines. The lines represent the strings, the numbers represent the fret at which the string is played. So, as it reads from left to right, if you put a piece of paper (for demonstration only) perpendicular to the strings (lines) you'll see that each number comes slightly after the one before. This is the order in which each note is played. if the numbers are all in line then they are played at the same time.

So playing each note in an open G chord, slowly, would look like:

---------------3--          The top line is the 1st string (e), the bottom the 6th (E)
-------------0----
-----------0------
--------0---------
-----2------------
---3--------------

Playing it as a normal chord played at a quick strum would look like:

---3-------                  Hope this helps.
---0-------
---0-------
---0-------
---2-------
---3-------

Oh, and welcome to Chordie.

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • Registered: 2008-03-19
  • Posts: 2

Re: Tabs

Thank you so much.  It is a great help.  I wanted to learn Riviera Paradise (Stevie Ray Vaughn) but the only sheet music is in tabs.  Thanks again.

  • From: tennessee
  • Registered: 2007-08-02
  • Posts: 176

Re: Tabs

http://www.911tabs.com/about/tabs.htm


Hope this helps

If you're not happy with what you have...
Then you'll never be happy with what you get...
  • Registered: 2008-04-14
  • Posts: 1

Re: Tabs

Thanks - just joined - turns out my first question was already answered. Ben