How To Read Guitar Tablature

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If you are someone aspiring to be a musician, it is beneficial to learn to read music. While reading music is standardized with many other instruments, guitarists have developed their own method to ease the reading of music in tablature. Unique to guitarists all over, tablature though not perfect, is a simple method of effortlessly reading and sharing music with others, especially with other guitarists. Below you will find a quick primer on how tablature works.

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Guitar tablatures are available online. In the above diagram, six horizontal lines comprise the tab staff for the guitar. Each line symbolizes each string of the guitar. While the second line from the bottom denotes the A string, the bottom most line denotes the E. guitarists find this simplified tablature very easy to use and follow.

When you notice carefully, you will find there are numbers in the center of these lines which actually denote the strings. The fret has to be played by you according to these numbers. For example, if you look at the above diagram you will note that you have to play the third string and the seventh fret. Number zero in the tablature tells you that you have to play the open string.

Tablature is one of the most basic and easiest methods of reading music which can also be found online. Reading chords involves a more advanced method of reading notations in the tab.

Reading tabs does not take much time to learn. The most basic tab reading can be learned by almost anyone. As opposed to other instruments like the piano which requires intensive training for a prolonged period of time, most of the guitarists learn to play on their own after a set of basic lessons. Piano involves training in sight reading as well as rigorous coaching in theory lessons.

As a guitarist, if you are trying to learn songs on your own, you may find it difficult to read music. Sight reading is quite complicated, especially for beginners and self taught musicians often avoid doing this. By using online tablatures, you can learn various songs.

Reading guitar tablature online is also simple. If a series of numbers are displayed vertically by the tab, it means you are supposed to play all the notes simultaneously. According to the tab picture above, the notes in the E major chord has to be held down and all the six strings must be strummed simultaneously. To make things simple for the guitarists, the chord name is displayed in the tablature. This enables them to identify the chord easily.

Fundamental Flaws of Guitar Tab

There are however a lot of flaws in this tab system including the rhythmic notation. For example if you have no idea about the part where the guitar has to be played in a particular song, you will be at a loss to know how long to hold the key. Without rhythms it is next to impossible to determine this.

There are attempts to include rhythms in some guitar tabs. This is done by including stems on the numbers. This however is difficult for the guitarist to read, recognize and play fluently. Instead of doing this, it is easier to actually going in for the basic standard notation. Guitar tablatures can be read only by guitarists as opposed to the standard notation which can be read by every musician.

How to find chords and scales using simple formulas.
The only musical knowledge you need is the ability to read the melody line and how to find the notes on a keyboard. If you can do that playing keyboard is easy. If you can’t do that please visit your local library and borrow a book for beginning piano.

Did you know that a keyboard can be played using mathematical formulas? Well, it can but some people find it difficult to get to grips with maths. However, with this system you only need to be able to count up to nine. Now, there are seven very simple formulas to help us find all the scales and most of the important chords. Here they are:
2212221: Scales.
4 + 3: Major chords. = Triad ( 3-note chord).
4 + 3 + 3: Major 7th. Chords (4-note chord).
4 + 6: = Major 7th. Chords = (3-note chord).*
*This is easier to play but I recommend you go for the full, 4-note 7th. chord using inversions.
3 + 4. Minor chords. = Triad (3-note chord).

3+4+3. Minor 7th. chords. (4 note chord).
3+3: = Diminuished chord.
4+4: = Augmented chords.

And that’s all there is to it. Who needs chord charts? Just remember the 7 formulas above and you will be able to find all the scales and all the most widely used chords on a keyboard. And the great thing about this system is that you don’t actually have to remember loads of scales and chords because, with these formulas, you already know them all!

Here is how it works:
Finding the scales.
Let’s start where everybody starts from – Middle C.
Every note which we start with, for our formula, is always the ‘Home Note’, also called the ‘Root note’, and is zero-rated. In other words it is never counted. See below:
C scale. C is zero rated because it is the Home note.
C D E F G A B C
0 2 2 1 2 2 2 1
If you start at C and count every note from there – including the black notes – using the above formula you will play the C scale. C is the home note. Now count 2 and we hit the D. Now count 2 again and we hit the E, now count 1 and we hit F, and so on. No matter which note you start on – as the home note – you will always end up playing the correct scale. Try it out for yourself right now. Easy, isn’t it. In about two minutes you have learned how to play every scale there is. Great! Look at the scale of Bb below:
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
0 2 2 1 2 2 2 1

Now for the best part!
How to play all the most important chords without having to remember how to play them all. And remember, count all the notes including the black ones but not the home note. Major chords.
Let’s start with C again:
Formula: 4 + 3

C is Home note. Count 4 which takes us to the E, then count 3 which takes us to the G.
So C + E + G is the C chord.

Now try Eb.
Eb is the Home note. Count 4 which takes us to the G. Now 3 which takes us to the Bb.
So – Eb + G + Bb – is the Eb chord. And there you have it.
I love this system.

Major 7th.
Formula: 4 + 6. (3-note chord).
Formula: 4 + 3 + 3. (4-note chord). (Major chord formula + 3).
C7: Home note C + 4 is E + 6 is Bb. ( C + E + Bb ) 3-note chord.

D7: Home note D + 4 is F# + 3 is A + 3 is C ( D + F# + A + C ) 4-note chord.
So, with the Major and Minor chords just add 3 to the count to get a 7th. chord.
Minor chords.
Formula: 3 + 4.
Let’s start with F# minor.
F# is Home note: Plus 3 is A + 4 is C#. ( F# + A + C# )

Ab minor.
Ab is Home note: Plus 3 is B + 4 is Eb. ( Ab + B + Eb )
N.B: Major and minor chords are usually always triads – 3-note chords. Seventh chords should always
be 4-note chords to give them depth.

To change a major chord into a minor just lower the second note – within the formula – one half step. ( semitone).
C major = C + E + F. The second note is E so lower it a half step to Eb. C minor = C+Eb+F.
G major: G + B + D. The second note is B so one half step back takes it to Bb. G minor = G+Bb+D.
Minor 7th.
Formula: 3+4+3. ( Minor formula + 3).
D minor 7th.
D is the home note: Plus 3 is F + 4 is A +3 is C. ( D + F + A +C). (The inversion of CDFA may be easier for you to play).
Most songs can be played using only the major, minor and seventh chords.
Diminuished Chords. (o,dim).

Formula: 3+3. G dim. ( usually written o, or dim )
G is the Home note + 3 = Bb + Db. (G + Bb + Db).
Augmented chords. (aug) (usually written +, or aug ).
Formula: 4 + 4. B aug.
B is the Home note + 4 = Eb + 4 = G. (B + Eb + G).

There are, of course, inversions to all the chords which you can easily work out for yourself. Any combinations of each chord will work on a keyboard. You simply choose the one which works best for you, or is easier for you to play. Sometimes you will not be able to play a particular inversion as it might
go beyond the ‘Split’ point on your keyboard. For example, I cannot play Bb7 on my keyboard in the first mode as it goes past my split point which
is the F below Middle C. So I play the inversion: F, Ab, Bb, D.
We are discussing here only the most widely used chords. The more experienced you become with your playing the less you’ll need the formulas.
But heh, if they help you remember your chords use them all the time.
To check your chords and inversions download a free Chord finder software package. Try Will Dallimore’s free keyboard chord chart.
As an exercise why not try to work out the formulas for 6th. and 9th. chords. You will not be called upon in your early playing days, as a beginner,
to play 6th. and 9th. chords on a keyboard, guitar players are more likely to use these.

Have you noticed that the Major, Minor, 7th, Augmented and Diminuished chords all have a formula containing combinations of only two numbers?
3 and 4.

Study all the above information and remember it. It’s not really difficult. Once you have these formulas committed to memory you will never have problems in remembering all the most widely used chords. As you can now see it is possible to play keyboard using mathematics.

Remember this!
There are thee major chords in each scale based on the 1st. 4th. and 5th. notes in that scale. If you played only the three major chords in each
song you play you’ll play to an acceptable level, but your playing would sound a lot better if you also played minor and seventh chords.

When counting the notes in a scale, for the 1st. 4th. and 5th. notes, the home note is counted as 1. So in the scale of C, the first chord (Note 1) would be C major, the second chord (Note 4) would be F major and the third chord (Note 5) would be G major.

As a beginner I used to work out the Key (scale) I would be playing in (2212221) write it at the top ofthe page, then I would write the Formula along side it. So the top of my page would look like this:
Scale = G. (G A B C D E F# G). Formula 4 + 3. Main chords = G, B, C. If I missed a chord I would simply play one of the three main chords for that scale and usually got away with it, but not always.
There’s only one thing left for you to do now – Practice!

Copyright Maurice Ellis 2007. More free music theory articles at: http://www.chordmusic.net/chordfinder.html. Email admin@chordmusic.net

Guitar chord progressions are like baby brothers – you cannot escape from them and they take some explaining. Let us do some analysis on the term “guitar chord progressions”. In case you did not know, any time two or more notes are played, this is referred to as a “chord”. You probably know that certain guitar chords sound good together. These are called guitar chord “families”. Guitar chord “progressions” are certain sequences of chords that sound so good together that they are used as the musical basis of songs.

Chord progressions are derived from musical scales like C D E F G A B C. This is the C major scale which is used very often in music. It is just a sequence of notes with no sharps or flats which makes it easy to use to teach music students the principles of music. When we study chord progressions we think of these letters as chords instead of single notes. If we number the chords from one to seven we can work in a practical way with the chords in any key because the basic principles are the same.

If we write out the chords as numbers we have the problem of getting the numbers denoting the chords confused with numbers that are used in the names of the chords. If we are working with the chord B7 we do not want to have to stop and think what “77″ means so we use Roman numerals to number the chords. That way B7 is named VII7. To a newbie that might still be confusing but it is a good way of fixing the problem.

So, now the chords are named I II III IV V VI VII. To save us from getting too bogged down in musical theory, let us take some simple ideas for granted. First, in any key the chord that the key is named after is always the I chord. So now you can go back and look at the notes in the C major scale and check out the new names of all the notes. Not that it will mean much yet.

Another thing we are going to take for granted is that I IV and V are the three most important chords in the scale. When you learn a song or instrumental piece, the chances are that you will be starting the song with the I chord and when you end the song, the chord you finish on is also the I chord. There are exceptions but there is no need to go looking for them. So we can take that fact for granted.

That is all the basic theory we need to learn guitar chord progressions without blundering around like an elephant in an outhouse. There is more you could learn but we are more concerned with playing the chords than explaining them. Now we can take a look at the some chord progressions. The most common progression you will come across as a guitar player is I IV V. You will find these chords referred to in music theory as “tonic” “subdominant” and “dominant”.

You have probably heard that pop musicians only know three chords. This may or may not be true but they do mostly work with one chord progression consisting of three chords. The main variations come when for effect the composer or interpreter of a song might use the V7 or IV7 chords.

This chord progression is the basis of almost all pop, blues and rock songs. Many songwriters have made departures from this basic progression and jazz musicians have long ago abandoned sticking to this, or any basic form.

So there you have your basic chord progression for modern popular music. Other progressions that you could benefit from experimenting with are: I IV I V, I IV V IV, I V VI IV, I V IV V, I VI II V and I VI IV V.

If you want to become a great guitar player, you need to focus on the three most important things to gui tar playing: knowledge, skills, and love. Having one or two out of three is not an option. It is all or nothing and those are what it takes to become a great guitar player.

Working on Your Knowledge

Learn how to read different style of guitar notes. To take advantage of various instructional guitar pieces, you should familiarize yourself with the many ways guitar playing is thought. For instance, you could come across with lessons made up of numbers and letters instead of letters and musical notes. In this case, numbers are used for finger reference while certain letters do not represent chords but positioning. O is for Open, X is for not playing strings, and T stands for your thumb.

Familiarize yourself with the history of guitar making and playing. Learning the evolution of guitars will help you appreciate more the features of your present guitar and maximize its uses. Being familiar with its history lets you know now what people in the past were missing and the potential of the guitar you are holding. It is easier to create magic when you know what your wand is capable of, do you think?
As for guitar playing, familiarizing yourself with the different styles of guitar players of old and new will help you develop your own unique style, recognize which features you wish to integrate in your brand of playing and learning from past mistakes.

Take advantage of technology. Instead of focusing exclusively on old paper based lessons, you can also purchase audio and video guitar lessons. You can also purchase guitar learning software programs that will automatically let you know what could be wrong with your playing and the proper solution to it.

Working on Your Skills

Teach your fingers to dance. In other words, work on keeping your fingers flexible. There be doing all the work so it is important that they are able to tread lightly or heavily as needed. Practice finger exercises daily to keep them quick and nimble.

Know how to relax. Beginners often experience tension, stress, and pressure when playing the guitar after a long period of time because there holding their bodies too stiffly. Another lesson in connection to this is positioning. Know the correct positions for your body and fingers when playing the guitar.

One common problem experienced by amateur guitarists is finger lockup. Sometimes, tension building from an elevated arm travels to your fingers and force them to lock up. When this happens, people usually just force their fingers to continue playing the song without pause. This is wrong.

Know how to play both acoustic and electric guitars. It never hurts to know both and being ambidextrous at least in terms of guitar type will let you appreciate what your preferred guitar type has and the other do not while helping you recognize what yours do not have and allowing you to compensate for it.

Working on Your Love

Listen to guitar intensive songs. Try identifying the chords there using to train your ears.

Hang out once in a while with people with similar interests. Talking about your favorite topic with people who are able to understand and share your love will make you a better player.

Rather, you should stop playing and concentrate on moving your fingers gradually back into its original position. Then, move to the next chord position ever so slowly. Work on getting sensation back to your fingers. Follow this tip and you will play better afterwards.

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Go to yourguitarsage.com to find out how to get a chart to this song and 100s of other songs!!! This guitar lesson vid shows you how to play Red Light by David Nail. My lovely wife actually wrote this song. To find out more about her music check out www.melissapeirce.com or www.myspace.com/melissapeirce This video shows you the chords, strumming technique and style. Check out yourguitarsage.com for info on my online instructional resources about charts, chords, strumming and the techniques that I use here in my videos.. For more guitar lessons, see my other free tutorials. For original and cover music by me, Erich, go to www.myspace.com . Since I’m so busy making new video tutorial lessons all the time and teaching guitar, I probably won’t have time to answer individual questions regarding guitar. Other videos cover beginner, advanced and intermediate levels. I teach rock, blues, country and just about any other style on electric or acoustic. If you can’t find your answer from the resources at the website above, keep digging into my vids, and I’m sure you will find your answer. Keep practicing!!!
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Go to yourguitarsage.com to find out how to get a chart to this song and 100s of other songs!!! This guitar lesson vid shows you how to play Beat It by Michael Jackson . It shows you the chords, strumming technique and style. Check out yourguitarsage.com for info on my online instructional resources about charts, chords, strumming and the techniques that I use here in my videos.. For more guitar lessons, see my other free tutorials. For original and cover music by me, Erich, go to www.myspace.com . Since I’m so busy making new video tutorial lessons all the time and teaching guitar, I probably won’t have time to answer individual questions regarding guitar. Other videos cover beginner, advanced and intermediate levels. I teach rock, blues, country and just about any other style on electric or acoustic. If you can’t find your answer from the resources at the website above, keep digging into my vids, and I’m sure you will find your answer. Keep practicing!!!