diffrence between guiatar tabs and chords?

Question

When il ooked up the tabs for a song they appeared but in the top it gave me chords do i have to play tabs and chords

Answer 1

Tabs = actual frets and strings to play

Ex. of a tab:

e -----------------------
B -----------------------
G 0--3--5-----0-3--7-5
D 0--3--5-----0-3--7-5
A -----------------------
E -----------------------

---------------
---------------
0--3--5---3-0
0--3--5---3-0
---------------
---------------

("Smoke On the Water" by Deep Purple)

Chords = notes to play, have pre-set frets and strings associated with them, commonly abbreviated to terms of which their sound is when put on a scale of balance in comparison to other chords.

Ex. of a chord:

G major
3
0
0
0
2
3

(used in Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here")

Answer 2

Well, these are different things. A chord is the sound of more than 1 tone at the same time. It can be 2 tones (for a power chord, base tone + fifth), 3 tones (major, minor, augmented, diminished), 4 tones (seventh chords) and even more. Graphically, you can represent a chord in many ways. People use to represent it on a diagram with the 6 strings and a range of frets (usually 3 or 4 frets) and putting a mark (dot or O) in each pair string/fret that must be pressed, and another mark (X) for a string that should not be touched. But keep in mind that all those tones should sound close to the same time. In the other hand, a tablature (TAB) is a diagram that shows the 6 strings (4-5 for bass guitars) and the number of the fret that you should touch over the time of the song. Positions at the left of the TAB must sound before that positions on the right. Note that chords represent tones in a given time and TABs represent tones along the time of the song. Hope this helps ya

Answer 3

If they give you tabs, they are assuming you know how to play the chords they are teling you. Some songs can be played with only chords. Most guitar songs have different melodies and riffs. Tabs show exactly where to put your fiongers on the strings. Chords just tell you the shords of the song.

Answer 4

Sometimes the people who transcribe the tab show you the chord and the fingerings for them (the chord shapes) at the top, for quick reference, as well as showing you what key the song is in.

The tab and chords shown should work together - you can either follow the tab or use the chords throughout the song.

Answer 5

No you dont have to play both, it just depends on which one you like playing the most