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Intro to Tablature Guitar Lesson

Home > Guitar Lessons > Beginners > Basic Guitar with David Anthony > Intro to Tablature
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David Anthony

Intro to Tablature

Learning to read tablature will allow you to learn basic songs. It will also enable you to communicate basic concepts with other guitarists. David Anthony introduces basic tablature features and describes how they work.

Taught by David Anthony in Basic Guitar with David Anthony seriesLength: 31:00Difficulty: 1.5 of 5
Chapter 1: (1:26) Introduction Back again for another dose of David Anthony, eh? Good! In this lesson he'll provide you with an introduction to tablature as well as how it'll apply to you learning to play guitar.
Chapter 2: (2:17) Tablature vs Musical Notation Tablature is basically the simple method of standard musical notation (dots, lines, stems, quarter notes, half notes, etc). For those of you interested in just learning to play and are not that interested in music theory, this is perfect for you. You'll be able to learn to play any song and use proper techniques without being slowed down by learning true music theory. Instead of learning how the notes sound and how long they sustain for, you are told exactly what to play.

This would be like learning a foreign word for example. Instead of figuring out how each letter is pronounced in the language, we simply say the word for you & you repeat it. Did you learn the origin of the word, the specifics on the dialect and the breakdown? No. Did you learn the word perfectly? Yes.

There are, however, a few major drawbacks to tablature. With proper musical notation, you are given the length of the notes as well as the volume of the notes. You might play one note twice as long as the next or perhaps you'd play it half as loud as the previous note. With tablature, you are not given these dynamics.

If you pick up some tablature for a song you've never heard and have no examples of it, we wish you the best of luck; it'll be nearly impossible to get it to sound right. Fortunately, you are usually playing something you already know (who wants to learn to play a song they've never heard?) such as a song or an example played by one of our instructors. It is quite easy to listen to the example & change the length & volume accordingly.
Chapter 3: (9:36) Understanding Basic Tablature There are three basic features of tablature that you should understand:
  • The Strings - You will see six horizontal lines that represent the six strings of your guitar: E, A, D, G, B, and E. These are labeled from bottom to top on the diagram (top to bottom on your guitar).
  • Numbers - The numbers indicate the fret that the note should be played on. If you see a 5 on the “D” string, you will be placing your finger directly behind the 5th fret on the “D” string (3rd one from the top).
  • Spacing / Stacking - As you’ve already learned, musical notation is superior regarding timing on your notes. It tells you exactly how fast to hit the note & how long to wait until you play the next note. Tablature attempts to do this with spacing.

    If you see six zeros stacked on each other, you will simply hit all six notes (in this case open strings; no frets should be held) together. If the zeros were spaced out (a diagonal line, essentially) then you would hit them one at at a time. In some tablature, the spacing between notes will vary. This indicates if there is a small pause or larger pause between the notes. Unfortunately, this is not an exact science by any means. However, if notes are right next to each other you should realize that these will be hit quickly one after the other. If there is a bigger gap, you should know that there is a longer pause between the notes.
David will walk you through 5th fret tuning just as you learned in the previous lesson. This time you will be able to reference the tablature provided to help you get a better idea of how to read tablature.

Now is as good of time as any to briefly explain sharp & flat notes. If a note is flat, the sound produced will be a lower pitch than the desired note. If it’s flat, the pitch will be higher. Effectively if you have a flat note (sometimes referenced as “flat” on an electronic tuner), you will need to increase the pitch of your string. If a note is sharp, you will need to lower the pitch of your string.
Chapter 4: (5:45) 7th Fret Tuning with Tablature As you know, we already covered the methodology with 7th fret tuning in lesson one. Here David will show you the same thing here to make sure you understand the 7th fret tuning method & also to make you sure understand tablature.

Again, it is a good idea to tune your guitar with both the 5th fret and 7th fret methods to make sure it's perfectly in tune. The sound may appear to be in tune with one method until you hit a certain chord. Then you'll think "that doesn't sound right" and it was because you didn't tune your guitar perfectly. Always be sure to take the time to tune your guitar right. Better safe than sorry folks!
Chapter 5: (4:13) Tabs & Proper Fingering For chord charts and advanced tablature, the finger to be used will be numbered to help with the overall flow of playing.
  • 1 - Pointer finger
  • 2 - Middle finger
  • 3 - Ring finger
  • 4 - Pinkie finger
  • 5 - thumb
Here you will see an example of an “E” chord. As you can see, the “E” (high), “B”, and “E” (high) are open strings – you will not fret these. Above the chart you will see three numbers (1, 3, 2 from top to bottom). These correspond to the fingers you will use (the numbers for the open strings are obviously not shown because no finger is required).

On the “A” string you will hold the 2nd fret with your 2nd finger. On the “D” string, you will hold the 2nd fret with your 3rd finger. On the “G” string you will hold the 1st fret with your1st finger. Since the 6 notes are stacked, you will play them all at once. Congratulations – you’ve just learned the “E” chord from tablature.
Chapter 6: (5:32) Pentatonic Scale in Tablature Beyond chords, tablature is also used for solos, licks, leads and other more complicated pieces of guitar. In this lesson David takes you through the "F" sharp pentatonic scale.

This scale covers all six strings and uses three of your four fretting fingers. With a scale, the timing isn't something that is set in stone. You can adjust it as you wish to get varying licks. In this scale, there are twelve total notes to be played:
  • Note 1: 1st string, 2nd fret, 1st finger.
  • Note 2: 1st string, 5th fret, 4th finger.
  • Note 3: 2nd string, 2nd fret, 1st finger.
  • Note 4: 2nd string, 4th fret, 3rd finger.
  • Note 5: 3rd string, 2nd fret, 1st finger.
  • Note 6: 3rd string, 4th fret, 3rd finger.
  • Note 7: 4th string, 2nd fret, 1st finger.
  • Note 8: 4th string, 4th fret, 3rd finger.
  • Note 9: 5th string, 2nd fret, 1st finger.
  • Note 10: 5th string, 5th fret, 4th finger.
  • Note 11: 6th string, 2nd fret, 1st finger.
  • Note 12: 6th string, 5th fret, 4th finger.
Ta-da! You’ve just learned the “F” sharp pentatonic scale.
Chapter 7: (1:47) Final Thoughts JamPlay is loaded with a ton of information. Don't be overwelmed by the options & feel pressured to move forward just because there are so many lessons. Take your time and learn at your own pace. One of the worst things you can do is try to move too fast & get discouraged. Once you get discouraged, you're going to practice & learn less and less until you finally give up. It's better to learn slow & move forward steadily than over do it and give up!
  • Fifth Fret Tuning Method
  • Seventh Fret Tuning Method
  • Open Strings in Tab
  • Fingering Sample 2
  •  
  • Guide to Fingering
  • Fingering Sample 1
  •  



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Member Comments about this Lesson

Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.


apatrick51apatrick51 replied on April 9th, 2012

Hi just want to point out a typo in ch. 3, para. 3 2nd line 2nd word is "flat" and should be "sharp". I think this material also appears in the #2 Slack Key lessons by Mark Nelson. Thanks for the lesson, great job.

musicequalsorgasmmusicequalsorgasm replied on December 31st, 2011

So, I'm learning to play a song on my acoustic(such small hands by la dispute, not that its makes a dif) And i have a hard time whenever i hold down the cords on a fret because for the the beginning of the song i hold down e---88-77-88 e---10-10-10-10-10-10 g-9-9----- and its hard to like hold them all at the same time cuz of the distance btwn them.

musicequalsorgasmmusicequalsorgasm replied on December 31st, 2011

i meant e, b, g sowry

musicequalsorgasmmusicequalsorgasm replied on December 31st, 2011

also i meant like 8-8 and 7-7 :p

artistartist replied on November 5th, 2011

Are there any tablature we can print out?

leanmarineh20leanmarineh20 replied on August 25th, 2011

How do u make that "clackity" sound ur doing in middle of ur strumming? its epic

leanmarineh20leanmarineh20 replied on August 25th, 2011

Quick question, When ur tuning ur guitar are you supposed to first tune with fifth fret tuning and then go on and tune again with 7th fret tuning?

woogiewoogie replied on September 30th, 2009

Another question, David. Regarding Tabs: When reading them quickly, what finger do you put down first? Is it the finger(s) on the fret closest to the nut (ie 1st fretted fingers, then 2nd fretted fingers, and so on...)? When I first look at a tab I have to look at it for a few seconds (or more) before I actually figure out where to place my fingers (even if I know the chord) - The tabs don't relate to chord formation in my brain - yet! Sorry for the silly questions.

babyboy351babyboy351 replied on December 22nd, 2009

ideally how long should i take practcing a lesson before i move on, or should i stay on the lesson til i have the scale perfect

marcus9100marcus9100 replied on June 21st, 2011

till you can't NOT play it. It helps to set up a regiment and train actively and consistently.

the fifethe fife replied on April 18th, 2010

When I tune I will get my open strings perfect (electronic tuner) but the string pressed to the fret (i.e. holding down A on 5th and open D) my otherwise perfectly tuned open A turns into a D#, if I tune my A down, when I play it open it becomes A flat. It is the same for all of them when doing the 5th and 7th fret tunings. Open perfect, held on fret #, how am I suppose to get them perfect both ways on my tuner? If you listen to them without the tuner they sound the same. When I tuned the 5th and 7th for the first time after your first lesson I was able to hear a huge difference and made the changes. Could it just be my tuner or my guitar strings?

woogiewoogie replied on September 30th, 2009

Hi David, You're a GREAT instructor! Referring to the Pentatonic scale: - How can I move my fingers fast and fluid (like you)? - Are there some people who NEVER are able to master/move their fingers quickly (no matter how hard and long they practice)? - Or over time - will it eventually "click"? - Do you have any additional suggestions/tricks to master finger speed and fluidity? - What is the most effective way to practice the Pentatonic scale?

bbqwingsbbqwings replied on August 7th, 2009

I never understood tabs until YOU in particular taught them! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

giddyupgiddyup replied on June 27th, 2009

sound is irregular in this video, the music is much higher...

djwinter999djwinter999 replied on June 10th, 2009

no video??

holriderholrider replied on April 26th, 2009

Yeah butt, what is the right hand doing?

saint92saint92 replied on March 30th, 2008

Daved why does the video on Lesson 2 scene 6 n 7 cuts off a couple of mins into the scene? I can't view the entire scene.

daniel92527daniel92527 replied on December 12th, 2007

I need wome help... Which scale can you use to just play along with a chord. I've tried the diatonic and platonic sacel but i need a scale in which i can just scale the chords as they progress anyone?

garfieldgarfield replied on October 23rd, 2007

What do the numbers mean in some chords? I mean like the 5 in G5 and the 7 in F#7

kevinacekevinace replied on October 23rd, 2007

The numbers are just part of the chord name. For instance, on a "G5" chord, you are adding the 5th note of the "G" scale. So you are playing the "G" note and the 5th note of the scale. With an F#7 you are playing an F# and then the 7th note of the F# scale. What do the numbers mean in some chords? I mean like the 5 in G5 and the 7 in F#7

millaTKmillaTK replied on August 14th, 2007

Hi David! Nice lesson... I checked it out just to get a feeling of how you teach... (btw: I like it!) ... and also because experienced players will always something interesting even in a beginner lesson... so when I have time I try and check them all... I just have one question: do you have a lesson where you teach that *awesome* percussive sound you do by slapping your right hand on the strings? (I'm referring to the piece you play at the end of the lesson) Is it pure acoustic sound or some magic of amplification? I want to do that!!!!! :D Anna Chiara

Basic Guitar with David Anthony

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David Anthony is an acoustic guitar aficionado. In this series you will learn basic concepts that are essential to playing any style of guitar music.



About David Anthony View Full Biography David Anthony was born on November 9th, 1982, in the small town of Mount Hope, NY. As a child he absorbed the church flavored musical environment that his parents provided. With this influence he realized at a young age that music would not simply be a passive experience for him. It was not until the age of 15 that he decided to string up his first guitar. Relying solely on his father for his foundational chord knowledge, he quickly became enamored with the possibility of endless melodic structures, and the goal of becoming a fantastic player himself.

His early shredder influences came from Kirk Hammet of Metallica. During his first few years of guitar playing, he developed a very workable knowledge of pentatonic, major and minor scales. Over the years his musical interests swayed from rock to standards, from jazz to classical, and a strong love of the art of flamenco guitar; Spanish finger style. It was not until the age of 18 that he decided to surround himself entirely with the music of Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. This influential exclusivity enabled him to learn more about thinking outside of the musical box. In one year he had learned than in the prior 3 years. Picking up multiple ways to structure melodies, create chords and use different modes, his writing and improvisational abilities grew exponentially. In his senior year of high school, he was responsible for the development of the first Musical Appreciation class in the schools history, and had aided the instructor in the teaching of those classes.

After high school, his focus started to rest mainly in writing. With this he realized that he would need additional, abstract influences to develop a unique style of writing. After a couple more years of playing in a small band, and writing some decent material, he greeted 2004 with a move to Nashville, TN. There he found the exact influence that would change his opinion of the guitar forever. Attempting to weed out a strong foundation in shredding and solo techniques, he began learning finger style guitar, and quickly realized the options that his door would open for him.

As he picked up more complex chord structures and jazz scales, his style became a passion for him that continues to drive him and push him to learn more. He feels strongly about the connection between musical input and the music you write. He notes that his subconscious pool of influence, developed from the music he listens to, is almost directly responsible for the type of music that he writes. He adamantly believes that in order to create a unique, soulful style, the pool must remain unpolluted by substandard music. What's that mean? As David puts it, "If you don't want to play crap, don't listen to crap."

David currently teaches Jazz guitar in Fort Collins, Colorado, with plans to move back to Nashville in the spring to pursue a career in writing.

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