Ukulele For Dummies (31 page)

Left-handers have to think of the uke pointing in the opposite direction.

Fretting notes in tab

The numbers that appear on the tab indicate which string to play and what fret to play it at (4/4 indicates the time signature, as I discuss in Chapter 5).

In Figure 7-4, the note is on the second line down representing the E-string. Therefore you need to play this string and only this string.

The number 1 indicates that you need to play the string at the first fret. Playing the E-string at the first fret gives an F note.

A 0 indicates an
open string
– one played without fretting a note at all. In Figure 7-5, play the E-string without fretting a note.

Sequencing notes in tab

When notes appear one after the other horizontally in the tab, you play them in sequence. You allow the note to ring until you reach the next note.

In Figure 7-6, play the E-string open, and then at the first fret, and then at the third fret and, for the final note, play the A-string open.

You can hear this example on Track 21, Part 1.

Playing simultaneous notes in tab

When notes appear in the same position vertically in tab, you need to play them at the same time.

In Figure 7-7, two notes are played together each time. First, you play the C-string at the second fret while playing the E-string at the first fret.

After that note, you move the shape up two frets so you're playing the C-string at the fourth fret at the same time as playing the E-string at the third fret.

The focus then shifts to a new pair of strings: E and A. Play the E-string at the first fret and then play the A-string open. Finally, you play the E-string at the third fret and the A-string at the second.

You can hear this example on Track 21, Part 2.

Chording in tab

In tab, whole chords are written in the same way as simultaneous notes (which I describe in the preceding section).

For example, take a look at the chord in Figure 7-8. The tab shows the g-string being played at the second fret and the E-string at the first fret, with the other notes ringing open. The result is the F chord shape that I discuss in Chapter 4.

Strumming in tab

To indicate that you need to strum chords, tab uses arrows (see Figure 7-9).

These arrows indicate which direction to strum in. An up arrow indicates a down strum, and a down arrow indicates an up strum. Don't look at me; I didn't invent the system!

Reading Rhythms

In standard notation and tab, a note's appearance indicates its length. Each note can display three elements:

Note head:
An elliptical shape that's entirely black or just outlined.

Stem:
A vertical line that can go up or down from the note head (it doesn't make a difference to the way the note's played).