| Intro | | | | measure. The bottom number tells which note gets |
| Every musician should know how to read some sort | | | | the beat and the top note tells how many beats are |
| of music. Guitar players can read either tablature or | | | | in a measure. Other common time signatures are 5/4 |
| regular sheet notation music. Tab is quick and easy | | | | ¾ 7/8 and 9/8. When there is an 8 on the |
| but has several downfalls. The best way is to learn | | | | bottom it means that an eighth note gets the beat. |
| both of them. | | | | So in 7/8 time there would be 7 eighth notes, or the |
| Reading TAB | | | | equivilent length before a new measure starts. |
| Tab consists of 6 lines, each one represents each of | | | | A common type of symbol is the glissando or slide. |
| the six strings on the guitar. The bottom line is the | | | | This is when one note is played and then the finger it |
| lowest E string. As you go up the lines you get the | | | | slid up to the next note freting (not plucking) each |
| rest of the strings on the guitar, A, D, G, B, and e. | | | | note in between, this is shown by a / when you slide |
| There are also number in tab that tell you which fret | | | | up and a when you slide down the fret board. You |
| to put your finger on. If numbers are stacked on top | | | | may also see a sideways parenthesis over two or |
| of each other it means play them at the same time, | | | | more notes, this means to play hammer-ons and |
| or like a chord. There are other various symbols you | | | | pull-offs. When you play these, fret the next note |
| will need to know in tab but these two items are the | | | | but don't pluck it. |
| basics. | | | | When you see numbers stacked on top of each |
| Time Signatures | | | | other, it means to play them all at the same time, |
| Music is divided up into several different sections, the | | | | also called a chord. When there are Xs it means to |
| simplest section is called the measure. One measure | | | | mute the strings. Mute the strings by putting your |
| contains a certain amount of notes depending on | | | | fingers over them so they don't vibrate. |
| what the time signature is. The time signature will tell | | | | At first this should feel like a ton of information. Like |
| us how many notes it takes to fill up a whole | | | | any new hobby or skill you learn, everything you |
| measure. | | | | read at first will seem very confusing and |
| Time signatures are shown by a fraction. The most | | | | complicated. |
| common time signature is 4/4 or common time. This | | | | Good luck! |
| 4/4 fraction means that there is 4 quarter notes per | | | | |
