how do you read tabs....?

[superfan]

I am a beginner at guitar, I have been playing for about 4 weeks. I cannot fiqure out how to read tabs, I would like to learn to play some dave songs, and I am just totally lost at the tabs. can someone help me out. I have read on different sites, on how to learn to read tabs, and I still don't understand.

[TSilk]

The numbers on the individual strings (which on tab go from the 6th string down, which seems backwards) correspond to the fret that should be played on that string. If multiple numbers are all in a vertical line like

E----2----
B----3----
G----2----
D----0----
A---------
E---------

then that means to play all of those frets at the same time while not including the A or low E string at the same time which is usually a chord or part of one (the above chord is a D chord)

The symbols like X, /, ~ etc tell you do different things as well.

an X on a string means to mute that string (do not press the string all the down so the string makes little to no sound)

a / between 2 numbers means to slide from the first fret mentioned to the second fret mentioned in one stroke

and a ~ simply means to hold the note for a longer time

and ^ means to bend the string

that's the quickest rundown I can give you

[GSUdawg521]

edit: posted during the above, but I'm not gonna delete mine just in case ;)

You know your guitar at least, right? From highest in pitch to lowest you have EBGDAE. Frets are the spaces between each metal bar along the fretboard. So the space between the head and the first fret bar is the first fret.

Now, in tabs, the 6 horizontal lines represent the 6 strings, and usually say so next to them anyway.

E-----
B-----
G-----
D-----
A-----
E-----


The numbers on those lines mean which fret to place your finger(s) at on the corresponding string. So...

E--------
B--------
G--------
D----3---
A--------
E--------


Means to put your finger on the 3rd fret of the D string. A G-chord for example:

E----3----
B----3----
G----0----
D----0----
A----2----
E----3----


Put your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the low E string, your index finger on the 2nd fret of the next, A, string. Leave the middle two OPEN, and put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the B string and pinky on the 3rd fret of the high E string.

Tabs don't always tell you which finger to use, sometimes it's up to what's comfortable for you. dmbtabs.com often tells you which finger to use on each string.

Hope that helps!

[superfan]

I would like to learn how to play #40

here is the tab from dmbtabs.com: http://www.dmbtabs.com/song.php?sid=50

so on the intro where the numbers are slanted 3, 2,1 or 2, 0, 1 are the groups of slanted letters one chord, or are they only a chord when they are stacked?

also, so you only hit the string if there is a number listed? so where there is a zero you don't push down anything but you hit that string, is that correct?

[GSUdawg521]

It's only a chord when they're stacked, as you say, right on top of eachother. Otherwise it's just the order they're played. In most versions of #40 he starts it off like that playing the intro one note at a time, but kinda letting them all ring together.

And yes, 0 on a fret means open, so you pick the string, or include it in your strum without pressing any frets. Sometimes there'll be an X on a fret which means it shouldn't be strummed so you have to mute it with one of your other fingers or some part of your fingers.

[WiseManSay]

I would like to learn how to play #40

here is the tab from dmbtabs.com: http://www.dmbtabs.com/song.php?sid=50

so on the intro where the numbers are slanted 3, 2,1 or 2, 0, 1 are the groups of slanted letters one chord, or are they only a chord when they are stacked?

also, so you only hit the string if there is a number listed? so where there is a zero you don't push down anything but you hit that string, is that correct?

First question, technically, yes it is only a chord/power chord/bar chord if the numbers are stacked. If they are separated then just play the single note, or for some songs two notes, etc. What you will find though is that the 3,2,1 in that song is a "C" chord. It's just easier to hold a "C" and then strike those notes accordingly. That way you don't have to move your hands all around.

If there is nothing listed on a string, don't play it. A "0" means strike it as an open string, so yes you are correct. Don't push down on it, but play that string.

That's some of the bases for it anyway. Not that #40 is a terribly hard song to play, but if you can't play anything else maybe try an easier song. Or practice going from a "C" to a "G" to an "A" cause they are all in that song.

Good luck.

EDIT: Dang! USGdawg beat me to it.

[TSilk]

If you want to start with dave stuff right off the bat check out Blue Water and Proudest monkey

[Crazy#41]

Very carefully.

[superfan]

thanks for all of the help, I now have a much better understanding of how to read tabs, it makes a lot more sense to me. I was actually fooling around the Stolen Away on 55th & 3rd tab, its starting to sound good. thanks

[WiseManSay]

The one thing that tabs really can't do is develop a concise articulation of "beats". Sometimes you will notice that the spacing between each note is either smaller or larger. That's to help tell you how much of a pause you should have in between each note or the "tempo" in which the song is played. However, it can never be exact and sometimes just plain confusing when reading tabs. Unless you know the song well and can follow the beat in your head, it's really going to slow down your learning curve.

I suggest investing some time into reading sheet music because of this.

[yankees26mlb]

im a beginner and wondering what the numbers mean that are not on the chart http://www.dmbtabs.com/song.php?sid=50 like those ones that are below the chart

[Kyvek]

^^^ the numbers below the tab, or "chart," are which fingers Dave uses for each note. For instance, the first note (3rd fret, A string), Dave uses his third/ring finger to fret the note. You don't usually see that with tabs, however DMBTabs.com is pretty good about having those on every tab.