Tab and traditional sheet music are two different ways of notating or writing down music for guitar. Traditional sheet music is a formal musical notation system that represents the pitch and duration of the music, while tab is a visual representation of the fretboard of the guitar that dictates every note. Both have their merits and shortcomings, and it is recommended to learn both to become a well-rounded guitarist.

 

One of the importance skills to master when learning to play a guitar is to read music. Reading music is the ability to look at and understand the musical symbols and notation used in written music (traditional sheet music or guitar tabs) to present musical sounds.

 

Here are the differences between the two:

Traditional Sheet Music

• Notes are written on a clef with spaces between them.
• It is a visual representation of the pitch and duration of the music.
• It is a formal musical notation system.
• It is recognized by most musicians regardless of their instrument.

 

Tab

• It is written to correspond to the fretboard of the guitar, so there are six lines that correspond to the six strings.
• It dictates every note, leaving no ambiguity on where to place your fingers.
• It can be used to guide the learner in playing a musical part exactly how it was originally played.
• It is an extension of music notation rather than an alternative to it.