Numbers and letters around the notes
| 1 2 3 4 | Fretting-hand fingers (index = 1, pinky = 4). 0 = open string. |
| ① ② ③ | Circled number = string. ③ = play it on the 3rd string. |
| V, VII, IX | Roman numeral = position: finger 1 at that fret. V = fret 5. |
| C V or B V | Barre at fret 5 (C for cejilla, B for barré). ½C = half barre. |
| harm. ◇ | Natural harmonic. A diamond-shaped note usually means a harmonic. |
| p i m a | Picking-hand fingers, from the Spanish names: thumb (pulgar), index, middle (medio), ring (anular). |
| Two voices | Stems up with i, m, a; stems down with the thumb. |
| ⊓ and V | Pick direction: downstroke (⊓) and upstroke (V). |
| ½, full and a curved arrow | Bend: push the string until the note rises a half step (½) or a whole step (full). |
| Wavy line | Vibrato: rock the string so the note wavers. |
| Straight line + sl. | Slide: glide your finger along the string from one note to the next. |
| P.M. and a dashed line | Palm mute: rest the edge of your hand on the strings near the bridge. |
| H and P over the curve | Hammer-on (going up) and pull-off (going down). |
Example with fingers (purple) and strings (teal)
or tap each note
On the staff above: a barre at fret 3, fingers shown to the left of each note, and strings below.
Two voices on one staff
Solo classical guitar scores often put melody and bass together.Solo guitar arrangements sometimes put melody and bass on the same staff. The rule: stems up are the melody; stems down are the bass. Read the two layers like two people playing together.
Two different curves
- Curve between identical notes: a tie (hold it).
- Curve between different notes on the same string: a slur, a hammer-on (going up) or pull-off (going down), written as h and p in tab.
- Straight line between notes: glissando or slide.
!
Written fingering is advice from someone who tested the path
When the score shows a finger, string or position, follow it. Someone already tested the most comfortable path. When it doesn’t, the choice is yours (next mission).
Quick check
Get every answer right to finish. Mistakes are part of it: read the explanation and try again.
1. ③ next to a note means:
2. C VII means:
3. On a staff with two voices, stems-down notes are usually:
On the acoustic guitar: Find Fernando Sor's "Study in C, Op. 60 No. 1" or any lesson from Carcassi's Method on IMSLP and just spot where the finger numbers, circles and Roman numerals are. No need to play it yet.On the electric guitar: Open any guitar score that includes notation (many methods and songbooks print staff and tab together) and just spot, on the staff: finger numbers, circles, Roman numerals, pick-direction marks and bend, slide or vibrato marks. No need to play it yet.