In addition to the standard music notation, some instruments have a simplified system for written music called tablature. Where standard notation is valid for nearly any instrument, tablature is used mainly for stringed instruments including guitar, bass, and mandolin. It requires a slightly different system for each instrument.
Tablature is sometimes called tab – the terms are interchangeable. Let’s take a look at some examples of tab.
Figure 1 shows two blank measures of tab for guitar. Notice that there are six horizontal lines. This is different from the five lines in standard notation. The reason for this is that in standard notation the horizontal lines represent note names where in tablature the lines each represent a different string on the instrument.
Figure 1: Tablature
The bottom line represents the lowest string on the guitar – the low E or 6th string. This is the string closest to the ceiling. The next lowest line represents the low A or 5th string and so on until you reach the top line of tab which is the high E or 1st string of the guitar.
Figure 2 shows some measures of tab with some numbers on them. These numbers represent the fret of the instrument. So in the first measure you would play the open 6th string twice, then the third fret on the sixth string then the fourth fret on the sixth string. Finally in the second measure you play the open sixth string again.
Figure 2: Another tab example
Notice that there is really no timing information indicated. This is often true of tab. It is often useful when you are learning a song which you are already familiar with or if you have a recording of the song. However, not having timing information forces you to do some guesswork if you do not know the song.
Sometimes the notes indicate some timing information by spacing the notes farther apart when they are longer and spacing short notes more closely together. Tablature is sometimes written with vertical lines above or below the note to look like the stem on quarter notes (figure 3, measure one). Or they may have vertical lines joined by a horizontal bar to look like eighth notes (figure 4 measure one).
Figure 3: quarter notes in tab
Figure 4: eighth notes in tab
Tab works the same way for bass guitar. The standard bass has only four strings so the tablature has only four lines. Mandolin has four sets of unison strings so it too has four lines. Remember the bottom line on the tablature represents the string closest to the ceiling.
Tab can be written for violin even though the instrument has no frets. Open strings are of course indicated by zeroes. The first note on a given string is called one, then the next possible note is two and so one. Therefore, (if you are familiar with the notes on a violin) to indicate an F on the E string of a violin you would write a one on the top line of the violin tab.
Even with its drawbacks tablature is useful for quickly writing out parts for specific stringed instruments or for learning songs or solos with which you are already familiar. I find it a very valuable as a teaching tool. However, I always recommend that students learn standard notation as well as it opens up a lot of learning, playing and performance opportunities.
If you are interested in learning more check out my eBook “How to Read Music for Guitar, Bass and Mandolin” from which this article is excerpted. Click the Buy Now button below to purchase the eBook. Only 2.95!
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Fretboard diagrams can be used for all fretted instruments including bass, guitar and mandolin. They give you a quick and easy way of finding notes on an instrument without having to read music.
The diagram below is for guitar. It shows six vertical lines. Each of these represents a string on the instrument. The first line on the left is the 6th string (the thickest string). The line on the far right is the 1st string (the thinnest string). If this diagram were for bass or mandolin it would have only four vertical lines.
If you were to hold your guitar in front of you with the strings facing towards you and the headstock/tuning pegs towards the ceiling, the fretboard would look a little like this diagram.
The horizontal line at the top is the nut of the guitar near the tuning pegs. The rest of the horizontal lines are the frets of the guitar.
In this example there is a circle just behind the first fret of the first string. This means you would place a finger behind the first fret of the first string on your guitar. It’s simple!
Chords
When playing chords (more than one note at a time) fretboard diagrams often tell you which fret-hand fingers you should use. Your fretting hand is the one that touches the fretboard. If you are right-handed then your fretting hand is your left hand.
Your index finger is called the first finger, middle finger is called second, ring finger is the third and pinky is the fourth. In the diagram below you would put your second finger on the third fret of the sixth string. Then you put your first finger on the second fret of the fifth string. Finally you put your third finger on the third fret of the first string.
Phew! That’s a lot of words to describe a relatively simple move on the guitar. You can probably see the value of fretboard diagrams now…
You may have noticed the zeroes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings. This just means that you pick those strings put do not put any fret-hand fingers on them.
Roman Numerals
Sometimes you’ll see a Roman numeral next to the diagram. The one below has a V (the Roman numeral for five) next to it. This means that the diagram starts at the fifth fret instead of the first fret. So in this example the diagram is showing you a note on the first string, fifth fret.
And that’s about it! Now you can read fretboard diagrams. This will give you a lot of opportunities for learning more about your instrument.
If you have any questions or comments about this lesson please email me at info@myOnlineGuitar.com
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