[Vorrin]

I've looked around the web and cant seem to find an answer on my own, so I get to bug you all for this

What is the meaning of the apostrophes' and the Parenthesis' in the following tab ?


|-------p-----------------------------------|
|--(6)'5^3---3--------------3-5-------------|
|----------4----2-----4'(5)-----4'(5)'4--2----|
|-------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------|

Like the (6)'5 what is that ?

[allthumbs]

The brackets usually mean it is a ghost note. That means it is played very softly or quickly like it isn't really there. It can also mean it is an optional note that can be played or not. It can also mean that the note has a harmonic overtone. It can also mean this note was hit accidently by the player if the tab is from a note for note tab book. It depends on the context, You need to hear the tune to figure out which it is. Google for ghost notes and you should come up with some examples and more detailed definitions.
Hope that helps.

[Jean]

What allthumbs said.

[Neilsonite]

While allthumbs is dead right about brackets showing ghost notes, I'd like to add that sometimes brackets are used to show the pitch of a bent note. For example, in this case 4'(5) might mean that you play the 4th fret and bend that note to the pitch of the 5th fret (i.e. up a semitone). The 4'(5)'4 might mean that you bend the 4th fret note to the pitch of the 5th fret, then release it back to the normal 4th fret note.

The symbols b and r are normally used for bend and release respectively, but in this case it seems possible they've been replaced by '

Like allthumbs said you'll need to listen to the tune to figure out what the tab means.

...BTW, if you don't know how to bend, let me know

Hope that's useful,
James

[Vorrin]

This is part of the solo from Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" From what I can tell the brackets are bends or pre-bends (but this doesn't hold for 4'(5)'4, hence my confusion). Other tabs of this section aren't written this way, which I suppose is why I should get my tabs from several sources.

Thanks for the answers. This is above my learning level anyway, but it wont stop me from trying to play it

[Alfcarguy]

it was like me trying to understand what Unison bends were. I had to ask my first guitar teacher. And than after he told me that I had to break the news to him I quit this was my last lesson.