Tab Guide

Get more from TG by understanding our easy-to-follow musical terms and signs
What is tab?
Tab is short for tablature, a guitar, from the sixth (thick) down on the tab. Unfretted
notational system used to give string at the bottom to the first strings are shown with a 0. The
detailed information as to where (thin) string at the top. On these key and time signatures are
notes should be played on the lines, numbers represent which shown in the notation. TG also
fretboard. Tab appears frets you place your fingers. For includes a timestamp to tell you
underneath conventional music example, an A note on the 2nd where in the original track youll
notation as six horizontal lines fret, third string, will be shown find each example and tempo
that represent the strings of the as a number 2 on the third line expressed in beats per minute.

Fret BOXes: chOrds, scales and caPO nOtatiOn

Hand labelling nut and Fretboard cHord example

2 m o o o o o o o o o
3 1 i a
4 c
1
T p
2 3
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Here are the abbreviations used for each finger. Fretting hand: 1, 2, 3, 4, (T) This fretbox diagram represents the guitars fretboard exactly, as seen in the This diagram represents a G chord. The os are open strings, and a circled number
Picking hand: p (thumb), i (index), m (middle), a (annular), c (little finger) photo. This design is used for ease of visualising a fretboard scale or chord quickly. is a fretting hand finger. A black o or circled number is the root note (here, G).

capo example capo notation scale example

o o o x o o
CAPO 2nd
FRET >
CAPO 2nd
FRET > 4 1 1 1 1
1
2 2 2 2
1 2
3 3
2 3 3
4 4 4 4 4

A (G)
The blue line in the diagram represents a capo for this A chord, place it at the
2nd fret. Capos change the fret number ordering. Here, the original 5th fret
now becomes the 3rd fret, 7th fret now 5th fret, etc.
d (C)
Here the chord looks like a C in the tab, but the capo on the 2nd fret raises the
pitch to make it a D. The 2nd fret capod notes are shown with a 0 in the tab
as if they were open strings.
A major scale
The fret box diagram illustrates the fret hand fingering for the A major scale using
black dots for root notes and red dots for other scale tones. The photo shows part
of the scale being played on the fourth string with the first, third and fourth fingers.

Guitar techniques: PickinG

down and up-picking tremolo picking palm muting pick rake appreggiated cHord

The symbols under the tab tell you the Each of the four notes are to be Palm-mute by resting the edge of your Drag the pick across the strings shown Play the notes of the chord by
first note is to be down-picked and the alternate-picked (down and up-picked) picking hand palm on the strings near with a single sweep. This is often used strumming across the relevant strings
second note is to be up-picked. very rapidly and continuously. the bridge saddles. to augment a rakes last note. in the direction of the arrow head.

ToTal GuiTar june 2017

 tab guide

FrettinG hand
Hammer-on & note trills slides (glissando) Fret-Hand tapping Fret-Hand muting
pull-oFF

Pick the first note then hammer down on After picking the first note, rapidly Pick the first note and then slide to the Sound the notes marked with a square by X markings represent notes and strings
the string for the second note. Pick the alternate between the two notes shown in next. For the last two notes pick the first, hammering-on/tapping with your fret hand that are muted by your fret hand when
third note and pull-off for the fourth note. brackets using hammer-ons and pull-offs. slide to the next and then re-pick it (RP). fingers, instead of picking. struck by your picking hand.

BendinG and ViBratO

bend and release re-picked bend pre-bend quarter-tone bend Vibrato

Fret the first note (here, the 5th fret) and Bend up to the pitch shown in the Silently bend the string up from the 5th Pick the note then bend up a quarter- Your fretting hand vibrates the string by
bend up to the pitch of the bracketed brackets, then re-pick the note while fret (PB5) to the pitch of the 7th fret note, tone (a very small amount). This is small bend-ups and releases. Exaggerate
note, before releasing again. holding the bent note at the pitch shown. pick it and release to the 5th fret note. sometimes referred to as a blues curl. this effect to create a wide vibrato.

harmOnics

natural Harmonics artiFicial pincHed Harmonics tapped Harmonics toucHed Harmonics

Harmonics

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Pick the note while lightly touching the Fret the note as shown, then lightly place After fretting the note in the triangle, Place your finger on the note as shown, A previously sounded note is touched
string directly over the fret indicated. your index finger directly over x fret dig into the string with the side of your but sound it with a quick pick hand tap at above the fret marked TCH (eg, TCH 9)
A chiming harmonic results. (AHx) and pick (with a pick, p or a). thumb as you sound it with the pick. the fret shown (TH17) for a harmonic. for it to sound a harmonic.

ViBratO Bar / whammy Bar

wHammy bar bends scoop and doop sustained note gargle wHammy bar Vibrato
and diVebomb

The note is picked as shown, then the Scoop: depress the bar just before A Note is sustained then the vibrato Sound the note and flick the vibrato bar Gently rock the whammy bar to
vibrato bar is raised and lowered to the striking the note and release. Doop: bar is depressed to slack. The square with your picking hand so it quivers. This repeatedly bend the pitch up and down.
pitches shown in brackets. lower the bar slightly after picking note. bracket indicates a further articulation. results in a gargling sound! This sounds similar to fret hand vibrato.
Others

pick scrape Violining Finger numbering pima directions pick Hand tapping

The edge of the pick is dragged either Turn the volume control down, sound The numbers in the traditional notation Any kind of fingerpicking requirements Tap (hammer-on) with a finger of your
down or up along the lower strings to the note(s) and then turn the volume up refer to the fingers required to play are shown at the bottom of the picking hand onto the fret marked with
produce a scraped sound. for a smooth fade in. each note. tab notation. a circle. Usually with i or m.

june 2017 ToTal GuiTar