Two methods of music notation are presented in this book; namely notes and tablature. You need only use one of these methods*, whichever is most convenient (if you are not familiar with note reading follow the tablature outlined in the following paragraphs).
Tablature is a method of indicating the position of notes on the fretboard. are four "tab" lines, each representing one of the four strings on the bass.
When a number is placed on one of the lines, it indicates the fret location of a note, e.g.:
This indicates the 3rd fret of the second string (an F note).
This indicates the 7th fret of the 4th string (a B note).
This indicates the open third string (an A note)
The tablature, as used in this book, does not indicate the time values of the notes, only their position on the fretboard. You can read the time values by following the count written beneath the tablature, e.g.:
In this example, the first note is worth one count, the second and third notes are worth half a count each and the fourth note is worth two counts.
The small number in the count is used to indicate where a note is being held or where a rest occurs.