Guitar Tab Too Limited

Guitar tab is used by many guitarists in place of standard music notation.

I am sometimes asked by guitar students whether they need to learn music or if they can stick with tablature.  “Tab,” for short, is a system of notation that is used by many guitar players. It is used instead of the traditional reading of music notation. Its advantage to non-music-readers in that it provides a map of the notes on the neck in a theme or a solo. It is most often used in note-for-note transcriptions of recorded solos. It allows a guitar player to play something without having to work it out by ear or without being able to read music.

What it provides is the string and fret of each note. What it does not provide is the rhythm or the fingering. This forces a guitar player to be very familiar with the song in order to emulate the rhythm of the notes. As far as the fingering is concerned, you’re on your own.

I feel that reading tab is actually more difficult than learning to read music. It is certainly more limited. Unfortunately, it is well entrenched in the guitar community and continues to reinforce the idea that guitar players should not learn to read music.

Every other instrument considers the reading of music to be elementary and essential. It seems that only guitar players are encouraged to stumble around in the world of tab. If you take the time to learn to read music, a world of possibilities will open up to you.