Guitar Tab Basics

While chords are the basis of rhythm guitar and typically the first skill new guitarists work to acquire, learning guitar tab notation can open up the world of melodies and solos. Like the piano (and unlike the flute), the guitar is capable of playing melodies and harmonies simultaneously. Classical guitarists use standard notation, like pianists:

But many guitarists have discovered that it is much easier to learn to play using tablature:

The disadvantage to guitar tab is that it typically lacks rhythmic notation, whereas standard notation has rhythm values (half notes, quarter notes, etc.) This makes it impossible to site read an unfamiliar song. However, the tab system can work quite well for familiar pieces. It is much easier to learn than standard notation and always specifies exactly which fret and string should be played (an optional feature of standard notation). It's ideal for playing in alternate tunings, and it can be written using rudimentary tools. If you look for guitar tabs on the Internet, you might find something like this, which can easily be produced with a text editor like notepad:

e|------0-----------0-------5-5-2---3---3-----|
B|--3-----3-0---3-----3-0-----------------3---|
G|--------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------|

While standard notation only has 5 horizontal lines and is an abstract representation of the notes to be played, guitar tab is picture-based and consists of 6 lines--one for each string. In the example above, the guitar strings are named, but this isn't always the case. If the lines aren't named, standard tuning is assumed. The strings on a guitar tab stave are upside down, with the highest-pitched string ("e") at the top and the lowest-pitched string ("E") on the bottom. The best way to see how it works is to hold your guitar horizontally upside-down next to the guitar tab staves, like this:

The numbers in guitar tab represent frets, not fingers. 0 means "open string," so playing the following passage requires only using the right hand:

e|-----------------0--------------------|
B|--------------0-----0-----------------|
G|-----------0-----------0--------------|
D|--------0-----------------0-----------|
A|-----0-----------------------0--------|
E|--0-----------------------------0-----|

The passage below begins with the first (highest) string on the first fret:

e|--1-0-0-0-------------------0---------|
B|----------3-3-3----1-1-1-1------------|
G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|

You can also play multiple notes at the same time:

e|--0-0-0-0-------------------0---------|
B|--1-1-1-1-3-3-3----1-1-1-1--1---------|
G|----------0-0-0----2-2-2-2------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------|

When I created the arrangements in Easy LDS Fingerstyle Guitar Hymns, I combined the best of both worlds and included notes and tab to provide musicians with a good balance of playing ease and rhythmic reference.