Reading Music: Tablature

Tablature is a simple system for indicating where notes are to be played on the fret board. Any fretted instrument can use tablature, but the tablature for each instrument is specifically structured for that instrument.

In tablature, each line represents a string, with the lowest pitched string on the bottom. This corresponds with your perspective as you look at the strings in playing position;

Numbers are placed on the lines which tell you what fret to play on a particular string. Below is bass tablature for a C major scale including corresponding standard notation with fingering;

Italic numbers indicate left hand fingering.

The tablature above shows you precisely where to play each note, but not what the note actually is. Notation shows you what note to play, but not where. However, notation can go a little further than this example. Strings can be indicated in notation by means of circled numbers;

Still, even with string numbers, notation still leaves you to figure out on which fret to play each note. Of course, you really should know that, just as you really should be able to name the notes. Neither tablature nor notation will quite spell it all out for you. Learning the fret board itself is the piece of the puzzle.

If you can visualize the positions of the seven natural tones, C D E F G A B, on the fret board, then it will be easier to make the connection between the notes on the page and the notes you play.

Reading Music: Notation

Music for bass can be written in tablature or notation. We will focus primarily on notation in this blog, but we'll also include tablature where may be needed. Let's start by reviewing the basics of notation ...

Notation for the bass is written in bass clef. The clef is a symbol which indicates the tone of a specific line of the staff. The bass clef represents F, and the two dots on the clef surround the line on which the note F is placed;

Each line and space of the staff is assigned a specific pitch based on the alphabetical sequence of the seven notes of the system; A B C D E F G. The clef gives you a reference point.

The strings of the bass are tuned to four specific pitches; E, A, D, G. These notes are written on the staff as shown below;

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The gray letters between the notes on the staff are shown for reference. 
Notice that there is a span of four notes from one string to the next, this span of for is known as an 'interval of a 4th.' 
Also notice that the notes are positioned line-space-line-space from bottom to top on the staff.

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The strings are also numbered, with the highest pitched string (G) being string 1, the next lower pitched string (D) – string 2, etc. In this blog, we'll generally refer to strings by their numerical names rather than their note names.

Study the diagrams on this page and memorize the names/notes of the four strings.

Next; Tablature.