Guitar tabs show you how to put your fingers on the guitar fretboard in order to play a song, chords or something else.
A very common type of tabs has a staff with six lines representing the six string on the guitar and numbers showing which frets to press down.
In this lesson we will use a form of tablature with numbers telling you which fret and which string to play. Here is an example:
24
The first number tells you which fret to press down and the second number which string to play. These two numbers tell you to press down the second fret on the fourth string.
Let us take a look at the first line of the Christmas carol White Christmas and the corresponding melody written with this type of guitar tabs:
(C)I'm dreaming of a (Dm)white (G7)Christmas
24 34 24 14 24 34 44 03
As you can see the first note to play is the second fret on string four. The last note 03 tells you to play the third string without pressing down a fret.
I have also included chord suggestions in brackets in the lyrics immediately before the appropriate syllable.
The chords C-major, D-minor and G7 can be played as follow:
C: 35 24 03 12 01
Dm: 04 23 32 11
G7: 36 25 04 03 02 11
Time to continue with the next tabs:
(F)Just like the (G7)ones I used to (C)know
23 02 12 32 12 02 23 03
I suggest that you assign your left hand fingers to play specific frets on your guitar fretboard according to this table:
index: first fret middle finger: second fret ring finger: third fret
If you use these left hand fingering suggestions it will be easier for you to find your way around the fretboard as you can keep your left hand in a relatively fixed position as you play. It might be a little bit tricky at first but with practice it will soon be a natural way to play on your guitar.
Time for the next tabs:
Where the (C)treetops (C7)glisten and (F)children (Fm6)listen
35 04 24 24 24 23 03 35 35 35 03
The chords C7, F-major and F-minor6 can be played:
C7: 35 24 33 12 01
F: 34 23 12 11
Fm6: 04 13 12 11
Here is the end of the first verse:
To (C)hear (Am)sleigh bells in the (F)snow (G7)
34 24 34 24 04 35 04
The chord A-minor can be played:
Am: 05 24 23 12 01
I suggest that you memorize the melody by practicing one line at a time. Then you are prepared to play the melody as soon as you find a guitar around.
The next verse starts with an identical melody but the last two lines have changed.
(C)I'm dreaming of a (Dm)white (G7)Christmas
24 34 24 14 24 34 44 03
(F)With every (G7)Christmas card I (C)write
23 02 12 32 12 02 23 03
May your (C)days be (C7)merry and (F)bright (Fm6)
35 04 24 24 24 23 03 12
And may (C)all (C#dim)your (Dm)Christma(G7)ses be (C)white
35 04 24 24 23 25 25 25 35
The chord C#-dim7 can be played:
C#dim: 15 24 03 22 01
In this type of guitar tablature notation you will not find any indication of the length of individual notes. I suggest that you sing the melody as you memorize the lines to get the rhythm right.
It is a very common mistake to make the assumption that playing guitar is practicing. Well, when you practice you usually play guitar but not always. Let us first take a look at playing guitar.
Playing guitar is when you play things you already know and feel comfortable with. It is the reward for your hard work towards your goals. Maybe you think that your skills do not match your desired level of accomplishment and you lack real satisfaction. Here is where actual guitar practice comes in.
A practice routine founded on your goals helps you overcome obstacles that you would not master by only playing and polishing pieces of music you already know. This can also be an enjoyable activity as you observe that you develop and are on the right road leading towards becoming a better guitarist.
What is most important, the time you practice or the concentration as you practice? Maybe the truth is somewhere in the middle!
If you do not concentrate as you practice you might learn bad habits that will lead you away from your goal to become a great guitarist. These bad habits can be:
1. Using too much muscle tension as you play.
2. Making mistakes that hinder your progression and start to become habits.
3. Playing sloppily without making music that other people and you can enjoy.
Lack of concentration slows down your progress and can stop your progression altogether. I think it is better to take half an hour of concentrated practice than use the whole day only messing around with your guitar, at least in the initial stages of your development.
As you learn new things you have to play them slowly thus creating new pathways in your mind. Do not play faster than your skills will allow you to. It is important to play without mistakes as they will pollute your new pathways and slow down your progress.
One way to help you play slowly and keep a steady tempo is to use a metronome.This will help you play as slowly as you need to play with accuracy and without unnecessary tension. The skill to keep a tempo will help you as you play with others.
One healthy thing to practice is scales in a slow tempo. You can start out with scales in the style you are playing and later broaden your repertoire. It is important not to increase the speed as you play your scales until you can play them relaxed and right. Then it is time to increase the tempo of your metronome just slightly.
There are many things you could include in a practice routine but the most important thing is how you practice. If you practice correctly you will play and perform correctly. If you practice in a sloppy manner learning bad habits it will be the way you will play in front of people.
It is really an enjoyable activity to practice guitar with a concentrated effort. The act of practicing this way has its own satisfaction but you will also discover that your abilities as a guitarist will grow and that you will enjoy playing more. You will also experience an increased self-respect as a guitarist knowing that you have practiced correctly.
Peter Edvinsson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Guide Guitar, Programming and Guide Guitar. Peter Edvinsson invites you to download your free and guitar lessons at. Peter Edvinsson's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.