...search in soundme:

Besides the traditional notation on the stave, it is convenient to also know a parallel system of musical writing, commonly called tablature. This type of notation graphically identifies the position of the notes on the fretboard of the guitar, to instantly visualize its position. As you can imagine, tablature greatly increases the speed of reading a guitar score. The same system is also used for the bass.
The main difference with its "brother" the stave, is the fact that the written note's position isn't identified on the fretboard, even if numbers can be added to identify the position of the notes either on the frets or the relative strings. The symbols (values of time, rests, grace notes, etc.) remain the same.
Lets now analyze tablature graphics.
First of all, there are six lines (compared to five for the stave) which identify the six strings of the guitar: the first string (thinner) is found on top, while the sixth string is at the bottom.

You may have noticed the word TAB written vertically: it serves to quickly identify the specific tablature notation.
The numbers that are written on the line of the strings, identify the fret that must be pressed on the fretboard of the instrument, for that string. Lets look at the example below.

Here we have a piece thats divided into three bars. In the first bar we play the 1st fret of the second string (note C) followed by the D note, third fret on the second string. The 0 represents an open string (the third fret), for a value of one fourth, after which we will have the A note, on the 2nd fret of the third string, for a value of two fourths.
In the second bar we have a succession of octaves: 6th, 8th and 5th fret on the second string (F, G and E), followed by the D, 7th fret, third string. Descending to the 7th fret on the fourth string in the following octave (A), then to the 8th fret on the fifth string (F), to finish on the E note (fifth string, 7th fret) which has a value of one fourth.
The last bar shows how to use two or more notes simultaneously.
In the first movement the two external strings are open (first and sixth, both E notes), for a value of one fourth, followed by the fourth open string simultaneous to the second string, 3rd fret (two D notes with an octave interval). Finally a chord of two fourths, formed on the fifth string, 3rd fret, fourth string, 2nd fret, third string open and second string, 1st fret (chord of C major).
The tablature, in most cases, is combined to the stave. Usually, this graphical system (surely the more complete) is found in guitar books and specialized magazines.

At times it may be necessary to add, above or below the tablature, numbers that identify the fingers of the left hand: 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring finger), 4 (little finger), 0 (open string).
This is mostly used at the educational level, for help in the reading. We will now look at the same example as above, but with the numbers of the fingers.

The C note at the 1st fret is played with the 1st finger (index), the following D with the 3rd (ring finger). The 0 indicates the open string, where frequently its not marked, followed by the A note at the 2nd fret with the middle finger (2nd).
In the second bar we start with the 2nd finger at the 6th fret and so on. As you can see, the system is very simple and intuitive. In many cases, when you have to play notes simultaneously, the numbers of the fingers are written next to the notes.

There are some considerations that you have to keep in mind when using the capo in the score, mostly dealing with the reading. In fact the use of the capo involves moving the intonation of the open strings a half-step from where the capo is placed. Accordingly, in tablature some ambiguities could arise relative to the fact that the fingerings on the frets will have to be considered calculating the move with respect to the written numbers.
In the examples seen here, you can notice how in the first case the part is played with the guitar in normal tuning, with the tablature coinciding with the frets. In the second case the same part, played with the nut at the 3rd fret, and transposing the notes to the stave, but the tablature is unchanged: now the open strings are those at the 3rd fret, and therefore every fret read on the tablature in reality must be played three frets ahead.

Tables of the chords

While the previous system showed a musical piece in movement, lets now see how an analogous graph can be used to develop the fingering of the chords. The difference in this case is in the fact that a section of the fretboard is visualized, with the first string always on top, as seen in the sketch below.

The vertical lines indicate the frets, and the double vertical line the nut. The numbers that are written on the string lines identify the fingers of the left hand, 0 the open string and X is a string thats not played.

In the example we see the chord of C major. The index finger of the left hand presses the second string at the 1st fret, the middle finger the fourth string at the 2nd fret, and the ring finger the fifth string at the 3rd fret. The 0 outside the fretboard indicates that these are open strings, which means without fingering. The X at the sixth string indicates that it is not played.
In the case where the chord is developed far from the nut, the position is added to the fretboard in the form of a Roman numeral.

Here is how the chord is developed:
- The Roman numeral VI indicates that the fret to the left of the graph is the 6th.
- The index finger presses the fifth string at the 6th fret.
- The middle finger presses the fifth string at the 7th fret.
- The ring finger presses the third string at the 7th fret.
- The little finger presses the second string at the 7th fret.
- The first and the sixth strings are not played.

Another very common graphic system is seen below, where the strings are displayed vertically and the frets horizontally, where the first string (thinnest) is to the left.

This is surely the most common international system, and also the most modern. The position of the fingers is specified by the dots on the strings, under which the numbers indicate what finger presses on the relative string. In the graph that you see below, the same chord of C major seen above is shown here vertically. Obviously all the symbols remain the same.

Practice and recognize the chords, even if the biggest problem is understanding the fingering. If this is the case go to the chords page, where you can find explanations on how to develop some of the more common chords. After studying this section, you will have a good base for learning the fingerings of the chords.

Print