Beginner's Guide on How to Read Guitar TAB (with Video)
Guitar tablature depicts musical performance using a visual representation of the guitar’s neck, strings and fretboard. The bottom line of the tab staff represents the thicker low E string, while the top line is used to illustrate the thinner high E string. Numbers appearing on the lines indicate which fret(s) you need to press to sound a note for any given string. Tab numbers appearing stacked on top of one another indicate they should be played or strummed together as a chord. Otherwise, play the notes one at a time as you move from left to right across the page.
Tips for reading TAB
When attempting to locate the note on your guitar for a particular tab number, remember to count the spaces between the wire frets, rather than the actual frets themselves. For example, a tab number of “1” on the top string would be located in the space between the guitar nut and the first wire fret on the high E string. A “0” indicates whenever you should pick an open, un-fretted string. (See the video below for more TAB examples.)
A common problem beginning players have when first learning to read guitar tab is the mixing up which E string to play when sounding notes appearing on the bottom tab line. The key thing to remember is to think in terms of pitch! The bottom line in the tab represents the lowest sounding string on the guitar; the thicker, low E string.
This covers the basic concept for reading TAB notation. For a greater in-depth look into the many techniques you’ll encounter when learning songs by tab, be sure to check out Guitar Tab Tutor, my free app for iPhone and iPad.
More info available at: www.jeffperrinmusic.com/apps/guitar-tab-tutor.html
Surround Sound Apps for Apple TV Featured on Dolby Developer Website
I’m happy to share that my Surround Sound apps for Apple TV were recently featured on the Dolby Developer website! In his review, author Andy Vaughan reports on taking both my Surround Sound Ear Candy and Surround Speaker Check apps for a spin on his personal home theater audio system. Regarding my Surround Sound Ear Candy 5.1 app-album, Andy states:
Apple TV users though, have a new option that clearly illustrates the difference between a 2-channel stereo mix, and a mix intentionally created to take advantage of surround speakers, a center channel and a subwoofer.
And on my Surround Speaker Check utility app for Apple TV:
I was able to identify a temperamental loose wire that was compromising the performance of my audio setup with Perrin’s app that I never realized existed before.
Read the full article here.
Surround Sound Ear Candy and Surround Speaker Check were both recently updated with support for higher-quality Dolby Digital Plus format audio files. Both apps are available as free downloads on the tvOS App Store. (Search for “Jeff Perrin Music” in the tvOS App Store Search menu.)
Learn to Read Guitar Tablature with Guitar Tab Tutor App for iOS
Professional guitar transcriber Jeff Perrin this week announced the release of Guitar Tab Tutor, a free iOS app designed to teach beginning players how to read and play tablature notation for guitar.
Guitar Tab Tutor is designed to be the ultimate reference guide for any and all techniques you might encounter when learning to play songs on guitar. Accompanying video lessons, available via a single in-app purchase, provide an even greater in-depth look into each technique through visual demonstration and expert performance tips.
Guitar Tab Tutor Features:
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Comprehensive reference sheet illustrating every TAB technique imaginable for guitar.
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Accompanying text description on how to perform each technique.
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A single in-app-purchase unlocks 39 video lessons, each providing an up-close demonstration of all guitar techniques.
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Taught by Jeff Perrin, an experienced guitar instructor and master transcriber.
Guitar Tab Tutor is available as a free download on the Apple App Store.
More info available at: www.jeffperrinmusic.com
Sound & Vision Magazine Picks Surround Speaker Check as a Favorite tvOS App!
I’m proud to see my Surround Speaker Check app for Apple TV has been chosen as a “favorite tvOS app” by Sound & Vision magazine! (April 2016 issue, page 28)
:-)
Home Theater Speaker Check Update Brings New Surround Sound Test Tracks to Apple TV!
Home Theater Speaker Check received a significant update today, with this latest version bringing compatibility with the new Apple TV (4th gen) as well as two new test tracks designed to help users optimize their home entertainment system for iTunes HD movies and TV shows.
Along with compatibility with the new Apple TV 4th gen model, the update focuses on improvements to audio quality as well as the introduction of two new audio test tracks to the iOS platform; Subwoofer Check Track and Center Speaker Check. Subwoofer Check Track features four separate tests designed to evaluate the quality of your subwoofer, as well as help expose any potential resonant low-end frequencies in your listening space. The Center Speaker Check track features three practical tests designed to help confirm the optimum placement and signal level for the center channel speaker.
The Home Theater Speaker Check app works by streaming specially produced music tracks encoded in the same Dolby Digital 5.1 format used in iTunes HD movies and TV shows. As the tracks are streamed to the Apple TV, users follow along with audio and visual cues to determine if their system is properly decoding the audio sound track. The app was designed by guitarist and surround recording artist Jeff Perrin as a means to confirm the integrity of various surround systems while producing his surround sound music tracks.
Update: Home Theater Speaker Check is now listed as “Surround Speaker Check” on the Apple App Store.
Surround Speaker Check is available as a free download in the iOS and tvOS App Stores.