[USGold]

I read musical notation pretty well--chord charts set against lyrics I can get thru-but TABS make me crazy--I struggle and struggle to read them as I'm playing-have to keep returning to the TAB , then lose my finger position on the neck--also how do you time up a strummed chord along with the single notes--i can do both but never together?

[737blues]

Yep, but then my memory is pretty hopeless these days anyway. TAB does alleviate the mental gymnastics of actually identifying where on the fretboard to play a given note though.

[BigG]

Not sure what problem you are having. Are you having two different problems? Reading Tab and Playing melody with chords.

Also, how long have you been playing? If you just started or now are coming back after a long time away expect to practice a year or two before you become reasonably good.

I can only speak from my own experience. It took me two years to learn fingerstyle and so-called 'chord melody'.

Regards
Gilles

[Matty22]

The way i learnt to read tabs was by being shown how to play something
and watching somebody else play it. Then read all the guides on reading tabs, what all the symbols mean and such, and then tabbed it myself. Then again, i find doing something myself is the best way for me to learn.

The hardest part i find with tabs is theres no real standard. ive seen tabs where on one line it will say ---3p2--- but later in the song it says ----3p-----, which confuses me cuz i cant tell where to pull off to, without studying the song itself

My two bobs worth
Matty

[WernHalen]

Timming in tabs can be very difficult Especially if your using tabs that were typed in a word processor. To get rid of this probelm i would play form tabs that were generated with aprogram such as Guitar pro. Guitar pro actually spaces the notes to the correct spacing for the timming. So you have to mentally equate the spaces to note lengths etc.

I have difficulty readign while playing as well especially if i dont know the song. Playing a song I know makes it easier. I generally only take guidance from the tabs as to what to play. Then I go for the sound of the original song.

[8LU3]

sometimes its hard to know timing with tabs, especially with second and third guitars when you can barely hear them in the back of the song. just continue listening and playing, soone enough you wont have to keep your position on the fretboard, youll be able to find it with out looking

[Brian Hill]

I always have to listen to a song till I know it well in my head and can sing it word for word. My moto is if I can sing it ,I can play it. Then I use Tab to help get my bearings. I don't rely solely on tab because half of what I find online is inacurate to some degree. You have to learn to use your ear. At least I do.

BH

[USGold]

Listening might be part of the problem--I often try playing songs that I don't have to listen to.

[nocat]

Originally Posted by Brian Hill

I always have to listen to a song till I know it well in my head and can sing it word for word. My moto is if I can sing it ,I can play it. Then I use Tab to help get my bearings. I don't rely solely on tab because half of what I find online is inacurate to some degree. You have to learn to use your ear. At least I do.

BH

Could'nt agree with you more Brian...!!!

[GuitarJim]

I usually hunt up the tab for a song I'm trying to learn. As has been said, it gives me a general idea of where the song is being played on the fretboard. I have long since given up trying to play a song note for note. Just lazy I guess.


JC