Guitar Tablature
Guitar Tablature (also known as TAB) is a form of notation used by guitarists.
NOTE: If you need an explanation of any of the techniques mentioned in this article, please read our article on Guitar.
Contents
Concept
The staff has one line per string: guitar TAB will have 6 lines and bass TAB will have 4 or 5. Numbers are placed in sequence on the lines representing frets to be played and in what order. Writing several notes on adjacent strings often is sued to represent chords.
Forms
Guitar
There are different ways of writing something in TAB, in it's simplest form, the chords E, F and G may be written thus:
The chords E, F, and G:
E|---0---1---3---|
B|---0---1---0---|
G|---1---2---0---|
D|---2---3---0---|
A|---2---3---2---|
E|---0---1---3---|
E F G
This is called ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) tab. There are disadvantages to this; the guitarist must know how it's meant to sound, otherwise they will not know in what rhythm to play it.
Another way to write TAB is to have the notation above or below it so the guitarist will know what note values to play.
This was created in Guitar Pro
Bass
Very similar to that of guitar, bass tab is often written using standard ASCII characters or a program such as Guitar Pro. The way one can differentiate between guitar tab and bass tab is by the number of lines representing strings: a guitar will have 6 strings and a bass will have 4, or in rare cases, 5.
Part of the verse from Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple G|-------------|---------------|---------------|-----------------| D|-----5-----5-|-----5---------|-----5-3-------|---------5-------| A|---5-----5---|---5---1-1-3-5-|---5-----3-----|---1-3-5---5-3-1-| E|-3-----3-----|-3-------------|-3---------1-3-|-3---------------|
Techniques
There are several different ways of notating different techniques: the method used is Dependant on the type of tab as well as the author's preference. NOTE: This article will cover only the most common methods of notating different techniques.
Hammer Ons and Pull Offs
It's most common to see the letter h representing a hammer on, located within the tablature between the original fret, and the hammered on fret (eg. 7h9). Occasionally, you'll see a caret ( ^ ) in place of an h. The letter p is used in a similar fashion to represent pull offs: the first number represents the original fret and the second number represents the resultant fret.
String Bends
The most common way to notate a bend in guitar tablature is similar to the way hammer ons and pull offs are written: The letter b is placed between the original fret and the fret number representing the desired new pitch. Another way to write a bend is to put the second number in brackets. For example, 3b5 or 3(5) would represent a bend of the string at the 3rd fret whose resultant sound is equal to that of a note played at the 5th fret on the same string. Sometimes, an r is written to indicate the note musician is to return to. For example 3b5r3 would instruct the person playing to bend the 3rd fret to sound like the 5th fret and then return again to the 3rd fret
Slides
Slides in guitar tablature is indicated by using either a forwards or backwards slash with the direction of the slash indicative of the type of slide. A forwards slash ( / ) is used to indicate an ascending slide and a backwards slash ( \ ), a descending slide. When placed between to numbers, it indicates the starting and ending points of the slide. 3/9\7 would indicate a slide from the 3rd fret to the 9th and then back to the 7th. An s is also sometimes used to represent a slide, though it is less common and less clear and should be avoided when writing tablature.
Miscellaneous Notation
Vibrato
To indicate vibrato is to be played, a bunch of tildes are often used strung together above the note or notes. When vibrato is intended to be played on only one note, sometimes a v is used.
String Mute
When a string is to be muted, an x is often written in place of a number indicative of the note to be played. When several notes are used in a fow on adjacent strings, it is used to notate a rake.
Tapping
When notated in tablature, a t is used, in conjunction with the pull off and hammer on techniques used when executing tapping. Thus, 2h5t12p5p2 represents traditional tapping technique.
Harmonics
When a harmonic is meant to be played, <> is written, surrounding the number of the fret on which it is meant to be played. <7> would indicate a harmonic is meant to be used on the 7th fret
Several of these notation techniques can be combined to create a more complicated sound
A section of the solo from Hotel California by The Eagles E|---------------------------------------------------------| B|---------------------------------------------------------| G|--7--9--9b(11)--7-------~~--7--9--9b(11)--7--------------| D|-------------------9^p8^h9-------------------9^p7^h9^p7--| A|---------------------------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------------------------|
