Learn how to read guitar tabs and play like a pro!

Figuring out how to read guitar tabs is not really difficult. It's a lot easier than reading music. It is a visual interpretation of the fretboard and your finger position.

Tablature is basically looking down on your guitar neck with the head stock to your left. The strings run from low E on the bottom to high E on the top of the tab.

Here's how it looks...

On the D minor chord in the upper left, the low E and the A string are mute. The open D string (noted by the "O" symbol above the nut) is played. Your second finger goes on the second fret of the G string (forming an A note), your third finger goes on the third fret, B string (forming a D note), and your first finger goes on the first fret of the high E string (forming an F note).

Viola, a D minor chord!

Follow the instructions for the D minor chord for the rest of the diagrams. Check out more chord diagrams on the internet and you'll learn how to read guitar tabs in no time.

Once you get the hang on how to read guitar tabs, it's easy to play almost any song the first try. It might not sound great the first time, but at least you have the basic chords to sound decent.

Sometimes the lead on some songs are difficult to play by reading the tab. Usually it doesn't sound right.

That may be from the person tabbing the song. They may tab it out on one position on the guitar neck whereas the original player might have played it in a different position.

It also may be their educated guess on where the solo finger position should be. Anyways keep that in mind, you might find a better way to play it. So go with it!

When learning how to read guitar tabs, you will find certain types of characters and notations that are specific to tabs.

Give it a shot, when you learn how to read guitar tabs and with a little practice, your confidence will soar and you'll be playing all the songs you ever wanted to!

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