Tab - What does this mean?

Posted on August 2, 2007
Filed Under Tabs - Understanding |

What do the letters mean like the song?
Example:
e |——————————————————————|X2
B |——————————————————————B|
G |——————————————————————-|
D |——–6———4———6——-4p2—————————-|
A |-0-0-2—–0-0-2—–0-0-2—-0-0-2——————————–|
E |——————————————————————-| Caleb
 
Caleb,

The letters on the left side of the diagram are the names of the strings - the notes that each string is tuned to. The lower case “e” is the 1st string (unwound), the B is the 2nd unwound string, G is the thinnest wound string, etc.

I think the “x2″ on the right side of the diagram means to play the phrase twice.

The numbers on the strings tell you which fret to push down to make the note you need.

The “4p2″ on the D string means that you play the note on the 4th fret of that string then do a “pull off” to the 2nd fret. A pull-off is accomplished by plucking the first note then pulling your finger off of that fret while your finger is already pressing down on the lower fret. This enables the string to keep ringing without have to pluck it again.

Happy Pickin’
John

Comments

One Response to “Tab - What does this mean?”

  1. Lizzy on January 13th, 2008 1:16 pm

    Hi,
    I am a beginner trying to learn to play an accoustic guitar.
    I note that you say,The letters on the left side of the diagram are the names of the strings - the notes that each string is tuned to. The lower case “e” is the 1st string (unwound), the B is the 2nd unwound string, G is the thinnest wound string, etc.
    First of all I thought the first string e was the thinnest?
    could you please explain what you mean by unwound in reference to lower E and B.
    tHANKS

    Lizzy,

    On an acoustic guitar the four lowest sounding strings are wound and the two highest sounding strings are unwound. All metal guitar strings have a steel core. The diameter of each core varies slightly. The lower strings have thicker diameters. For the lower sounding strings an additional coating of metal (brass or bronze) is wrapped around that core. The higher strings don’t have any additional wrapping.

    John

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