How do I read guitar tabs? Can somebody explain pls? I'm about to give up. I can't afford a teacher either....

Question

I can't read them

e|--3--x--x-----|
b|--2--3--3-----|
g|--3--2--2--7--|
d|--0--2--0--5--|
a|--0--0--2--5--|
E|--x--x--x--5--|

in E, what are the x for? what do I do with the 5? I put my finger on the fifth fret? but what about the other strings?

I know what the letters are for, and I know that the nos. are frets. but HOW do I DO this on my guitar? pls. help...

Answer 1

As for the x's, they just mean that you're not supposed to hit that string when playing that part of the tabs.

These look like tabs for chords... maybe I'm wrong, I'm a little rusty with the tablature stuff... if what I'm thinking is right though, you play the first line of numbers together, then second, etc...

Example:

e|--3--|
b|--2--|
g|--3--| = one section of tab
d|--0--|
a|--0--|
E|--x--|

Does that help? Anyway, if I'm wrong someone can beat me over the head with something. Maybe a tuner.

P.S. love your name shoopuf... FF rocks

Answer 2

OK, don't give up. Tab is for people that can't read sheet music. It is (presumably) note-for-note, but I've seen a lot of mistakes.

The x means that you don't play that string, but your hand is kinda covering it either because you're doing a mute or your hand is in that position because you're playing a variation of a chord and this particular chord does not have that note included.

With the example you wrote, your thumb will be touching the low E because your hand position almost requires it when you're playing that chord, but you don't want to fret the note and make it sound.

What you get is a nice open chord and a slight percussion sound in there as well.

You also asked what to do with the 5:
With the 5, you're putting your finger on the 5th fret. You are playing a barre chord. You barre the 5th with your index finger and on the g string, you're putting one of your other fingers on the 7th fret. It's usually your ring finger, but doesn't have to be. As for the B and high E, you aren't playing those strings at all.

How to know which fret is which:
When you play the open string, you aren't fretting anything, so it would be a 0 in TAB. Most guitars don't have a fret dot on the first fret, but they almost always do on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, and so on. My Ibanez has the dots on the fretboard, but when I play standing up, I can't see them, so they also have dots on the side of the fretboard that I can see from up top.

Answer 3

Ok, the Xs mean that you don't play that string. Now, the numbers tell you on what fret to put your fingers; if the numbers are lined up, then you have to have your fingers on those frets at the same time. For example on the first column of the tab that you have up there, is telling you to put your fingers on the e-string-3rd-fret, b-string-2nd-fret, and g-string-3rd-fret at the same time because they are lined up, the 0s mean that you don't press those strings and the X means that the string is not played. The first column gives you the D chord. When the numbers are not lined up in columns, you play the the ones that come first. When you see something like 3\4 it means that you have to slide your finger from the 3rd fret to the 4th fret. Also --5h--- means hammer and --2p-- means pull there are some others but I don't remember what they are. I hope this helps, and keep on playing.

Answer 4

E skinny string
B
G
D
A
E Fat string

First chord
3 Skinny string finger on third fret strum with other strings
2 finger on Second fret strum with other strings
3 finger on third fret strum with other strings
0 Open string strum with other strings
0 Open string strum with other strings
X Fat string dont strum this string

The strum should be one single motion activating the five strings at once.

Second Chord
X Skinny string Dont strum
3 3rd fret Strum with other strings
2 2nd fret strum with other strings
2 2nd fret strum with other strings
0 open string strum with otherstrings
X Fat string Dont strum

Thee strum should be one single motion activating the four middle strings at once.

Each vertical line is a strum or pluck of a note or notes (chord)
Where 0 means open or 1-22 means the fret to press, and X means dont include this string in this strum or pluck.
Some tabs also have ^ above a vertical line as an upward strum
and a line of bars | this is a bar line and denotes a full measure of time 2,3,4,6, or 8 beats as the case may be. the distance between the vertical rows also can give an indication of the time to hold the note(s) for as some use wider distance to signify holding the note for a longer period of time.
Hope this helps.

Answer 5

mute reffers to a palm mute...u do this by somewhat resting the palm of your hand on the bridge of the guitar (if completed impressive, the notes could be short and separated) A capo is a clip which you're able to purchase for around 8$ and you place it on the fretboard at a needed region to enhance the tuning(occasion: rather of open tones EADGBE, you're able to positioned the capo on the 1st agonize to enhance each and each no longer by a million total step (an E to an F)) and an "X" can variety with its which potential even though it always potential that the notice is a ghost notice meaning it particularly is an non-compulsory upload-wherein could be complicated for begginers...a ghost notice isn't mandatory for the melody yet can upload something new to the form if mastered...An "X" is usually a muted open string stream...desire that facilitates..

Answer 6

Check this out:

http://www.howtoreadguitartabs.org/

And:

http://guitar.about.com//library/blchordlibrary.htm

Good luck. There are a lot of resources from that link.

Answer 7

we have the same problem, i can read but only chords...