From the course: Bass: Teach Yourself

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Getting acquainted with tablature

Getting acquainted with tablature

From the course: Bass: Teach Yourself

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Getting acquainted with tablature

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- [Instructor] Getting acquainted with tablature. Below each traditional music staff you'll find a four line tablature staff. Each line represents a string of the bass with the highest or thinnest string at the top and the lowest or thickest string at the bottom. The numbers placed on the tablature lines tell you which fret to play. A zero means to play the string open not fingered. This is first string, second fret. This is second string, first fret. This is third string, fifth fret. Here is first string open and these notes are played together. First string, second fret, and second string, third fret. By glancing at the tablature staff, you can immediately tell where to play a note. Although you can't tell exactly what the rhythm is from the tablature, the horizontal spacing of the numbers gives you a strong hint about how fast or slow the notes are to be played.

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