Guitar tablature is a graphic representation of the six strings on the guitar now the
bottom line is actually the thickest string on the guitar, the low E string or the sixth string. The
top line represents the thinnest string on the guitar or the high E the first string. So I get
when you're just looking at the guitar this way it kinda looks backwards huh. The sixth string is up
here on the guitar. Well think of it this way. Think of it as if you're looking at your guitar
kinda down like this. Now look at the sixth string is down on the bottom. If
I actually go this way you can't see it but I see the sixth string on the bottom.
If you ever forget that's a good way to remind yourself of what you're looking at
just turn your guitar this way and that's what you're looking at on the graphic.
My diagram is showing all six strings or six lines but I've also on the left hand side I've numbered
them and put the letter names as a reminder. Now in this new diagram, I've included the open
strings on the guitar in numbers. So the numbers mean this is the fret that you're playing that
note and they're all zeros that means they're all open strings. If you saw a different number
that would mean that's where you'd put your finger. So for an example, on the sixth string
if that zero was actually a three you'd put your finger on the third fret of the sixth string.
Let's go ahead and play each of these six strings. We'll start with that first note. It's open E
or low E the sixth string. Now the fifth string also known as A, the fourth string. I hope you're
playing along with me. I know it seems simple but it'll help it all come together. Third string
also known as G. The second string it's B and then E, call it high E or I often write it with a
lowercase letter to indicate the high E and uppercase letter to indicate the low E. Low E is
the thickest string, it's also the lowest string and when we say low we're talking low in pitch
not physically low obviously it's up higher on the guitar but physically it's the lowest pitch.
Check out this new diagram. Now I'm showing you the actual chord names above the tablature
as well as a pattern that's what we call a block chord pattern.
It means I'm playing several notes at one time. So try this out with me.
First of all, go ahead and make a G chord. Now I often just make the full chord but in
this case we're not going to play that first string so if you don't want to put a finger
there don't worry about it then go ahead and plant your fingers. The thumb will go on the
sixth string and the three fingers will go on strings 4 3 and 2. They're prepared now
to pluck. So you'll notice in the left hand the third finger is on the third fret of the
sixth string hence the number three and the three zeros in a row mean those are three open strings.
Let's go ahead and play this chord now according to the tablature and that means you'll first
pluck the bass note. Notice they're not all together and now you pluck all three open strings
and we're going to repeat that. Get ready. Plant, base note and pluck.
Now we'll go on to the next measure which is a C chord. Let's form the C chord first
and again we may not pluck all these notes. In this case we're just going to leave out
the first string again. Plant your right hand. Your thumb goes on the fifth string. The rest
of the fingers go on 4 3 and 2 like before. Now look at that tablature again you'll notice
that the number three on that fifth string means that's the third fret and my third
finger is there. Now I've also got a two on the fourth string that's the second finger
A zero on the third string that's open and a one on the second string that's the first fret.
Let's get ready to play it together. Let's start with the bass pluck
good and now the fingers all together again base and pluck.
You just played that measure. Let me go ahead and play a short clip with me playing
this basic pattern. Now take a close look at the numbers as I play it and compare it to my fingers.
This next one is very similar to the one we just did the same chords but now instead of
block chords we're playing an arpeggio that just means it's a chord broken up one note at a time.
Instead of playing all three notes together we're going to play one at a time. Let's do it together.
Go ahead and form your G chord and plant your hand just like before, thumb on the sixth string. Your
fingers are on four three and two. Now we're going to start out by plucking the sixth string again.
You see a three because the third fret in my left hand and then pluck one note at the time four,
three and two that's the strings. I'm calling out and that's common with fingerstyle guitar.
You call it the string names when you're finger picking. Let's do it again. Pluck bass
now four, three and two. Let's go on to the C chord form. Your C chord.
Plant your hand thumbs on the fifth string this time. Ready pluck four
three and two. Plant again and I'll call it the string names five four
three two. Now the tablature is telling you to put your third finger on the third fret and so on. I'm
calling out the string names as well which is kind of a way to communicate the order of the strings
that you play and is a common way to also indicate finger picking patterns. I'm going to go ahead and
play this one also. Watch both the tablature and my fingers and see how they connect together.
Thanks for joining me today. It's been fun. If you'd like to stay in touch,
become a Real Guitar insider. It's easy and there's no charge. I'll put a link
in the description and maybe somewhere up there. See you again soon. Bye for now.