Tablature is one of the oldest forms of written music...it is a visual approach to reading music that gives you an exact position of finger placement on your instrument's fingerboard. There are many advantages of tablature that many are not aware of...for instance, if you use different tunings, tablature does not deviate from the standard number positioning; whereas, standard notation has to be re-learned for every tuning. Additionally, standard notation requires a roman numeral positioning to denote where to place your fingers. Tablature is much more direct. Ultimately, it's best to become well-versed in both standard notation and tablature. Notice below that the standard notation is written out in notes and the tablature, below the standard notation stave, is written out in numbers.

The numbers in between the staves represent the beats...and the letters, "D" and "U", represent the pick direction of the flatpick.

The letters to the left of each line (see above) represent the name of the string. The "O"s represent that the E string is played open. In the guitar tab representation above, the top line represents the "E" string...the next below the "E" would be the "B" string...the next below the "B" would be the "G" string...and the next below the "G" string would be the "D" string...and the next below the "D" string would be the "A" string...and the next below the "A" string would be the "E" string... So visually, you're looking at the guitar strings, as represented by these lines, as upside down. The numbers below all of the lines: 1 2 3 4 represent the timing of the piece. If you were to tap your foot in a rhythmic manner as you count to four methodically, you have the beat of the piece. In this case, above, it would be 4/4 timing. In the case of waltz timing you would have a count of 1 2 3 for each measure. You'll notice also the line that separates the two measures that run vertically through the tablature. This line divides each measure so that you can always tell how many beats are in a measure. If this was a waltz (3/4) piece, it would look like the following:



Adding Notes to the Tablature
We will now incorporate notes or finger positions to the tablature which will be represented by numbers on each line. Following is a simple guitar exercise that incorporates the numbering we are discussing. Each number will represent what note to be played. For instance, a number "1" means to place your finger behind the first fret of the string the tablature line represents. A number "3" would mean to place your finger behind the 3rd fret of the string being represented by the line it's placed on...for example, if a "1" is on the top line, you will play the "E" string at the 1st fret. If a "2" is on the third line from the top, you will place your finger behind the 2nd fret on the "G" string. A "0" would mean the string would be played open without fretting.

The next exercise below takes you through each string methodically in a 4/4 timing. As you're tapping your foot to a count of "4" you'll also notice the "&" ampersand which represents the off beat between each tap of your foot. Each downbeat would be a downstroke with your right hand; each off beat, represented by the "&" symbol, would be played with an upstroke with your right hand (unless you're left handed and then you would be picking with your left hand). As you play this exercise, you'll want to learn proper positioning of your fingers...A great starting place would be to place your hand at the first position, near the nut and determine which finger falls naturally over the designated fret. In the above exercise each number would represent the fretting hand finger as follows:

1 would be the First finger: index

2 would be the Second finger: middle

3 would be the Third finger: ring finger

4 would be the Fourth finger: little finger

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