Learn To Play Guitar Tab - Playing Songs

Posted on May 15, 2008

Now that we know what frets are and we also know how to play a note (playing either an open string, or pressing down a fret on that string and then strumming it) we are ready to take a step further in how to learn to play guitar tab.

We already know what ‘blank Tab’ music looks like. Let’s learn how to read Tab and how it will help you.

The Lines represent the strings.

The numbers represent the Frets.

_________________________________________________

_0_3_5_0_3_6_5___________________________________

Music (and Tab) is read from left to right like English.

The ‘Tab’ above tells you to play on the Low string only (the thickest string). You know this because the numbers are only written on that string (the bottom line).

The number ‘0′ means to play the string open. Then the number ‘3′ means place your index finger of your left hand and hold down the 3rd fret on the low string (same string you played open) and then followed by the 5th fret and so on.

This is the main riff to the popular song ‘Smoke on the Water’. If you are unfamiliar with this song you can see it and view at on You Tube. Type in ‘Smoke on the Water’, this way you will know what it sounds like before you attempt to play it by reading it above. So if you play the string open (just strum the string without touching it with your left hand) and then the 3rd fret and then the 5th and then open again, and then the 3rd fret 6th fret and 5th fret…you have you have just played Smoke on the water! Try this next song…Everybody nows the tune from ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ so you shouldn’t have any trouble with it.

‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’

_________________________________________High string

_________________________________________

_____________________________2_2_________

_4_2_0_2__4_4_4__2_2_2__4_________________Low String

The first 4 notes (4,2,0,2) sound like “ma-ry had a” and then the three 4’s (444) sounds like “lit-tle lamb” and then again with three 2’s (222) is again “lit-tle lamb” and then the 4 on the low string and the two 2’s on the next string sound like the final “lit-tle lamb”. Notice how the last two notes are on the next string. This would be the second string from the closest string to you. It is also the second thickest string on the guitar.

Remember: With Guitar Tab you must already be familiar with the melody and rhythm of the song because even though the Tab shows you which notes to play to make the song, it does not show you how ‘long’ to hold each note in order to make the song sound right. For example, reading the above song ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ by just playing all the notes in a row without giving the proper time for each note would not sound very much like that song at all! You should know when to put a pause in between ‘little lamb’ and the next ‘little lamb’. Also, you should know that the last ‘lamb’ is held for a slightly longer amount of time than the rest.

Here is a scale study for the guitar. This will sound like (Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do) It is know as the ‘Major Scale’ and plays a HUGE part in music in general.

It is also a great finger strengthening exercise for the guitar player. This requires you to play on three strings. Frets #3 and 5 on the Low string. Followed by Frets #2, 3 and 5 on the very next string. Lastly, frets # 2, 4, 5 on the 3rd string. Executed correctly it should sound like Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do.

_________________________________________High string

_________________________________________

_____________2_4_5_______________________

______2_3_5______________________________

_3_5_____________________________________Low String

As stated before, it is not intended for you to become a master overnight. But, with this information and the fabulous world of the internet and countless resources available you can take this as far as you want. Many famous musicians to this day do not know how to read music and 99% of them know Tab and can learn a song or solo quickly by reading the Tab.

There are SO many free websites that have the Tab to almost every song! Go to Google and type in Guitar Tab for (song you want to learn) and it will surely pop right up. Remember that the bottom line is the string closest to you…Don’t let that fool you. The Top Line is the guitar string closest to the floor. We didn’t even play on that string this lesson.

Summary

You now know how to play the very popular riff for ‘Smoke on the Water’

You know how to play a ‘major scale’ which is the foundation for modern music.

You know how to play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’

You know how to read Guitar Tab!

You can now go look up the Tab for any song you want to learn for free online!

Check the rest of this learning package. Visit http://www.learneasyguitar.net for more lessons and resources

Tags: learn to play guitar tab, learn to play guitar tabs, learn to play songs using guitar tab