explaining tabs

[boris]

I didn't want to start a new thread but where to put this one: I'm not a musician, so could someone please in a few words explain in a general way how to read the tabs? Just to have an idea........

[Liz]

There is a grouping of 6 lines. Each line on the music represents a string on the guitar. The top line is the bottom string of the guitar. The next line down represents the next string up on the guitar. This sounds silly until you consider that when you play, you are looking at the guitar neck upside down. So the bottom string when you are playing looks like the top string when you look down at it. (Sorry this description is complicated.)

If you are supposed to play a note on a string, there is a number on the line. That number tells you which fret to put your finger on to play the note. If you are supposed to play more than one note at once, the numbers will be in a column on the lines.

This way, you don't need to know what notes you are playing. The tab just tells you where to put your fingers on the neck of the guitar. So if you can't read music, you can still play the guitar.

Hope this helps!

[Adam Solomon]

great description liz gave in addition, there are a bunch of commonly used symbols...i'd explain them all, but i'll be pretty much out of commission until my AP World History test on wednesday...can someone link to a good tab explanation, with all the symbols and whatnot?

[boris]

Thank you very much! That indeed helped. I now have an idea what it means + I had none before (hope that doesn't sound too stupid but it's like that)!

[Liz]

Doesn't sound stupid to me! I wouln't have known what to make of them either had I not taken lessons. I would imagine there are some good books out there that would go into more detail. I wouldn't be surprised if your local library had some, in case you wanted to know more.

[boris]

How are doing this, Adam? Are you copying the tabs from the books that are existing (NF + Borrasca, I think)? I'm asking cause some songs that interest me are on Opium, is there a chance to see the tabs one day? I mean, as you know I'm not a musician. But in some songs is happening something + I would like to understand what.
Okay, sometimes I think I don't want to know it, just experience the mystic + magic of OLs music.....

[Adam Solomon]

I would never copy tabs from OLs books without his permission. You can buy them online. I only post here fan tabs from around the internet, and that fans here have made (although I've had no time to contribute yet, sorry!).