Learn How To Read Guitar TabGuitar tab is a basic musical notation system specifically for guitars. Tablature, also known as tab, is made up of a six line staff. Each line of the staff represents a guitar string.For books full of tab, chords, and other instruction, check out the Rhythm Guitar Store. Most guitar tab does not label the strings as I have below, so it is important to know how the strings are labeled. From here on out, I will not label them, as you need to get used to reading tablature without it. The numbers on the strings represent the fret that is to be fingered. In this exercise, the numbers are spread out which means to play that string only. Practice not letting any other strings ring while playing a single string.This is also a good time to start practicing alternate picking. This means to use consecutive down strokes and up strokes. Concentrate on making the up stroke sound the same as the down stroke, as the former is the weakest of the two. This guitar tab exercise will help you coordinate picking and fingering. Use all four fingers starting with the index finger. Knowing what order in which to use your fingers is usually self explanatory. Keep the fingering order as simple as possible. E/------------------/------------------/---------1-2-3-4-/
Practice this over and over until you are making smooth, fluid changes. I recommend playing this tablature exercise all the way down the fretboard. You can advance a half step every time you land on the last note of either E string. For example, the next line of the exercise above would show: A/---------3-4-5-6-/ Guitar Tab Lessons for Beginners At Jamplay You can always tell when guitar tab is calling for you to play a chord. In the first exercise, you saw the numbers where spread out. You will notice in this exercise, the numbers are lined up in a single row.After learning the fingering position of chords, you will be able to read the chords very easily. Here is an example of a G major open chord (you will learn more of these in the chords lesson). This chord will be the same every time you see it written in guitar tab. 
E/------3------/ third finger B/------0------/ G/------0------/ D/------0------/ A/------2------/ first finger E/------3------/ second finger In the example above, the letter represents the string. The number represents the fret that is fingered. The finger used is written to the right of the string. first finger - index For the purposes of the tablature below, I will show you a couple more open major chords. If you have a problem with the guitar tab, refer to the chords lesson under major chords. D major open 
E/------2------/ second finger B/------3------/ third finger G/------2------/ first finger D/------0------/ A/-------------/ E/-------------/ C major open 
E/-------------/ B/------1------/ first finger G/------0------/ D/------2------/ second finger A/------3------/ third finger E/-------------/ The guitar tab below is a simple three chord progression. Start by strumming each individual chord until you are comfortable with each one. Concentrate on making the separate notes sound as one. Then, work on making the change from chord to chord. Only strum the strings that the chord calls for. If there is no number on a string for that chord, such as both E strings on the C major open chord above, then that string is not to be played. This will not be easy at first, so start slow and practice often. The idea is to get used to fingering each fret while strumming all strings of the chord to get the clearest sound. As advice, don't start off with distortion as this will make it harder to hear if you are missing a note. If you have a metronome, you should use it to keep the timing as you strum. As you become comfortable with the timing, change it around a bit. A lot of songs use the same chords, as well as the same chord progression. Timing is the difference. Use upstrokes as well as downstrokes when strumming. Down stroke starting on the lowest string of the chord. Upstroke starting on the highest string of the chord. Practicing this will make it a natural, rhythmic motion. /--2--2--2--2--/---------------/--3--3--3--3--/ /--2--2--2--2--/---------------/--3--3--3--3--// Although the two vertical lines show the end of the tablature, you don't have to stop here. You can repeat this as many times as you like. Once you have mastered this, go to the chords lesson and learn some new chords. Use the new chords with this exercise. Chord progression will change from song to song. You need to be able to change from any chord to any chord smoothly. These are some of the more popular symbols you will see in guitar tab. If you come across one you have never seen before, most guitar tab sheets have a key you can use.
After you become comfortable with this and you want to see some real tab and learn to play a song, then checkout Musicnotes.com Practice reading tablature by finding books at the Rhythm Guitar Store Now that you have an idea of how to read tab watch these videos to see guitar tab in action or just see how to play a few songs by using the search box to find your own videos.
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Lesson 1 - Learn The Guitar Basics
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