Guitar tablature, often called “tabs,” provides a simplified way to read music for stringed instruments like the guitar. Unlike traditional sheet music, tabs represent the instrument’s strings using horizontal lines and indicate the fret numbers to be played on each string. This system allows musicians to quickly understand where to place their fingers without needing to read complex pitch notation. A variety of symbols are used alongside the numbers, instructing the player on how to execute the notes.
The Meaning of the ‘X’ Symbol
The ‘X’ symbol universally signifies a “dead note” or a muted string. This means the string is struck but prevented from resonating a clear pitch, producing a subtle, rhythmic “thud” sound instead of a musical tone. To achieve this, the fretting hand lightly rests on the strings without pressing them down to the fretboard.
When a single ‘X’ appears on one string within a chord, it indicates that string should be muted. This is done to clean up playing, ensuring only the intended chord tones ring out. If a sequence of ‘X’s appears across all six lines, it instructs the player to strum all strings while they are completely muted, creating a percussive effect.
This percussive strumming is used in genres like funk, reggae, and rock to provide a rhythmic, non-pitched accompaniment. The player’s goal is to create a muted sound, often described as a “chk” or “chaka,” which adds texture and groove.
Symbols for Connecting Notes
Symbols for connecting notes create a smooth, flowing sound known as legato. The hammer-on, symbolized by ‘h’ between two fret numbers (e.g., 5h7), requires the player to strike the first note and then sound the second, higher note by tapping a finger onto the specified fret without picking again.
The pull-off, indicated by a ‘p’ (e.g., 7p5), is the reverse action, sounding a lower note after a higher one. The player picks the higher note and then quickly “pulls” the finger off the string, allowing the lower note to sound. Both techniques increase playing speed and create a continuous, fluid musical line.
Sliding is another common method, represented by a diagonal slash. An ascending slide uses a forward slash (e.g., 5/7), requiring the player to strike the note and glide the finger up to the higher fret while maintaining pressure. Conversely, a descending slide uses a backslash (e.g., 7\5), moving the finger down the fretboard. These slides convey a smooth, glissando-like transition between pitches, often used in blues and lead guitar phrasing.
Symbols for Modifying Pitch and Tone
Symbols can also alter the pitch or tone quality of a single note. The most common is the bend, marked by a ‘b’ (e.g., 7b9), which instructs the player to push or pull the string after fretting to raise the pitch. The number following the ‘b’ indicates the target pitch. A “full” bend raises the pitch by a whole step (two frets), and a “1/2” bend raises it by a half step (one fret).
A pre-bend requires the player to bend the string before striking it. A subsequent ‘r’ (release) instructs the player to lower the pitch back down to the original note. These techniques manipulate string tension to achieve specific pitch modulations, giving the guitar a vocal-like quality.
Vibrato, shown as a ‘v’ or a wavy line (~) after a number, involves rapidly and subtly varying the pitch of a sustained note. This oscillation adds warmth and expression, commonly used at the end of musical phrases.
A trill (‘tr’) indicates a rapid, continuous alternation between the fretted note and another note. This is typically accomplished with a series of quick hammer-ons and pull-offs.