A Tab or Tablature is a method of writing down music using Ascii characters rather than musical notation. It is designed for ease of sharing via computer and over the internet as it can be displayed on web pages and also in a simple text format.
Basic Tabs do have their limitations, however they will tell you what notes to play, where you use bends, slides, hammer-on’s etc, what position on the neck and give an indication of the rhythm. It is a fairly simple format to read and also to write.
When browsing the internet you may also come across a range of Tabs with different names including Guitar Pro Tabs and Power Tabs. These types of tabs relate to the type of software that is used to read and create the files. These tabs are more advanced than standard tabs as they allow both tablature and standard musical notation to run side by side.
