Another part about learning guitar is lead (which to me is the best part!) Before I get into that, I want to show you some of the basics in reading guitar tablature. Guitar tablature is probably the easiest way to read music ever made. It is basically six lines (each representing the strings of the guitar). The strings are listed as if you were looking at the strings on your guitar while you are playing it. The high E (bottom string) is the top line on the tablature, the second line is the B string (second string from the bottom), the third line is the G string (third string from the bottom), and so on. E---------------------------------------------------- B---------------------------------------------------- G---------------------------------------------------- D---------------------------------------------------- A---------------------------------------------------- E---------------------------------------------------- Along the lines are numbers which tell you what fret to play on that particular string. For example, the E blues scale (which, by the way, the blues scale is the greatest thing to learn when it comes to doing lead guitar) would be written like this: E-----------------0--------------------------------- B-----------0--3-----3--0--------------------------- G-----0--2-----------------2--0--------------------- D--2-----------------------------2------------------ A--------------------------------------------------- E--------------------------------------------------- Reading this, from left to right, the first note you would play is the space before the second (2) fret of the guitar on the D string, the second note you would play would be an open (0) G string, the third note you would play would be the second (2) fret on the G string, the fourth note you would play would be an open (0) B string, the fifth note you would play would be the third (3) fret of the B string, and the sixth note would be an open (0) E string. The rest of this scale would be just going back down the scale. Guitar chords can also be written as tablature rather than as chord symbols. Here are a few examples.. G D Dsus4 C Am G E--3-----2-----3------0-----0-----3--3--3-------------------- B--0-----3-----3------1-----1-----0--0--3-------------------- G--0-----2-----2------0-----3-----0--0--0-------------------- D--0-----0-----0------2-----3-----0--0--0-------------------- A--2-----x-----x------3-----0-----2--2--2-------------------- E--3-----x-----x------x-----0-----3--3--3-------------------- When the fret numbers are placed on top of each other as these are, then that means that they are played together as a chord. Here is a mix of partial chords and the E blues riff that you can try out. While some of tabs may write out the X's (which means that those strings are not played), most tabs will not write that out. If the string doesn't have a number on it, then it is not played. Try this little variation on the E blues riff over and over. Make up your own cool rhythm to go with it too! E-------------------------------------------------- B-------------------------------------------------- G---2---2-----------0---2---2---2----------0---2--- D---2---2---0---2-----------2---2---0---2---------- A-------------------------------------------------- E-------------------------------------------------- E--------------------------------------------------- B---3---3------------------------------------------- G---2---2-----------0---2---2---2-----------2---0--- D-----------0---2-----------2---2---0---2----------- A--------------------------------------------------- E--------------------------------------------------- E---0---0------------------------------------------- B---0---0-----------0-------3---3------------------- G-----------------------3---2---2-----------0---2--- D-----------0---2-------------------0---2----------- A--------------------------------------------------- E--------------------------------------------------- E-------------------------------------------------- B-------------------------------------------------- G---2---2-----------0---2---2---2----------0---2--- D---2---2---0---2-----------2---2---0---2---------- A-------------------------------------------------- E-------------------------------------------------- And now we come to the major scales. I saved these for last, since I hated doing these when I was playing clarinet and sax in middle school band, and I know most people don't like them too much. Still, if you spend some time with these, you can get so much better at doing lead guitar. They help you out a lot in getting your fingers more adjusted to the guitar and they're the best way to practice staying at a steady pace. Just tap your feet on the floor for a slow beat and try to do one note for every beat. Then, once you get a handle of what you're playing, go a little more faster each time. First, here is a reminder of how the fingers are numbered on your left hand: Thumb 1 2 3 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Thumb Ind Mid Ring pinky The best way to play these is to get the right fingering. Each scale uses only four frets, so use all four fingers when playing it. On the scale below, use the finger number of the fret you are playing on. By that, I mean use your first finger (index finger) for all of the notes on the first fret, use your second finger (middle finger) for all of the notes on the second fret, use your third finger (ring finger) on all of the notes on the third fret, and use your fourth finger (pinky) on all of the notes on the fourth fret. F sharp major scale (going up): E-----------------------------------------1--2-------- B-----------------------------------2--4-------------- G--------------------------1--3--4-------------------- D-----------------1--3--4----------------------------- A--------1--2--4-------------------------------------- E--2--4----------------------------------------------- Now, go down the scale. This will be the exact same thing as reading the above F sharp major scale from right to left. F sharp major scale (going down) E---2--1---------------------------------------------- B---------4--2---------------------------------------- G---------------4--3--1------------------------------- D------------------------4--3--1---------------------- A---------------------------------4--2--1------------- E------------------------------------------4--2------- Practice this one over and over until you've got a good feel for how your fingers are moving. When you're done, use the same fingering on the F sharp major scale and try out the G major scale. G major scale (going up): E---------------------------------------------2--3-------- B---------------------------------------3--5-------------- G------------------------------2--4--5-------------------- D---------------------2--4--5----------------------------- A------------2--3--5-------------------------------------- E------3--5----------------------------------------------- Finger:2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 4 1 2 Now, go down the scale. G major scale (going down) E-------3--2---------------------------------------------- B-------------5--3---------------------------------------- G-------------------5--4--2------------------------------- D----------------------------5--4--2---------------------- A-------------------------------------5--3--2------------- E----------------------------------------------5--3------- Finger: 2 1 4 2 4 3 1 4 3 1 4 2 1 4 2 Practice this until you've got a good feel for where your fingers need to be. When you're done, use the same fingering to try out the Ab major scale and then' read it backwards to go down the scale. A flat major scale: E---------------------------------------------3--4-------- B---------------------------------------4--6-------------- G------------------------------3--5--6-------------------- D---------------------3--5--6----------------------------- A------------3--4--6-------------------------------------- E------4--6----------------------------------------------- Finger:2 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 3 4 2 4 1 2 Use this same fingering anywhere on the guitar board to do any of the scales. Hope this helps. Have fun and God bless, Dave Green