What is Tablature?

Tablature is a method of writing music for fretted stringed instruments. The lines of the "staff" represent the strings of the instrument. For example, guitar tablature has 6 lines, banjo tablature has 5 lines, and mandolin tablature has 4 lines. The lowest string is on the bottom, and the highest string is on the top.

The example on the right shows a section of guitar tab. The first measure has 4 single notes, played one after the other, and the second measure shows a chord, where all the notes are played at the same time.

The tab on the right shows that you play the 3rd fret of the low E string, then the 2nd fret of the A string, then the open D string, then the open G string. Notice that in this tab, the notes, or tunings, of the strings is shown at the left side of the tab.

Timing in Tablature

Tablature is divided into measures, which are shown by vertical lines. Each measure contains a certain number of beats, and each measure is the same, unless the time signature changes.

The time signature is shown as a "fraction", like 4/4. The top number shows the number of beats in the measure, and the bottom number shows which note gets one beat. In 4/4 time then, there are 4 beats in a measure, and the quarter-not (1/4) gets one beat. The quarter-note is indicated by a single line connected to the number. In the tab on the right, you'll see a measure of 4/4 time, with four quarter notes.