To Tab or Not to Tab

February 11, 2013

If you read the About section, you may recall my experience the night I discovered the guitar, let me flesh out the scene a bit more: The guitar was an travel size Ovation (not a recommended axe for a beginner) that had been sitting in the corner of my room in its box for 4 months, I think I was initially turned off by the wooden leaves on the top. This was a period of my life in which I was spending a great amount of time on the computer, mostly downloading songs off of Napster and listening to those while downloading more. Naturally when I finally had the inkling to grab the guitar my first move was not to go buy a book of sheet music, or look up a teacher and sign up for lessons, it was to hit the web.

Like most beginner players, I started with no aspirations of becoming a great (or even competent) guitarist. I had one goal and one goal only: to play Walking Contradiction from my second favorite Green Day album Insomniac. Had it meant that I had to spend weeks learning open chord shapes and C Major scale patterns, none of which were in the song, I would have certainly stopped there. But as it was on this fateful night, I discovered Tablature.

It seemed too good to be true, a notation system that took thirty seconds to learn? I couldn’t believe my eyes, or my ears as I quickly plunked out the bass line of the song I thought I would be months from recreating. That tiny amount of instant gratification lead to an almost instant obsession, Napster hummed along in the background downloading songs for me to recreate on the guitar. It was a new day, everything was free and anything was possible.

About 3 Months later I was in a band, taking regular guitar lessons, and soaking up everything about the guitar I possibly could. I was also still learning songs from tab, although I had graduated from the simplest bass lines to more complex pieces of music, taking on ridiculous challenges like Classical Gas and the Freebird solo.

When I went back later on to learn to read music on the guitar I found it quite satisfying. The level of detail that can be conveyed on paper is amazing, and makes Tablature look like what is: a mere chart of where to put your fingers. The skills one gains from reading and understanding sheet music are invaluable, and you don’t get them from reading Tabs. However, it takes a level of patience that only the most exuberant beginner can put forth. I for one, would have never gotten there without my good friend, the tab.

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Sunburst News - August 2025

August 1, 2025

August- Issue #96

5 Reasons to Start Playing in a Band

July 30, 2025

As summer break comes to a close, we’re gearing up for the next term of the Sunburst Band Program and would love to see some new faces this fall. Playing in a band is one of the best ways to progress as a musician, so we put together a list of five reasons why we encourage our students to seek out opportunities to play in groups—whether it's starting a band or jamming with a couple of friends. Progress Your rhythm, timing, and listening skills improve quickly when you start playing in a band or group setting. While private lessons and solo practice are essential pieces of the puzzle, playing with others introduces new variables—like tempo changes, dynamics, and coordination—that challenge you to stay in sync with your bandmates and adapt to each other. We’ve seen so many students level up after just a couple months in the Sunburst Band Program–the progress happens fast! Friends and Connections We love watching our students and their families become friends and our band program has been a natural starting point for many of those relationships. Some of our current bands have stayed together for years, and it's awesome to see them hang out outside of lessons and support each other at shows. Plus, one of the best ways to get gigs is through connections with other musicians! Motivation Playing in a band is super motivating because you're part of a group working toward an exciting shared goal. Whether you're learning a new song, building a set list, or getting ready for a show, the process becomes more exciting and rewarding when you're making music you love with people you enjoy being around. That shared energy turns practice into something much more fun and meaningful. Performing Performing can be nerve-wracking, but it gets easier the more you do it, and being on stage with your friends makes it less scary. We love seeing how our students' stage presence and confidence grow with each performance—it’s one of our favorite parts of being teachers! As we mentioned, shows are a great place to make connections with musicians who you’d like to collaborate with in the future. Simply put, playing more shows leads to playing more shows. Creative Outlet Music is a powerful tool for expression, and it’s important to have outlets for that at any age! Life is very fast paced for many of us, and it can be tough to pause and do the things you enjoy. Band practice can be a consistent anchor in your week—something you can rely on for connection, processing, and creating with your bandmates. As corny as it sounds, playing music is good for your spirit! If you’d like to know more about the Sunburst Band Program, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information. We also recommend talking with your private lessons instructor so that they’re aware and can help you prepare.