This text file is for those of you who don't know what TAB is, or how to read it.  Hopefully, you'll know both by the end of this tutorial.


    ** THE BASICS **

"So, what is TAB?", you might ask.  TAB is just a form of writing out music for a guitar.  
Here's an example of TAB:

E|-----------------------------|
B|-----------------------------|
G|-----------------------------|
D|--------2--3--5--3--2--------|
A|--3--5-----------------5--3--|
E|-----------------------------|

The first thing you'll probably notice is the letters on the left.  Those are the notes 
corresponding to the strings on the guitar.  It's meant to look like the guitar's fretboard 
(when you're looking down on it in a playing position).

The numbers on the strings indicate fret numbers.  In the above example, you play the 3rd 
fret of the A string, 5th fret of the A string, 2nd fret of the D string, etc.  When you see 
'0' as a fingering, just play the string open.

TAB may seem like a great form of notation, but you have to actually know how a song goes 
before you can play it by reading a TAB.  TAB has no way of telling how long a note should 
be played, or communicating any sense of rhythm.  You're left on your own.


    ** SIGNS **

There are various signs that are used in TAB to indicate that a certain thing should be done 
at that point.  Here's a list of the more common ones:

  h = hammer-on
  p = pull-off
  X = muted note
  / = slide up
  \ = slide down
  ~ = vibrato
  ^ = bend string

Hammer-ons and pull-offs are often seen together.  Here is an example:

E|-----------------------------|
B|-----------------------------|
G|-----------------------------|
D|---3h5p3---3h5p3-------------|
A|-----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------|

To hammer-on to a note, you have to quickly press your finger onto the fret without playing 
the string again with your right hand (left hand, if you're left-handed).  Conversely, a 
pull-off is basically when you pull off of a string with your fretting hand, going down to a 
lower note.  You sort of pluck the string as you pull off.

In the above example, you only have to use your playing (picking/plucking) hand twice.


A string bend is simply pulling the string towards the edge of the fretboard.  You usually do 
this gradually.


Last but not least, vibrato is bending the string up and down to make the tone waver.  It adds feeling.


    ** CHORDS **

Finally, some TABs may have chords over them.  If you don't know how to read chords, then 
just disregard them (that would be a whole different lesson).  However, if you do, then you 
can improvise a bit.  They can also help you put other parts to the song, if you so choose to 
(great for remixes).



Well, that's all I'm going to write now.  If you have any further questions, e-mail me at 
dougertous@earthbound.net.


Copyright 2000 by Dougertous.  Property of www.starmen.net.