One of the most exciting thing when you learn how to play the guitar is being able to play your favourite songs. Most people, when they first begin, share this yearning to play their favourite songs by their favourite bands on guitar. While the final target while you learn how to play the guitar is to learn how to read music, the simplest way for newbies to learn playing songs quickly is to find how to read guitar tabs.

Guitar tablature is very similar to sheet music, only you do not always have to know the notes and values of conventional sheet music to read tablature. One of the most important difference there is between sheet music and tabs is that sheet music has only 5 lines, while guitar tabs have 6 lines, each representing a string on the guitar.

Reading Guitar Tabs : Step 1 - Learning the Strings

One of the first things you will have to know to learn the way to read guitar tabs is the way the strings ( the six lines ) are arranged in the tablature. The E string which is the thinnest string is at the top, followed by the B string, the G string, the D string, the A string, and then the broadest string which is at the bottom named the low E.

Step 2 - Learning the Frets

The next step in learning the easiest way to read guitar tabs is to find out what all the numbers mean that are on the various lines ( strings ) of the tablature.

The numbers located on the lines represent frets on your guitar. Frets are the spaces between the little metal bars on the fingerboard of your guitar. If there is a number 5 on the line that represents the low E string, this means you press the low E string down on the fifth fret and play that note. Occasionally when a specific guitar chord is tabbed out, there will be a few strings with the "x" on it in between some of the notes of the chord. This implies that those strings are not to be played as part of that entire chord. If you see a "b", this means the note bends ; if you see an "r", it implies to release the bend. An "h" stands for hammer-on and a "p" for pull-ff. A "/" indicates a slide. If you see a"pm", this stands for palm-mute and if you find "t", this stands for tap. Refer your favourite "how to play guitar" guide for detailed illustrations of how to play what those symbols are indicating. Check out my favourite list of resources right below this article.

One of the most important skill that a beginner can develop in his goal to learn how to play the guitar is the ability to learn the guitar tabs. Once you've acquired this valuable ability, you are going to be able to start learning some of your favourite songs, and your practice time will change into a whole lot more fun. Learning the way to read guitar tabs will put the wind in your sails as you endeavor to learn how to play the guitar become a true guitar hero.

Have fun!

If you are interested in learning guitar refer our review guides to learn playing guitar. Also read some free tutorials and articles to learn guitar.