What do symbols mean on tab?

Guitar tab symbols are symbols that tell the guitar player what to do when reading guitar tablature. The symbols may represent a bend, a palm mute, a hammer on, pull off, vibrato, and more. The line at the bottom represents the 6th string, or the low E string, which is the thickest string on your guitar.

How do you read tab notations?

Guitar TAB Symbols Summary

1. h = hammer-on.
2. p = pull-off.
3. b = bend.
4. / = slide up.
5. \ = slide down.
6. PM – – – – = palm muting (above or below TAB)
7. ~~~ = vibrato.
8. x = muted hit.

What is musical tablature notation?

Tablature, system of musical notation based on a player’s finger position, as opposed to notes showing rhythm and pitch. Tablatures were used for lute and keyboard music during the Renaissance and Baroque eras.

What does a diamond mean on tabs?

Band Diamonds means to hold each chord change (typically halves or wholes). It is normally notated with a diamond-shaped open head note, hence the lingo.

What do bars under guitar tabs mean?

Tab appears underneath conventional music notation as six horizontal lines that represent the strings of the guitar, from the sixth (thick) string at the bottom to the first (thin) string at the top. On these lines, numbers represent the frets where you should place your fingers. Unfretted strings are shown with a ‘0’.

Why is it called tablature?

The word tablature originates from the Latin word tabulatura. Tabula is a table or slate, in Latin. To tabulate something means to put it into a table or chart.

What is a legato slide?

A slur (curved line indicating notes that are to be articulated with either a hammer-on, pull-off, or slide) along with a diagonal line indicates a legato slide. This means that you pick the first note and then slide into the second without picking the second note.

What is a ghost note on guitar?

Put simply, a ghost note is a percussive hit on the guitar with no pitch. So, when you mute the strings with your fretting hand, and strike them with the plectrum, that is a ghost note. They are ghost notes. You strum the strings shown, but don’t actually fret a chord.

What’s a pull-off on guitar?

Pull-offs allow guitarists to play two or more notes with just one pick. In its most basic sense, a pull-off is executed by striking the string and, while the note is ringing, releasing the fretting finger which allows the next note—an open string or note a finger further down the neck is holding—to sound.

What are the notes connected with in tablature?

Notes connected with slurs (not to be confused with ties) in the tablature or standard notation are to be articulated with either a hammer-on, pull-off, or slide. Lower notes slurred to higher notes are played as hammer-ons; higher notes slurred to lower notes are played as pull-offs.

What kind of notation do you use for a guitar?

Tablature 101. Tablature, or tab, is a notation method used by stringed instruments to learn a song quickly. For guitar, it consists of six horizontal lines, which represents the strings of the guitar.

How is tablature written on an acoustic guitar?

The standard notation and tablature is written as if the capo were the nut of the guitar. For instance, a tune capoed anywhere up the neck and played using key-of-G chord shapes and fingerings will be written in the key of G. Likewise, open strings held down by the capo are written as open strings.

What are the first seven notes in tablature?

You only need to concern yourself with the tablature staff for this exercise. Playing the First Measure (The notes before the first bar line – first seven notes) Play the 3rd fret of the 5th string. Play the open 4th string. Play the 2nd fret of the 4th string. Play the 3rd fret of the 4th string. Play the open 3rd string.