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Rhythmic Tablature
How to Count Rhythmic Tablature
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Symbols of Rhythmic Notation
Scale
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Exercise
Interval 0-11 Half Step
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Symbols of Rhythmic Tablature
Guitar tablature uses the following symbols to represent note values and count rhythms:
Whole note (UK: semibreve)
ellipse around fret number without stem
4 beats long
Half note (minim)
ellipse around fret number with stem
2 beats long
Quarter note (crotchet)
fret number with stem
1 beat long
Eighth note (quaver)
fret number with flag or beam
½ beat long
Sixteenth note (semiquaver)
fret number with two flags or beams
¼ beat long
Whole rest (semibreve)
rectangle hanging from the 3rd string
4 beats long
Half rest (minim)
rectangle sitting on the 4th string
2 beats long
Quarter rest (crotchet)
curved symbol
1 beat long
Eighth (quaver)
single flag
½ beat long
Sixteenth rest (semiquaver)
double flag
¼ beat long
Triplet
bracket or slur with the number 3
3 notes in the space of 2
Time signature
upper numerator indicates beats per bar, lower denominator defines beat unit
Dotted note/rest
dot after a note/rest extends it by its half duration (+ 50 %)
Tie
connects held note with next note to form a single extended note
Fermata
small half circle with dot above a note prolongs it at the musician's discretion
Symbols of Rhythmic Tablature
Guitar tablature uses the following symbols to represent note values and count rhythms: