With the advent of the internet it has never been easier to lay your hands on guitar tab. Some of those guitar tabs are good and some are way off. The fact remains, getting a tab has never been quicker or easier. There is no longer any waiting for a new subscription to a guitar magazine.

So with guitar tab so accessible these days’ guitar players maybe cheating themselves and not be aware of it. Before I go on in no way is this article a bashing on guitar tab or guitar tabbers, I have been and remain a huge fan of guitar tab. Guitar tab can paint a very easy to follow and clear picture of what you need to do to play in a particular song or guitar lead. Tab remains a vital tool to guitar players.

When a lot of us start learning guitar we don’t want to take the time needed to learn the theory behind what makes the music on the guitar. This is not just a guitar specific issue this holds true across most musical instruments. I can certainly understand why. I have been in this same position. Learning music theory can be long, tiring and boring regardless of how important it is to helping us learn our instruments. We all tend to want to skip to the end of the book and learn how to play a screaming lead or a cool song we just heard. This is completely normal and forgivable. Why spend hours trying to figure out a song when you can skip learning the mundane theory behind the major scale and how the intervals make up a basic chord structure or how the I,V,III sequence is one of the most common sequences in modern music.

All guitar players should strive to learn at the very least a passing knowledge of musical theory. Guitar tab is extremely helpful but all it tells you to do is put your finger on a fret to create the sound needed. By doing this and relying solely on guitar tab we miss the whys. Why are we playing the minor pentatonic scale? Why are we not playing the major pentatonic scale? When trying to learn a song by ear rather than using the hunt and peck method of search for the chords that make up the song. Use your knowledge of theory to see how the music is fitting together. That knowledge can give you a rough idea of what is the most common us of chord sequences and how these chords relate to one another. When trying to write a song without this basic knowledge it is very difficult finding what chords will work together other then the obvious.

Do not give up on guitar tab continue to use it both as a means to learn a song and to assist with your ongoing musical education. Just do not forget about musical theory. I am not say you need to run out and take guitar lessons with a teacher either. That is never a bad idea but not a requirement. You can buy a guitar book that goes into music theory. There countless books out there and 90% of them are written with guitar tab. There are tons of great guitar lessons on line. Guitar lessons like Jamplay, Learning Master and Jamorama to just a few. So don’t stunt your musical growth by ignoring music theory just because it is a more difficult road to take. Use everything at your disposal. You will become a better guitar player and be thankful you took the time to learn the theory behind your chosen instrument.

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