*** THE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO TAB NOTATION : ***

Prepared by Jim Sliff 2!"

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TAB $r %abla%&re i' a method of writing down music played on guitar.
TAB (ill %ell y$& ()a% *$%e' %$ play + i% (ill %ell y$& ()i,) '%ri*- %$ pi,.
a*d ()ere %$ p&% y$&r lef%+)a*d fi*-er' /$r ri-)% )a*d fi*-er' if y$& are lef%+)a*ded01
TAB (ill /'$me%ime'0 -i2e y$& a* i*di,a%i$* $f %)e r)y%)m $f %)e pie,e + i% (ill %ell
y$& ()i,) are %)e l$*- *$%e' a*d ()i,) are %)e ')$r% *$%e'1 H$(e2er i% (ill *$% %ell y$&
e3a,%ly )$( l$*- $r )$( ')$r% %)ey are1
B&%111
TAB (ill /&'&ally0 *$% %ell y$& %)e pre,i'e *$%e le*-%)' + '$ i* m$'%
,a'e' i%' e''e*%ial %$ li'%e* %$ %)e '$*- y$&r'elf /preferably (i%) (i%) %)e TAB i* fr$*%
$f y$&0 %$ ($r. $&% %)e %imi*- $f %)e *$%e'1
TAB (ill /&'&ally4 al%)$&-) %)i' )a' impr$2ed i* re,e*% year'0 *$% %ell y$& ()i,) fi*-er' y$&
&'e %$ fre% ea,) *$%e1
TAB (ill /&'&ally0 *$% %ell y$& a*y%)i*- ab$&% pi,.i*- a*d '%r&mmi*- +
y$& (ill )a2e %$ de,ide f$r y$&r'elf ()ere %$ &'e &p'%r$.e'5d$(*'%r$.e'
a*d '$ $*1
TAB NOTATION - THE BASICS
TAB i' 'imple %$ read4 a*d ')$&ld be 'imple %$ (ri%e1 T)e idea i' %)i' :
6$& '%ar% $&% (i%) 7 li*e'1 T)e'e ,$rre'p$*d %$ %)e '%ri*-'
$f %)e i*'%r&me*%1 T)e top line is the highest pitch string(meaning the skinniest string)4
a*d %)e bottom line indicates the lowest pitch string (the fattest string)1 Bel$( i' a bla*.
bi% $f TAB (i%) %)e '%ri*- *ame' f$r '%a*dard -&i%ar %&*i*- a% %)e lef%1
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D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Numbers are written on (in some cases above) the lines to show you where to fret the
string with the left hand1 If a 8er$ appear' 4 %)i' mea*' y$& play %)e '%ri*- 9$pe*:1
A' (i%) '%a*dard m&'i,al *$%a%i$* a*d b$$.'4 y$& read fr$m lef% %$ ri-)% %$ fi*d
$&% ()a% $rder %$ play %)e *$%e'1 T)e f$ll$(i*- pie,e $f TAB i' a 'imple 'e;&e*,e4 %elli*-
y$& %$ play %)e 'e;&e*,e $f *$%e' E < <= G G= A0 $* %)e b$%%$m E '%ri*- by
m$2i*- &p a fre% a% a %ime4 '%ar%i*- (i%) %)e $pe* '%ri*-1
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O@ '$ far A
If %($ $r m$re *$%e' are %$ be played %$-e%)er a' a ,)$rd /$r 9i*2er'i$*:4 i* %)e ,a'e $f B&'% 2
*$%e'04 %)ey are (ri%%e* $* %$p $f $*e a*$%)er4 a-ai* B&'% li.e '%a*dard *$%a%i$*1
I* %)e *e3% e3ample (e )a2e a G ,)$rd:
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D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++2++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E++++>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
T)e TAB ab$2e i*di,a%e' $*e ')$&ld play all %)e *$%e' %$-e%)er a' a ,)$rd1
6$& mi-)% 'ee %)e 'ame ,)$rd (ri%%e* li.e %)i' :
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B++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
G++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++2++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E+++>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
C)i,) ($&ld i*di,a%e /i* m$'% ,a'e'0%)a% $*e ')$&ld '%r&m %)e 'ame ,)$rd ')ape D b&%
'%ar%i*- a% %)e b$%%$m /%)i,.e'%0 '%ri*-4 '$ %)a% ea,) '%ri*- i' pi,.ed 'li-)%ly la%er %)a* %)e la'%
'%ri*-4 ye% all *$%e' (ill ri*- %$-e%)er1
Bel$( i' a* e3ample $f %)e 'ame ')ape a-ai*4 b&% *$(
%)e -ap' be%(ee* %)e *$%e' are bi--er + '$ y$& ($&ld pr$bably pi,. %)e
'%ri*-' 'epara%ely i* a m$re di'%i*,% ma**er i*'%ead $f 'l$(ly '%r&mmi*- %)e ,)$rd1
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D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++++2+++++++++++++++++++++++2++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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A' a -e*eral r&le4 %)e 'pa,i*- $f %)e *$%e' $* %)e TAB ')$&ld %ell y$&
()i,) *$%e' are %)e l$*- $*e'4 a*d ()i,) are %)e ')$r% a*d fa'% $*e'1
A' a* e3ample4 )ere are %)e fir'% fe( *$%e' $f %)e Ameri,a* Na%i$*al
A*%)em i* TAB1 6$& ')$&ld 'ee fairly ,learly %)a% %)e differe*% 'pa,i*-
,$rre'p$*d' %$ %)e differe*% *$%e le*-%)'1
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Ob2i$&'ly i% (ill be a l$% ea'ier %$ play %)e TAB f$r a '$*- y$&
.*$( (ell %)a* f$r a '$*- y$&E2e *e2er )eard $f be,a&'e y$& (ill
already be familiar (i%) %)e r)y%)m' $f %)e familiar '$*-1
OTHER SYMBOLS USED IN TAB
A l$% $f $%)er imp$r%a*% i*f$rma%i$* ,a* be i*,l&ded i* a pie,e $f TAB1
T)i' i*,l&de' )ammer+$*'4 p&ll $ff'4 'lide'4 be*d'4 2ibra%$ a*d '$ $*1
T)e '%a*dard pra,%i,e i' %$ (ri%e e3%ra le%%er' $r 'ymb$l' be%(ee* *$%e'
%$ i*di,a%e )$( %$ play %)em1 Here are %)e le%%er'5'ymb$l' m$'%
$f%e* &'ed :
) + )ammer $* /'$me%ime' (i%) a 'ide(ay' 9pare*%)e'e': bel$( %)e 9): a*d ab$2e %)e
*$%e'4 (i%) %)e )i-) p$i*% $f %)e ,&r2e a% %)e %$p D e2ery $*,e i* a ()ile %)e ) (ill be a%
%)e b$%%$m $f %)e ,&r2e be,a&'e $f %)e (ay adBa,e*% *$%e' are played010
p + p&ll $ff /'$me%ime' al'$ &'ed i* ,$mbi*a%i$* (i%) a 'ide(ay' pare*%)e'e'
b + be*d '%ri*- &p /'$me%ime' (i%) a 9U: ')aped ,&r2e be%(ee* %($ *&mber'4 i*di,a%i*-
)$( %$ be*d &p %$ %)e *$%e0
r + relea'e be*d /'$me%ime' (i%) a ,&r2e li.e a be*d4 b&% ($r.i*- i* %)e $pp$'i%e
dire,%i$*0
5 + 'lide &p /'lide y$&r fi*-er &p fr$m $*e fre% %$ a*$%)er01
F + 'lide d$(* /'imilar %$ 'lidi*- &p0
2 + 2ibra%$ /'$me%ime' (ri%%e* a' GH be*di*- a*d relea'i*- %)e *$%e 2ery 'li-)%ly0
% D %ap a% %)e i*di,a%ed fre% (i%) a ri-)%+)a*d pi,.i*- fi*-er01
3 D d$ *$% play %)e *$%e a% %)e mar.ed p$'i%i$*1
T)a% la'% $*e4 %)e 34 i' '$me%ime' &'ed i*'%ead f$r 9dampi*-: + &'ed %$ -e% a ,)$ppy4
per,&''i2e '$&*d1 6$& &'&ally &'e y$&r fre%%i*- )a*d %$ li-)%ly damp %)e '%ri*-' '$
%)a% ()e* y$& pi,. %)e *$%e i% '$&*d' dead1 If &'ed %)i' (ay i% (ill be i*di,a%ed a% %)e
be-i**i*- $f %)e TAB1
HAMMER N! AN" #$%% &&!
Ci%) )ammer+$*' a*d p&ll+$ff' y$& mi-)% fi*d %)i*-' li.e %)e'e :
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D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A+++++++++?)I+++++++++++?)I++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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111()i,) ($&ld mea* play %)e $pe* E %(i,e4 %)e* )i% %)e A '%ri*- a% %)e
?%) fre% a*d )ammer $* %$ %)e I%) fre%1
P&ll $ff' l$$. 2ery 'imilar :
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D+++++++++++++++++++2+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Here (e )a2e a de',e*di*- bl&e' ',ale &'i*- p&ll+$ff' %$ %)e $pe*
'%ri*-'1 <$r ea,) p&ll $ff y$& $*ly pi,. %)e fir'% *$%e $f %)e pair
(i%) %)e ri-)% )a*d + '$ i* %)i' e3ample y$& ($&ld pi,. all %)e
*$%e' $* %)e >rd a*d 2*d fre%'4 a*d %)e $pe* '%ri*-' ($&ld be
'$&*ded by p&lli*- $ff1
Be,a&'e y$& -i2e %)e '%ri*- a* e3%ra bi% $f e*er-y ()e* y$& )ammer $*
a*d p&ll $ff4 y$& $*ly *eed %$ )i% %)e fir'% *$%e (i%) %)e pi,.i*- )a*d1
6$& ,$&ld e2e* )a2e a l$*- '%ri*- $f )ammer+$*' a*d p&ll+$ff' li.e
%)i' :
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G+++2)"p2)"p2)"p2)"p2)"p2++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
E++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A' me*%i$*ed earlier4 '$me%ime' %)e 9): $r 9p: (ill be ab$2e $r bel$( a ,&r2ed li*e be%(ee*
%)e *$%e'4 e'pe,ially $* ,$mmer,ial TAB1
BENDS
C)e* be*d' are i*2$l2ed y$& *eed %$ .*$( )$( m&,) %$ be*d %)e *$%e
&p1 T)i' i' i*di,a%ed by (ri%i*- a *&mber af%er %)e EbE1
<$r e3ample4 if y$& 'ee %)i' :
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D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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111i% mea*' pi,. %)e B '%ri*- a% %)e I%) fre%4 %)e* be*d %)e *$%e &p
%($ *$%e' /$*e ()$le '%ep0 '$ %)a% i% '$&*d' %)e 'ame pi%,) a'
a *$%e fre%%ed a% %)e J%) fre% ($&ld d$1
S$me%)i*- li.e %)i' :
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B++++++IbJ++JrI++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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111mea*' play %)e *$%e a% %)e I%) fre%4 be*d &p %($ *$%e'4 '%ri.e %)e
*$%e a-ai* ()ile i% i' '%ill be*%4 %)e* relea'e %)e be*d '$ %)a% %)e
*$%e )a' i%E' *$rmal pi%,)1 Gai*4 '$me TAB al'$ &'e' a ,&r2ed li*e1
SLIDES
T)e m$'% ,$mm$* 'ymb$l' &'ed f$r 'lide' are 5 f$r a 'lide
&p a*d F f$r a 'lide d$(*1
6$& mi-)% al'$ 'ee E'E &'ed %$ mea* 'lide1
6$& d$*E% al(ay' *eed 'epara%e 'ymb$l' f$r E&pE a*d Ed$(*E 'lide'
'i*,e a li*e $f TAB readi*- :
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G++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
D++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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i' a 'lide *&p* fr$m I%) %$ J%) fre%1
T)a%E' all %)ere i' %$ lear*i*- %)e ba'i,' $f %ab readi*-K TAB b$$.' *$rmally i*,l&de
dire,%i$*'4 b&% m&,) $f %)e TAB a2ailable f$r free $* (eb'i%e' i*,l&de' *$ i*'%r&,%i$*' D
%)a%' ()ere I )$pe y$& fi*d %)i' -&ide )elpf&l1
Happy pi,.i*-K