So, you want to learn how to read tabs?
Let me guess, you recently purchased your first guitar and you want to learn how to play some songs.
The only problem is……
You can’t read tabs
Well, you are in luck!
In this article, I will show you how to read tabs.
And as a bonus, I included 25 easy guitar songs to learn. These songs were some of the first songs I learned how to play on the guitar.
These beginner guitar tabs
Learn the songs and impress your friends!
If you are looking for the best place to learn the guitar, check out JamPlay.
They have many of these songs on their website as lessons. While tab is a great way to learn how to play songs, video lessons are the best. Learn from the best instructors on the web, click here.
Needing a new guitar?
Check out Guitar Center. They have an amazing lineup of acoustic and electric guitars that can help you play the songs below. They have assistance available if you need any help finding a sweet new axe.
Everything YOU Need to Know About Chord Boxes and Tabs
Reading Chord Boxes
Before being able to read tablature, you should be comfortable about reading chord boxes. Essentially, a chord box shows you where to place your fingers to play a chord. In a chord box, the six lines represent the six strings on a guitar. EADGBE.
The Horizontal lines represent the different frets on the guitar.
Each of the dots represents the different places where your fingers are supposed to be. The number inside corresponds to what finger is supposed to be used.
1: Index Finger
2: Middle Finger
3: Ring Finger
4: Little Finger
The O above a string means that you should play the string.
The X above a string means that you shouldn’t play the string.
Reading Tab
TAB is a specific way of representing notes for a guitar. It is significantly easier to read than written notation.
TAB has six horizontal lines which represent the six strings on a standard guitar. The top represents the first string(e) and the bottom represents the sixth string(E)
The number on a horizontal line represents the fret that should be played. A 0 represents playing an open string.
Hammer On and Pull Offs
There are multiple ways to represent hammer on and pull offs. Probably the most common way is to have an h between notes for a hammer on and
An alternative method is using ^ for both a hammer on and a pull off.
Bends
The most common way to represent bends in tabs is to use b followed by the note you want to emulate.
For example, 2b4 means you would bend the second fret to sound like the fourth fret.
Slides
A slide is represented as / and the / represents sliding up the fretboard, the represents sliding down the fretboard.
Muted Notes
A muted note is represented as an X
Vibrato
A vibrato is represented as a v
Finger Tapping
Finger tapping is noted with a t
Harmonics
Harmonics are represented by <fret>
Switch your ears on too
What people have the most problem with in tabs is how long a note needs to be held down for. The only way to solve this problem is to listen to the song and hear how long a particular note is played. Then when you look back at the tab, you should have a general idea about how long a specific not should be played for.
Fonts for TAB (and what to do if it looks weird!)
When you copy and paste a tab, it might end up looking all messy and disorganized. You may want to change your font to Courier New. The tab now should line up and look organized
Should I learn to read notation or is TAB ok?
It is not necessary to learn notated music.
While you should eventually learn it, unless you play jazz or classical music it’s not worth the time for a general guitar player.
The time spent learning how to read notated music is better off spent practicing and improving skills such as speed and endurance.
You are welcome to learn it though, but as a hobby player it isn’t worth the time. It is your call though!
25 Easy Guitar Tabs
1. Albert King - Sky Is Crying
Year: 1969
Album: Years Gone By
Tuning: E standard
2. Alice in Chains - Man in the Box
Year: 1990
Album: Facelift
Tuning: Eb Standard
3. Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know?
Year: 2013
Album: AM
Tuning: E Standard
4. Blur - Song 2
Year: 1997
Album: Blur
Tuning: Drop D
5. Bon Jovi - It's My Life
Year: 2000
Album: Crush
Tuning: E Standard
6. Bring Me The Horizon - True Friends
Year: 2015
Album: That's the Spirit
Tuning: Drop D
7. Bryan Adams - Summer of 69
Year: 1984
Album: Reckless
Tuning: E standard
8. Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me
Year: 1987
Album: Coyote Ugly
Tuning: E Standard
9. Evanescence - Bring Me To Life
Year: 2003
Album: Fallen
Tuning: Drop D
10. Everclear - Father Of Mine
Year: 1997
Album: So Much for the Afterglow
Tuning: E standard
11. Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Year: 2004
Album: Franz Ferdinand
Tuning: E Standard
12. Green Day - Basket Case
Year: 1994
Album: Dookie
Tuning: Eb standard
13. Jarvis Cocker - Angela
Year: 2009
Album: Further Complications
Tuning: E standard
14. Judas Priest - Breaking The Law
Year: 1980
Album: British Steel
Tuning: E standard
15. Linkin Park - What I've Done
Year: 2007
Album: Minutes to Midnight
Tuning: Drop D
16. Marilyn Manson - Sweet Dreams
Year: 1995
Album: Smells Like Children
Tuning: E Standard
17. Pixies - Where is my Mind?
Year: 1988
Album: Surfer Rosa
Tuning: E Standard
18. R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
Year: 1992
Album: Automatic for the People
Tuning: E standard
19. Ramones-Blitzkrieg Bop
Year: 1976
Album: Ramones
Tuning: E standard
20. The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Year: 1965
Album: Out of Our Heads
Tuning: E standard
21. The Black Keys - Next Girl
Year: 2010
Album: Brothers
Tuning: E Standard
22. The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
Year: 1980
Album: Boys Don't Cry
Tuning: E standard
23. The Lumineers - Ho Hey
Year: 2012
Album: The Lumineers
Tuning: E standard
24. The Kinks - Lola
Year: 1970
Album: Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One
Tuning: E standard
25. The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
Year: 2003
Album: Elephant
Tuning: E standard
Thanks for checking out the list!
If you are struggling to learn any of these songs, check out JamPlay. Their teachers can and will help you learn through the best guitar teaching videos on the internet.
Why struggle try learning from tab, when you can learn from a professional guitarist?
JamPlay has a 7-day money back guarantee so if it’s not for you, claim a refund and get your money back.
Don’t sit back and procrastinate learning guitar, learn from the best at no risk. I would 100% recommend JamPlay to both beginners and experts as it can cater to both needs.
Check it out today and further your guitar journey.
JamPlay is one of the best resources on the Internet for guitarists to learn the instrument. There are endless video lessons of songs and techniques from the best players around.
It is a virtual community filmed and recorded with the most professional quality and right now All Axess has a partnership for a free trial. Head on over to Jamplay.com to peruse their materials and get your free trial now!
If you are looking for a new guitar check out Guitar Center. They have the best prices on all the main brands.
Whether you are looking for an electric, acoustic or bass guitar they have you covered.
Their staff is friendly and are more than capable of helping you out for all your needs!
Best of luck learning these songs. Rock On M/
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