18 - How to Read Ukulele Tabs

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Photo credit Last week, I posted 3 Easy Songs You Can Fingerpick on Ukulele Today . When you download the sheet music for these songs, you are presented with a musical staff and tablature. After a couple emails, I realize we’ve looked at how to read music , but one thing we haven’t looked at yet is how to read tabs. Music tablature, or tab, is a simplified form of musical notation used for stringed instruments like the ukulele. Most people learn a new piece of music by using tab. Unlike a regular piece of music, tabs show you exactly where to play the notes on the fretboard. Let’s take a look at some examples of tablature. For the ukulele, in a piece of tablature, you will see four lines: A ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ E ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ C ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ g ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Each line represents a string on the ukulele. The top line represents the bottom string of the ukulele where the bottom line represents the top string of the ukulele. When you look at a piece of tab, you’ll see numbers scattered across the different “strings” or by Brett McQueen Log In Sign Up Lessons Songs Tools Blog More

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18/23

Transcript of 18 - How to Read Ukulele Tabs

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    Lastweek,Iposted3EasySongsYouCanFingerpickonUkuleleToday.

    Whenyoudownloadthesheetmusicforthesesongs,youarepresentedwithamusicalstaffandtablature.

    Afteracoupleemails,Irealizewevelookedathowtoreadmusic,butonethingwehaventlookedatyetishowtoreadtabs.

    Musictablature,ortab,isasimplifiedformofmusicalnotationusedforstringedinstrumentsliketheukulele.

    Mostpeoplelearnanewpieceofmusicbyusingtab.Unlikearegularpieceofmusic,tabsshowyouexactlywheretoplaythenotesonthefretboard.

    Letstakealookatsomeexamplesoftablature.

    !vrZN1DMcDuvqQDrZNr

    Fortheukulele,inapieceoftablature,youwillseefourlines:

    A

    E

    C

    g

    Eachlinerepresentsastringontheukulele.Thetoplinerepresentsthebottomstringoftheukulelewherethebottomlinerepresentsthetopstringoftheukulele.

    Whenyoulookatapieceoftab,youllseenumbersscatteredacrossthedifferentstringsor

    g|ug.QDP2bvcQcQ1DMr

    byBrettMcQueen

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    lines:

    3

    00

    00

    0

    Eachnumberreferstoafretnumber.

    Forexample,inthepieceoftababove,youwouldpluckthe3rdfretofthebottomstringontheukulele.Aswereadacrossthepieceoftab,weseethatwewouldthenplucktheopenEstring,thesecondtobottomstring.Then,wewouldplucktheopenCstring,thesecondtotopstring.Then,wewouldplucktheopenGstring,thetopstring.Andsoon

    g|ug8qZuQYgqPrZe!vrZN1DMcDuvqQ

    Inapieceoftab,youmightseeallthenumberslineupvertically:

    023032

    130021

    020022

    200220

    Whenyouseethis,thismeansyouplayachord.Inotherwords,youplayallthenotesverticallyalignedtogether.

    Intheaboveexample,weseethechordsplayedfromlefttoright:F,G,C,Am,D7,andG7.

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    Atthispoint,youshouldbeabletoreadtablikeapro,butthereareacouplemoresymbolsthatwewillseeonoccasion.

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    Hammeronsaredesignatedbyanhsymbolthatseparatesthetwonotes.

    1

    1

    2h3

    3

    Inthisexample,youwouldpluckthe2ndfretofthesecondtotopstring,andthenhammerontothe3rdfret.

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    Pulloffsaredesignatedbyapsymbolthatseparatesthetwonotes.

    3p2

    3

    2

    0

    Inthisexample,youwouldpluckthe3rdfretofthebottomstring,andthenpullofftothe2ndfret.

    cuQqeDuZ{Q/dMgcVgqDddQqgerDeP,vccgVVr

    Hammeronsandpulloffscanalsobedesignatedbyusingthe^symbol.

    0

    0^3^0

    0

    2

    Inthisexample,youwouldplucktheopenEstring,thenhammerontothe3rdfret,andthenpulloffbacktotheopenEstring.

    /cZPQr

    Ascendingslidesarerepresentedbythe/symbol,whiledescendingslidesarerepresentedbythe\symbol.

    2/5

    3\2

    4

    Inthisexample,youwouldpluckthe2ndfretofthebottomstringandslideuptothe5thfret.Then,youwouldpluckthe3rdfretofthesecondtobottomstringandslidedowntothe2ndfret.

    QePr

    Bendsarerepresentedbythebsymbol.Anrsymbolwillbeusedtoindicateabendthatreturnsbacktotheoriginalpluckednote.

    5b63

    35b6r53

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    Inthisexample,youpluckthe5thfretofthebottomstringandbendittothe6thfretandholdthebend.Then,youwouldpluckthe3rdfretofthebottomstring,andthen,the3rdfretofthesecondtobottomstring.

    Next,onthesamestring,youwouldpluckthe5thfretofthesecond,benduptothe6thfret,andthen,returnthebendbacktothe5thfret.Lastly,youwouldpluckthe3rdfret.

    1YQZWg|erZPQug2rZeW1DM

    Asyoucansee,readingtabisaveryintuitivewaytolearnasong.

    However,thebigproblemisthatwithtabyoudontgetasenseoftherhythm.Meaning,youdontknowwhentoplaythenoteswrittenonapieceoftaborhowlongtoholdtheminrelationtotheothernotes.

    Thebestwaytousetabisincombinationwithyourear.Forexample,youveheardasongyouwanttolearnhowtoplayonukulele,andbecauseyouknowhowitsounds,youcanusethetabasanaid.

    Usingtabincombinationwithreadingmusicisextremelypowerful.ThisistheformatinwhichIpostedthefingerpickingsongslastweek.Besuretocheckthoseoutifyouwantsomerealpracticalapplicationforusingtabs.

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    vbvcQcQcQrrgeMggb

    Joinover50,000peopleandgetourfreeukulelelessonbookYourFirstUkuleleLessonandThenSome.Learnnewtrickslike:

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    gddQeur

    AntonTsenovHi,Brett!Iwentthroughyouremailregardingthe3EasySongsandunderstoodthereshouldhavebeenapreviousmailwiththetopicHowtoreadmusicstrangebutIdidntgetit.Doesntmatter,Ifoundthelinktheninthe3EasySongs.Imustsaythisisverywelldonebyyoutohavethepossibilitytogobacktosometopics,whichsomeonecouldeverhavenotreceivedbefore.AtthelastweeksIveseenalotoftabsininternet,andwantedtowritetoyouaskingtoexplainethemtous.Isee,youhavetelepathy:).Yesterdayyoupostedit.TNANKYOUverymuchforallyourmarvelouseworkbyteachingusallyourlessonsarecompact,clear,easyunderstandableandmakingpeoplehappybylearningplayingmusiconsuchapleasantway!GreetingsfromVienna,AUT.Reply

    AntonTsenovHi,Brett!Itsmeagain.Couldyoupleaseshowbyvideofilehowtopracticeallthesehammerons,pulloffsandsoon.ThankyouReply

    BrettHeyAnton!Thanksforthecomments.Itmakesreallyhappytohearthattheselessonshavebeenhelpful.

    Ithinkyouarenowreadingmymind,becauseeventually,Iwanttodoapostthatlooksathammerons,pulloffs,etc.Thatsanexcellentidea. StaytunedReply

    PaulineMcCarthyBrettademovideowillbegreatbutpleasedothemreallyslowlyatfirstforthestrugglers.Manythanks.Reply

    berniecainetksveryinformativebutiprefertoseethefingerdotsmyselfmuchmoreeasiertoreadReply

    AntonTsenovYes,formeasabeginnerisalsomuchmoreeasiertousefingerdotsfornow,butIseeeverywereininternetthesongsaregivenbytabsastheygivemuchmoreinformationhowasongtobeplayed,right?

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    Ithink,Bernie,thatBrettwillteachuswellhowtogetusedtothetabs,rightBrett:)?Thanksalot!Reply

    DaveDoddHiBrett,Thanksforthelessonontabs.Ifounditreallyuseful.However,whileIcanunderstandwhataslideis,Ihopeyoucanexplainhammerons,pulloffsandbendsThanks,DaveReply

    BrettDave,thanksforyourcomment!Illbesuretodoalessoninthefutureexplaininghammerons,pulloffs,andbends.Reply

    ClydeOrtegoHeyBrett:

    AretabsanydifferentfromGCEAtoDGBEUkuleles?

    Thanks

    ClydeReply

    BrettHeyClyde,tabscanbespecifictoeitherGCEAorDGBEtuning.Usuallyatthetopofatabitwillindicatewhattuningthetabisin.Reply

    ClydeOrtegoHeyBrett:

    JustwatchedyourvideoonfingerpositionforpickingofaGCEAuku.

    Myqueationisdoesthefingerpositionchangebetweenthetwodifferenttuningsandwhichiseasiertouseonabaritoneuku?

    Thanks

    ClydeReply

    BrettHeyClyde,thefingerpositiondoesntreallychangebetweenthetwoukuleles.Iliketousemythumbforthetoptwostringsandthenmyindexfingerforthesecondtobottomandmymiddlefingerforthebottom.Illusethisonanyfourstringukulele.Reply

    sophiehithisisgreaTSTUFFTHANXReply

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    AlainaHeyBrett,InoticedononeofthesitesIusefortabs(ukuleletabs.com)thattheyusethelyricswithxsandchordsabovethem.

    Iwaswonderingwhatthexsmean?Dotheystandforarhythmoraretheyjustthereforthesakeofbeingthere?

    Thanks.Alaina.Reply

    BrettHeyAlaina,myunderstandingisthattheXsforthelyricsaresubstituteforthelyrics.Theydonotindicatetherhythmofthesong.Reply

    EliThankyou!!!nowicanplayukulelebrothersbyjakeshimabukurowithmylittlebro!Reply

    BrettMcQueenOhyeah!Reply

    chagi_ukeHeytherebrah,itsmyfirsttimetovisitthissiteAndicansaysupersolidlol.Butthereasonicamehereistoaskyouaquestion.Icanunderstandmostofthesymbolsonthetabs,buticantfigureoutwattheXsmeanafterasetofcordsisplay?Doesthatmeantomutethecordorsomething?000X0111X1000X0222X2Reply

    BrettMcQueenYep,Xsmeantomutethechord,ortheyspecifynotesthatyoushouldntstruminachord.Intheexample,itlookslikeyouwouldperformamutedstrum.Reply

    DavidKimIsawtabsthatwentc4whatdoesthatmean?Reply

    BrettMcQueenHiDavid,myguessisthatitisreferringtoC4ormiddleConapiano,alsotheopenCstringoftheukulele.Reply

    HeatherECHiBrett,

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    thanksfortheinformationitexplainsaproblemIhadtoday.Ihaveneverplayedtheukeleleandduetopoorspatialskillshaveneverreallynoticedwhichwaypeopleholdstringedinstruments.Iworkasasubstituteteacherandtodayhadmusic.ThekidswereingroupsdoingdifferentactivitiesleftbytheirmusicteacherandonegroupwasplayingMaryHadaLittleLambontheukeleleusingTabs.ImrighthandedandsoIheldtheukeleleasfeltcomfortable,assumingthatwouldbetherightway.

    Thekidsinthefirstclasstoldmethatthetoptabshowedthenoteforthetopstringandsoon.Igaveitagoandplayedatunethatsoundedright.

    HoweveragirlinthethirdclassItaughtrealizedIwasholdingtheukelelebacktofrontandupsidedown!ApparentlyeventhoughIwriteandcutrighthandedandonlydothingslikeopeningjarsorturningtapslefthandedIalsoammorecomfortableplayingukelelelefthanded.ItriedtherightwayaroundwhichIfoundawkwardbutpossible,butnowthetunedidntsoundright.IcheckedwithafewmorekidsifthetoptabindicatedthetopstringandtheyinsisteditdidsoIwasreallyconfused.NowIrealisetheymustbeconfusedabouthowtoreadtabs.Ididwonderwhytheirplayingwasuntuneful,butastheywereallplayingtogetheratdifferenttimesIdidntrealisetheywereplayingthetuneincorrectly.AfewkidswhotakeguitarlessonsweremuchmoretunefulbutwerenotintheclasswhoIaskedabouttheTabs.

    SadlyIdontknowwhenIllseethemagaintocorrecttheirmisunderstandingandIdontknowifthemusicteachertaughtthemincorrectly,ormorelikelytheymisunderstoodtheirmusicteachersinstructions.Reply

    BrettMcQueenHowinteresting,Heather.Iwonderifthekidsthoughtthetoplineindicatedthetopstring,asinthehigheststringinpitchtheAstring.Itsoundsliketheymusthavebeenconfusedbytheirteachersinstructions.Feelfreetopassthisinformationalongifyouwish.

    Also,sinceyouareanewukuleleplayer,Iwouldrecommendlearningrighthanded.Thiswillmakeplayingandlearningwithothersaloteasierinthelongrun.Reply

    HeatherECImnotsureifIlltakeupplaying,butmyMumislearningtoplayandhastwoukelelesnowsoImightborrowoneandhaveago.Ireallyenjoyedplayingukelelewiththeschoolkids.IthinkIcanmanageitrighthandedthoughitmademerealizehowlefthandershavetoadjusttoarighthandedworld!Howeveroneofmybrothersislefthandedandfindsiteasytoplayguitarrighthanded.Reply

    MichaelGutteridgeHiBrett,justaquestiononreadingTabs.yousaywhenyouhavenumbersoneachlineundereachotheryouplaythemasachord.Howwouldyoureadatabiftherewerenumbersundereachotherononly2ofthelineandor3lines?Reply

    BrettMcQueenHiMichael,inthecaseswheretherearenumbersundereachotherononlyacoupleofthelines,justplaythenotesonthoseindicatedstrings.Youmightdothisbyassigning

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    individualfingerstoplucktheindicatedstringsatthesametime,oryoumightstrumthechordwithyourthumbsoyouaremissingoneortwoofthestrings.Reply

    DiojeanMendadorThankusomuchthismakessomuchsensehahahaReply

    HannahRandallThanksBrett!IhaveseenTablaturesandhadnoideahowtoreadthem.YourexplanationwasveryclearandnowIgetit!Thankyou,thankyou!HappyThanksgivingtoo!Reply

    BrettMcQueenHappyThanksgiving,Hannah!Reply

    TiaralWhatdoesthe0onthetabsstandforandifthenumberisonlyonthatcertainstringdoWejustplaythatpaticularstring?Reply

    CoreneOnthetabletureforSilentNightyouuseseveralsymbolsthatIdonotunderstand.Thedotsafterthenumbersandthecurvedlinethattiestwosetsofidenticalnumberstogether.Anyhelpwouldbegreat.Thanks

    VeryKindly,CoreneReply

    BrettMcQueenHiCorene,thedotsnexttonotesinthetabornotesinthemusicstaffindicatedottednotes.Dottednotesareheldfor1.5timestheregularlengthofthenote.Forexample,inmeasure1,onthefirstbeat,therearetwonotespluckedsimultaneouslyandtheyarebothadottedquarternoteinlength.Aquarternoteisheldforonebeatpermeasure,soadottedquarternoteisheldfor1.5beatspermeasure(quarternote+eighthnote).Reply

    CassidyHiBrettSoonsomeormostonlinetabstheyjusthavethenotewrittenaboveacertainlyric.IdontgetwhentoplayitorforhowlongorhowmanystrumsbeforethenextnoteReply

    BrettMcQueenCassidy,indeed,alotofsongsonlinearepresentedinachordchartformatwheretherearethelyricsofthesongwiththechordswrittenabove.Thechordswrittenabovethelyricsaremeanttomatchcloselyasifyouweresingingthemelodyofthesong,however,thesechartsarentthemostpreciseorexact.IcreatedanentirecourseabouthowtofindtherightstrummingpatternandunderstandhowtoreadchordchartsinthecompletestrummingcourseStrummingTricks,whichisavailablehere:

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    ElizabethWheelerThetroublewithtabsisthatwhenyouwritetheminasentence,ortalkaboutthem,yousaythefrettedstringsstartingwiththeGstring.Soonastandardtuneduke,Cwouldbe0003,Gwouldbe0232,etc.Butwhenyoulookattabs,asinthediagramspostedhereonthispage,theGstringisonthebottom.Thistakessomegettingusedto,andthereareargumentsonlotsofukuleleforumsastohowtosaythetabs.IwishsomeonewoulddeclareanInternationalHowtoTalkAboutUkuleleTabsDay,sowedallgetitrightallthetime!!!Reply

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