Leaving aside reading music which I never really learned,
-TaoPhoenix
Interestingly, the only
accurate way to notate guitar music is with TAB. Going off a normal staff arrangement doesn't tell you
which A, for example, you should be playing. Is it at the 17th fret of the E-string, the 12th fret on the A-string, the seventh fret on the D-string or the second fret on the G? Although
technically the "same" note (at least on a staff), they each have a noticeably different timbral quality, a slightly different response time, and a significantly different sustain-decay ratio. That's due to the difference in string sounding-length, gauge, tension, and construction (i.e. wound vs unwound).
That difference is something that's routinely used to good artistic effect by masters of the guitar. It's not just
what notes you play, it's
also where and on
what strings that makes a difference. Bass players too, where the differences between neck position and string being used are
very audible. Even to an untrained ear.
Then there's
how you play a chord...
As with single notes, there are many different patterns to get the same chord. But some work better than others because of the specific
inversion found in the triad; or because of
which notes happen to be doubled in the chord, and where and on what strings it's played. That is what makes the biggest audible difference in sound between the "exact same" guitar chords. And to get an accurate chord transcription you also
can’t use traditional music notation. You need
the actual chord diagrams to duplicate what the guitarist is playing.
TAB and chord diagrams...their use is often mocked by "classically trained" musicians. But the simple truth is: they're the
only closest to
accurate way to notate guitar music.
