In Tablature Part 2 we left off at reading/writing Embellishments on a Tab - hammer ons, pull-off, slurs and so on. These notes can be further embellished with further helpful signs, such as H for hammer the note, P means a pull-off and so on. A good Tab book will explain them all to you at the start of the tutor. They are easy to learn and instantly recognize-able - here's a quick example of how a hammer-on would be written -

You play the D string on the second fret, and hammer on to the fourth fret.

If hammer ons and pull-offs are alien to you, and you want to learn about them, get yourself that basic primer to fill in the gaps.

Ok we have the notes, now we need a rhythm. As mentioned, this can be written directly on the Guitar Tablature, or sometimes Standard Notation of the same piece is written above too.

This gives you the necessary rhythm pattern. But what if you don't have years of music reading or indeed any, under your belt?

Well that's where you can use another method to pick up the rhythm, and one that I think is an even stronger way to do it - Listen to the record or piece of music alongside with studying the guitar tablature.

This gives you that vital ear training, which no amount of reading can achieve. I'm not saying that you shouldn't learn how to read music, but sometimes it is not a necessary requirement for a student or player of the guitar. You could ask Sir Paul McCartney on that one if you can get hold of him! ;-).

If he's not available, maybe another non-reader can shed some light on the subject - A certain Mr. Edward Van Halen doesn't read or need a note.

Better not ask a super guitar player, transcriber and reader like Steve Vai or his ilk ;-).

I think that being able to read standard notation certainly is a big plus, if not an indispensible tool for SOME players, but not all.

When classical music was at it's height a few hundred odd years ago, Standard Notation was a must because there was no other way to record what a person had composed. But nowadays, a lot of popular and excellent music doesn't require it - the times they are a' changin' as the man said.

I don't think music notation skills are a requirement for a band like P!nk, U2 or Coldplay, but many hot players like Jeff Berlin, Steve Vai and many more, strongly recommend that you do learn it. I suppose it's up to you and the type of music you want to play.

Either way, a knowledge of Guitar Tablature is a handy tool to possess.

See you in the last part of this little series on tab basics where we'll be wrapping things up ... ciou 4 now and don't 4get that daily practice at the start in particular is the key. Any Recording related Q's or Tips? Please post them on our BellaOnline Musician's Forum - thanx.

Go to Guitar Tablature Part #4

Regards

David