Course 14 - How to read tab scores / basics on an arpeggio [Acoustic guitar lesson for beginner]

Tab scores

A tab score refers to a score in which guitar strings are described in pictures.
The six lines indicate the six strings in guitar and numbers within the score indicates the guitar frets.


How to read tab scores

The six lines indicate the six strings in guitar

Numeral descriptions refer to the number of the fret in guitar

Numbers below the lower line refers to the number of the left fingers.

So the above score means that you need to press the fifth string of the first fret with the first finger (forefinger). The number of the left fingers is described either 1, 2, 3, or 4 from the forefinger to the little finger with T for the thumb.


Arpeggio

An arpeggio means a broken chord.
A stroke means to play a chord simultaneously.

However, an arpeggio means to play a chord in sequence.

Posture for the right hand fingering

The thumb usually plays the sixth, the fifth and the fourth strings. It is usually located on the root of a given chord.
The forefinger plays the third string.
The middle finger plays the second string.
The little finger is located on the first string.

Please be careful with the thumb with its angle.
If you can place your thumb ahead of other fingers, you can create stable and smooth sounds.


Chord changes in an arpeggio

In an arpeggiated chord, you play the root first and then play the harmony. As it is good for strokes to sound the harmony simultaneously, we have practiced to change the chord at once. However, an arpeggio consists of a note to be played first and other notes to be played later and therefore you can change the chord more comfortably by pressing the note to be played first in advance.

Compare the difference in chord changes between playing stroke and playing an arpeggio by repeating G and C chords.




Arpeggiated rhythm pattern in 8-beat

Now let's create an arpeggiated pattern with a familiar chord progression of G - D - Em - C.

When changing the chord, you are playing the root of the chord.


More information

10 Basic harmonics, basic chord theory and practic F
11 High chord#2, CAGED system





As shown in the above video, the roots of the fourth to sixth strings are played while the forefinger to the little finger are fixed on each string.

In addition, there is also a case that the score is described with simple numbers instead of a tab score as above.

So we can describe numbers for the above score.
R 3 2 3 1 3 2 3
The result will be as above.

'R' refers to the root of a given chord and the numbers indicates the guitar strings.

Now we will create an arpeggiated pattern in 2-beat for two or more lines based on the chord progression

As shown in the above video, you can play multiple lines at the same time.

It can simply be described with numbers as follows:

R 3 1 3 R 3 1 3 R 3 1 3 1 3 1 3
      2          2         2   2    2


When you play an arpeggio with a pick

You usually play up down picking for the lower line to be played and up picking for the upper line.
In the above score, the playing sequence would be the sixth string of the third fret, the open string on the third string and then the open string on the second string.
The first of the sixth string of the third fret is located on the line lower than that of the open string of the third string to be played next and therefore you need to play down picking.
The open string of the third string is located on the line higher than that of the open string on the second string, you need to play up picking.




Such picking method is called economy picking.
So let's practice the songs that we learned in an arpeggiated pattern!