Tablature is a way of indicating the positioning of notes and fingering on the guitar fret board.
If you can read tabs, you will be able to play any of your favorites songs.
Aside from traditional music theory, tabs are among the easiest methods to playing your favorite songs... quickly!
Basic Tab Lines:
There are 6 tab lines representing 6 strings on the guitar. (The 1st string is the thinnest, and the 6th string is the thickest).
e----------------------------- String 1 (Thinnest)
B----------------------------- String 2
G----------------------------- String 3
D----------------------------- String 4
A----------------------------- String 5
E----------------------------- String 6 (Thickest)
When a number is placed on one of the lines, it indicates the fret location of note.
Example 1:
E----------------------------- String 1
B------4---------------------- String 2
G----------------------------- String 3
D----------------------------- String 4
A----------------------------- String 5
E----------------------------- String 6
(This means to play the 4th Fret on the 2nd string)
Example 2:
E----------------------------- String 1
B----------------------------- String 2
G----------------------------- String 3
D----------------------------- String 4
A------0---------------------- String 5
E----------------------------- String 6
(This indicates an open 5th string)
Example 3:
E----------------------------- String 1
B-----------6----------------- String 2
G-------5--------------------- String 3
D----------------0------------ String 4
A----------------------------- String 5
E----------------------------- String 6
This indicates:
5th Fret, 3rd string, then
6th Fret, 2nd string, then
an open 4th string.
Example 4:
E---1------------------------- String 1
B-----------8----------------- String 2
G-------7--------------------- String 3
D---------------2------------- String 4
A----------------------------- String 5
E------------------------12--- String 6
This indicates:
1st Fret, 1st string then
7th Fret, 3rd string, then
8th Fret, 2nd string, then
2nd Fret, 4th string, then
12th Fret, 6th string.