Tablature Example 1
In this 1st example (a section taken from the song Under The Bridge by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers) the tablature is showing what strings are being strummed. Normally in this style of charting rhythm you don't have to pay much attention to the tab numbers. They are only telling you in tab what the chord above is. Depending on how detailed the tab is you may or may not get rhythm instructions, in the case of the example below you have to use the note values attached to tab numbers to help you with the rhythm. Once again showing why it is useful to know how to read sheet music.
Tablature Example 2
In this next example using standard internet text tab the chords are written above the tab. The first two notes before the "C" chord are just lead in notes. The "C" chord is played one note at a time, most beginners will treat this like a solo and play one note at a time but not make the chord shape. All you have to do for this song is make the chord shapes "C, D, Famj7, Am, C, G and then D" and pick the strings like the tablature tells you to.
C D Fmaj7 Am C G
e|----------------|--------2-------|0-----------0---|--------3-------|
B|----------------|------1---3-----|--1--------1----|------1---3-----|
G|----------------|----0-------2---|----2-----2-----|----0-------0---|
D|----------------|--2-----0-----0-|3-----3--2------|--2-----------0-|
A|------------0-2-|3---------------|--------0---2-0-|3---------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------3-------|
D
e|3p2-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
B|--3-------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----2-----------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|0---------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
