How do you read guitar tabs?

Question

if possible can you teach me how to read this guitar tab sheet?
http://tabnabber.com/viewTab.asp?song=My_Chemical_Romance-Demolition_Lovers.txt&tabID=1058&nick=MyChemGem&sArtist=My+Chemical+Romance&sName=Demolition+Lovers

if not can you just explain how to read a guitar tab sheet?

Answer 1

That tab of MCR was absolutely baffling. They inserted the key notes instead of the frets to play on the song. Let me get you some real tabs and I'll come back and edit this to show you what you need (I'll get the same song).

((update)): Here's the same exact song for guitar: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/m/my_chemical_romance/demolition_lovers_tab.htm

The numbers to play are the fret numbers. On a dotted guitar the double-dot with 2 blank spaces between the next fret is the 12th fret and if you have a 24 fret dot guitar (like me) you'll also have a double-dotted fret at the end of the fretboard marking the 24th fret number (used very rarely such as in Pink Floyd's "Money").

The levels that the fret numbers appear at are the strings to play. The one on the bottom of the fret sheet is the low E string or the thickest on a real guitar. From there you go up (both in the tabs and on the guitar) until you reach the top string which is the thinnest on the guitar and this is the high E string. The strings in between them from lowest to highest a A, D, G and B. You just play the string(s) and fret(s) that the tab tells you to. If you're having a hard time learning how to play the song you really have to imagine the song in your head. If the song has a distinctive first riff on the guitar you really have to get the timing down right since this will, in 95% of the cases, lead to you learning the song better and faster.

If you have any questions about the song or the tabs themselves send me a message via my profile.

Answer 2

yes. there are 6 strings on a guitar, EADGBe from lowest to highest, the tab will look something like
e-
B-
G-
D-
A-
E-
unless you have more strings, or a 5 string bass like me. The tabfollows the song in the order of the notes that are played...the numbers are the frets you want to hit, which will be in line with the string you want to hit... sometimes the timing is difficult to understand, but you have to listen to the song and follow along on the tab (if you're of novice+ level) good luck and playing guitar is SWEET

Answer 3

k, so the numbers on the different lines, all labeled as the different strings, are what fret you place your fingers on. generally the tab author'll put hoe many times you play the riffs to the right side of the tabs.

Answer 4

that was a mess, never seen tab done like that before. where was the six strings, and the numbers at the front didnt make sense. stick with proper tab!

Answer 5

if you look on the bar in the top of the page, the rightmost link is how to read tabs.

Answer 6

2 words PRIVATE LESSONS