Guitars are one of the best instruments because they are completely portable. Get an acoustic one, and you can bring it with you on dates, whip it out at house parties, or even take it with you on a road trip.
It also makes it so easy to woo your data no matter where you are. A private performance – even if you don’t sing – is a great way to set the mood and make your special someone feel special. Before you go about serenading anyone, however, you’ll want to follow this guide on how to learn to play and read tabs:
What are Tabs?
Tabs, which is short for tablature, is a simplified way of playing guitar. While it’s always good practice to learn how to read traditional sheet music, with guitar, you can speed things along by simply opting to learn tabs.
Once you get the hang of how to read and play these guitar notes, you can then pick up tab sheet music which helps you quickly learn how to play many popular songs today.
Guitar Basics You Need to Know First
To learn how to use those tabs, you first need to learn how to play the guitar. The most important elements of learning guitar include:
Tuning: By turning the tuning pegs at the headstock of the guitar you can change the tuning so your notes are higher, or lower, depending on how tight the strings are.
Basic Chords: You’ll want to learn how to play basic open chords. Start by playing G, C, D, and Em, as these are used in most songs today. Open chords mean playing without pressing down on the strings at the neck, so they’re easy to start with.
Strumming Patterns: How you strum leads to different patterns and rhythms.
How to Learn Tabs
Once you have the basics of learning guitar, you can then start to learn tabs. Learning tabs can help you quickly pick up new songs so it’s easier to woo your date with new music, rather than a one-time event.
First Up, What Tabs Are Not
First things first, it’s important to remember that tabs don’t tell you things like the rhythm, the phrasing, or even the dynamics of a song. This makes them unsuitable for intricate solos or classical pieces. What they’re great for, however, is for helping you quickly learn how to play modern songs, particularly ones you know well, since you can match the rhythm with your mind’s ear.
Learning Tabs: Top Tips
Now that you know more about what taps are used for, it’s time to break down how to read them, so you can start learning how to play:
Tab Lines: The horizontal lines represent a string, with the thickest string at the bottom (the low E) and the highest E being the thinnest.
Fret Numbers: The numbers on the lines let you know which fret you need to press. 0 means it’s open.
To learn how to read tabs and play them, you need to become familiar with which lines mean which note, learn where to position your fingers, and how to strum along. Starting with songs you know that are very easy is a great place to start, and as you get used to the tabs, you can then start to put more of your own flair into your music.
