How To Read Tab...?

[neoism]

hey can any one teach me how to read guitar tabs...?

for example here's a intro tabs of the song Lost by a7x...

e|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

B|-----------------------------------12/15----------------------------------|

G|---7----9---10---9---7---9--10-10/14--------------------------------------|

D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

D|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

thanks...!

[Jules]

Hey,

Each line obviously represents a string. So the 1st line is the first string etc.

So for this song you would go to the third string and go down to the seventh fret on that string. That's the first note, then you go would go up two frets to the 9, etc. etc.

[thelevellers]

One thing not covered there is the little symbols for techniques...

In the example tab, for instance, they have two '/' in there, in most tablature this means that you should slide between the notes. That is to say, A--2/3-- means play the second fret on the A string, then slide (change fret without releasing the note, so the tone slides up, instead of instantly changing) to the third fret.

Different tabbers use slightly different symbols, but here are a few common ones:

'~' = Vibrato (striking the note and then wobbling your finger to make the note quaver)

'x' = dead note or 'Scratch' note (lightly rest your fingers over the strings then strum, it should produce a 'scratch' or 'click' type noise)

'h' or 'p' (as in A--2h3-- or A--3p2--) = hammer on or pull off (strike the first note and then fret the next with enough force and precision to make it sound)

Is that clearer, or more confusing?!? Lol!

Ask away if there's more, or for better explanations

[Jules]

I usually use "~" to mean hold the note, rather than vibrato. I use a "v" for vibrato e.g. 5v

Guess each to his own.

[neoism]

thanks every one...!