How To Read Guitar Chords - Jamorama

Donald J Mair
Guitar tablature or tab is a system of notation that graphically represents strings and frets of the guitar fret board. Each note is indicated by placing a number which indicates the fret to play, on the appropriate string. In guitar tablature, you also have to be familiar with guitar scales and chords. A chord is a mixture of at least three different pitches that are played simultaneously. The different chords, when played in the appropriate sequence, constitute the musical flow in a song. People who wish to learn how to play the guitar, then, must also learn how to read guitar chords.

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To start out, tabs are written in lines, with each line representing a string on the guitar. The thickest string is represented by the bottom most line, while the thinnest string is represented by the top most line. Numbers are placed on these lines to represent finger positions on the guitar fret board.

In order to tab a chord, the notes would be placed in a vertical line upon the horizontal ones. However, a guitar tab does not represent how long to hold a note for. Tab works best if you listen to the song for guidance on the timing, and then read the notes and practice it afterwards.


There are simple chords as well as complex chords. As a guitar player, you must know how to play these chords. To be able to play complex chords comfortably, you first have to be able to play the simple chords or otherwise known as beginners´ chords, the most basic of which are the open chords. Open chords have at least one open string, or one that is not pressed down by one of your left hand fingers.

The best way to learn how to play these chords is by learning how to play songs that are based on these simple chords.

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This author writes about How To Read Guitar Tabs And Chords at guitar lessons
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