How to Read Music
Good guitarists are able to move freely between chords and single notes. To do this well, you need to understand how the notes relate to the chords; and this in turn requires a basic knowledge of music theory. The first step is learning to read music.
There are two methods used to write guitar music: the traditional music notation method (using music notes,3) and tablature. Both are used in this book but you need only use one of them. Most guitarists find tablature easier to read. However, it is important to learn to read traditional music notation as well. Nearly all sheet music is written in traditional notation. Even if you don’t read well, you will need a basic knowledge of how rhythms are written.
Tablature
Tablature is a method of indicating the position of notes on the fretboard. There are six "tab" lines, each representing one of the six strings of the guitar. Study the following diagram.
The Left Hand
The left hand fingers are numbered as such:
When a number is placed on one of the lines, it indicates the fret location of a note e.g.:
This indicates the open (unfretted) 3rd string (a G note).
This indicates the 3rd fret of the 5th string (a C note).
This indicates the 1st fret of the 1st string (an F note).
Tablature Symbols
The following tablature symbols are used throughout this book.
The Hammer-on
A curved line and the letter H indicates a hammer-on. The first note is played but the second note is produced by hammering on the left hand finger which plays the second note.
The Pull-off
A curved line and the letter P indicates a pull-off. The first note is played but the second note is produced by pulling off the finger which is playing the first note.
The Slide
The letter S and a straight line represents a slide. If the line comes from below the number, slide from a lower fret but if the line is above the number, slide from a higher fret. The third example shows the desired fret to slide from.
The Bend
The letter B and a curved arrow represents a bend. The note is played by the left hand finger which bends the string (from the note indicated in the tab).
The Release Bend
A curved arrow on the top left hand side of the number and the letter R indicates a release bend. This technique involves bending the note indicated with the left hand, plucking the string whilst bent, then returning the string to its normal position. The release bend creates a drop in pitch from a higher note to a lower note.
Vibrato
A wavy line shown above the tablature indicates when vibrato is used. Vibrato is controlled with the left hand finger which is fretting the note. As the finger frets the note move the finger rapidly back and forth in the direction of the adjacent strings.
