Tabbed chord progressions

by Brendan
(Davie, Florida)

Question: How can you identify the chord progression of a song just by looking at the tabs for it?

Answer:

As looked at in the lesson on how to read guitar tab, we learned that a chord progression would be tabbed out as a sequence of vertical fret numbers, like follows...



Now, some tabs you look at will also note the chord name below its tabbed numbers. Otherwise, the only way of knowing the names of what chords are being played is to take time learning guitar chords and understanding how they are formed on the fretboard.

That way, you'll most likely recognise the chord from the tab when you arrange your fingers on the fretboard and you see the "shape" it's created.

In a way, it's not important to know the names of the chords you're playing, as tab is designed to simply show you where to put your fingers. The knowledge of what you're playing comes with learning theory (scales and chords etc.) and being able to recognise patterns as they form on the fretboard.

A beginner who's just learned their basic open chords will recognise the above tabbed chord sequence as...

A major - E minor - D major - A major