Written music has come in tablature form almost since music began being written.  This is a visual approach to reading music that shows you an exact position of the fingers on the instrument’s fingerboard or fret.  There are various advantages of tablature that many may not be aware of.  For example, if you use different tunings for your instrument, the tablature does not deviate from the standard number positioning. Using standard notation (the bars and the staff) has to be changed for every tuning. Standard notation also requires a roman numeral positioning to indicate where to place your fingers. The tablature is much more straightforward. In the end.however, it’s best to become well versed in both  tablature and standard notation.

So, the top line shows the standard notation of a regular scale of an octave.  The Tablature scale on the bottom shows the four strings visually that are upside down.  Now, let’s use the number to represent which fret you place your finger against the string when you pluck the string on the mandolin.

Number 1 represents the first fret, 2 the second, 3 the third and so on.  A 0 (zero) means pluck the string without fretting.  Thus you have a very simple system to show you how to play.

Someone violin / mandolin tablature for the hymn “Old Rugged Cross?

No, sorry. All I have is a piano arrangement for it. Have you tried calling your local music store to see if they can order it for you? You can also try www.howtoplaymusicvideos.com. If “The Old Rugged Cross Road in search engine is a series of hits that say “free downloads” and “print instantly.” Good luck finding exactly what you’re looking.

How to Read Mandolin Tab – Part 1