In addition to the standard music notation, some instruments have a simplified system for written music called tablature. Where standard notation is valid for nearly any instrument, tablature is used mainly for stringed instruments including guitar, bass, and mandolin. It requires a slightly different system for each instrument.
Tablature is sometimes called tab – the terms are interchangeable. Let’s take a look at some examples of tab.
Figure 1 shows two blank measures of tab for guitar. Notice that there are six horizontal lines. This is different from the five lines in standard notation. The reason for this is that in standard notation the horizontal lines represent note names where in tablature the lines each represent a different string on the instrument.
Figure 1: Tablature
The bottom line represents the lowest string on the guitar – the low E or 6th string. This is the string closest to the ceiling. The next lowest line represents the low A or 5th string and so on until you reach the top line of tab which is the high E or 1st string of the guitar.
Figure 2 shows some measures of tab with some numbers on them. These numbers represent the fret of the instrument. So in the first measure you would play the open 6th string twice, then the third fret on the sixth string then the fourth fret on the sixth string. Finally in the second measure you play the open sixth string again.
Figure 2: Another tab example
Notice that there is really no timing information indicated. This is often true of tab. It is often useful when you are learning a song which you are already familiar with or if you have a recording of the song. However, not having timing information forces you to do some guesswork if you do not know the song.
Sometimes the notes indicate some timing information by spacing the notes farther apart when they are longer and spacing short notes more closely together. Tablature is sometimes written with vertical lines above or below the note to look like the stem on quarter notes (figure 3, measure one). Or they may have vertical lines joined by a horizontal bar to look like eighth notes (figure 4 measure one).
Figure 3: quarter notes in tab
Figure 4: eighth notes in tab
Tab works the same way for bass guitar. The standard bass has only four strings so the tablature has only four lines. Mandolin has four sets of unison strings so it too has four lines. Remember the bottom line on the tablature represents the string closest to the ceiling.
Tab can be written for violin even though the instrument has no frets. Open strings are of course indicated by zeroes. The first note on a given string is called one, then the next possible note is two and so one. Therefore, (if you are familiar with the notes on a violin) to indicate an F on the E string of a violin you would write a one on the top line of the violin tab.
Even with its drawbacks tablature is useful for quickly writing out parts for specific stringed instruments or for learning songs or solos with which you are already familiar. I find it a very valuable as a teaching tool. However, I always recommend that students learn standard notation as well as it opens up a lot of learning, playing and performance opportunities.
If you are interested in learning more check out my eBook “How to Read Music for Guitar, Bass and Mandolin” from which this article is excerpted. Click the Buy Now button below to purchase the eBook. Only 2.95!
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