| Guitarists have a tendency to be self-taught or, at the | | | | "A," etc. This arrangement, with the lowest string on |
| most, to have taken a few lessons in an informal | | | | the bottom and the highest on the top, follows the |
| setting. This is a very different approach from that of | | | | basic layout of Western Standard Notation. This should |
| most other instruments, which are generally taught | | | | not, however, be taken to mean that guitar tab is a |
| formally and with a heavy emphasis on musical theory | | | | standardized musical writing practice. This is definitely |
| and written music. A guitarist, for whatever reason, will | | | | not the case, the result being that songbooks and |
| usually try to work his way through a new song | | | | other guitar tab sources will usually include a legend |
| without the aid of written music. Anyone who has ever | | | | defining the usage of the tablature. |
| participated in a campfire sing-along will be familiar with | | | | Guitar tab is not without its flaws. Rhythmic notation, |
| the blunders of an inexperienced performer trying to | | | | for example, is a major issue in written guitar music, |
| get through an unfamiliar song. This does not, however, | | | | the problem being that it is rarely there at all. So if the |
| mean that written music for the guitar does not exist. It | | | | guitarist has never heard a song before, he or she has |
| does, and it is called guitar tab. | | | | no way of knowing how long a note should be held. |
| If you look up the term "guitar tab" in Webster's 11th | | | | Another major problem is that only guitarists can read |
| Collegiate Dictionary, you immediately realize, due to | | | | guitar tab, it does not translate for any other |
| the term's absence from that book, that the | | | | instrument, nor is it comprehensible to any other type |
| expression is either relatively recent or from the | | | | of musician. Needless to say, this can make musical |
| vernacular. Only slightly more helpful is Webster's | | | | cooperation with other instruments difficult. |
| fourth entry under "tab," which denotes "[short for | | | | There are an inexhaustible number of sources for |
| tabulator]: a key on a keyboard especially for arranging | | | | guitar tab in the world. In addition to the more traditional |
| data in columns." But for a true definition, it's off to that | | | | songbooks and guitar magazines, there is a seemingly |
| most popular of Internet resources, Wikipedia. The | | | | endless number of Web sites offering guitar tab. It can |
| Web site explains that guitar tab is simply the term for | | | | be searched by music genre, by level of competency, |
| written guitar music, or tablature, which is the style of | | | | by guitar type...the list goes on. Some of it is on a "pay |
| written music generally used for fretted stringed | | | | per play" basis, but some of it is free. Of course, one |
| instruments, such as the guitar. | | | | might have to wonder about the accuracy of some of |
| A tab staff for guitar consists of six horizontal lines, | | | | the materials, but even a somewhat erroneous written |
| each of which represents a guitar string. The bottom | | | | edition of Stairway to Heaven is better than nothing at |
| line represents the lowest string, "E," the second line | | | | all! |