How to read a tablature

How to read a tablature

Horizontal lines represent the guitar' strings.

The first is the thin one, the sixth is the fat one.

Numbers indicate finger's position on the neck.

"0" indicates an open string.

Chord

C Major

The notes are played in chord ; simultaneously (cf fingerpicking of Oppression) or quickly, upwards or downwards.

Rake

Oppression (Riff B")

Strum the notes in a continuous and regulary movement.

Arpeggio / Single-notes

Mama's Trippin' (Riff 2)

The notes are played successively.

A muted note is indicated by an "X".

Muted notes

Less

When a string is just touched lightly, number is smaller.

It can be put in brackets.

Another Lonely Day (Riff A)

If there is no indication, string shall not be played.

C Major

The sixth string is not played.

In this example, jump the fourth string.

How to read a diagram

A diagram represents the neck of the guitar.

It contains all the informations necessary to play a particular chord.

The large side (or a double bar) represents the head's nut.
Horizontal lines represent the guitar's frets, there are numbered.
Vertical lines represent strings.

To simplify diagrams, numbering is limited to useful indications.

So, any numbering will appear when a chord is played near head's nut.

Example : C Major

If the same chord is played with finger placed flat on the eighth fret, number 8 must be indicated.
The chord is played on the 8th, 9th and 10th fret.

Example : C Major on the eighth fret.

" indicate the fingers' position.

"0" placed above diagram, indicate an open string.
"X" placed above diagram, indicate string must not be played.

Example : C Major

First string is played open.
Second string is played on the first fret.
Third string is played open.
Fourth string is played on the second fret.
Fifth string is played on the third fret.
Sixth string must not be played.

Diagrams could be placed above tablatures to indicate fingers' position during an arpeggio or a chord playing.

Waiting on an angel (Riff B')