Text-based Tablature Key

(Click the TextTab items on the left sidebar to view the tablature.)

Text-based tab isn't the most elegant way communicate ideas, but it's a quick way to generate useful examples in web pages. Look at the tablature staff below and note the tablature symbols used for TextTab posted on this site:

Time Signature

In the sample tab staff below, notice that the first line of text begins with "4/4." This is the time signature. The first 4 indicates that there are 4 beats per measure and the second 4 means that a quarter note gets one beat.

Rhythm

The rhythm is notated above the tab staff. It tells you when to pick a note or chord and how long to hold it. The following symbols are used:

	The Quarter Note tells you to pick the note and hold it for one beat.
	The Half Note tells you to pick the note and hold it for two beats.
	The Whole Note tells you to pick the note and hold it for four beats.

4/4    |   |   |            |   |   |         
       *   *   o            *   *   o            o
E-|---12------10-------|--------------------|-------------||
C-|---12--12--10-------|---12------10-------|----5--------||
A-|-------12--10-------|---12--12--10-------|-------------||
G-|---12---------------|--------------------|----5--------||
E-|-------12-----------|---12--12--10-------|----5--------||
C-|--------------------|-------12-----------|-------------||
      C7                                         F

Now you're ready to try some of the TextTab exercises listed (see the left sidebar listing). I promise I will post more of these soon!