I just can't work out how to read tablature. How do you know, for example, how long to hold a note? What do the numbers on the line mean (Fret?)

Each line represents a string with the bottom of the 6 being the bass and the top the treble E
Numbers indicate fret positions - 0 means play open string there are various other notations
There is not a device to indicate rhythm - hence its limitation

There is a very elaborate system of indicator BUT it is limieted really to tunes you already know IMO

How on earth do people play complex pieces with no rhythm markers?? I've seen classical pieces advertised as using 'simple tab' -stuff like cavatina!! How could they possibly write that in that system?

Don't they have indicators above the tab, like quavers and crotchets etc to indicate the rhythm? I did this in my dip and had to transcribe lute music back and forth between tab and staves.

*goes to check*

Just looked in Grove and yes they do. Symbols are different depending whether its Italisn or French (etc) and modern tab seems to use current notation

the stuff i've been looking at just uses crosses on the string lines, and nothing above.

Are the symbols on the string lines connected as if they are beamed quavers or anything like that?

OK I've done some googling

http://guitar.about.com//library/blhowtoreadtab2.htm

It appears that some modern day guitar tab stuff does not give the rhythm, and you have to know how the piece goes before you can play it.

Olde Renaissance Lute tab does include rhythm markings. This is what I did in my dip!

http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute/tab-intro.html

"proper" guitar tab will include rhythm markings by putting tails on the numbers akin to normal notes

http://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory30.htm

And may even have the stave included as well.

Thanks Jane - that's really kind of you to look that stuff up!

Jane

I would be very wary of most guitar tab and keep the following in mind when you look at it.
First and probably most importantly, 90% of the stuff is just altogether wrong. That isn't to say that it all is! You can look at 3, 4 or 5 different postings of the same tune, and from them you will possibly be able to get 85% of the song nailed down, just from the work of others (anything to make life easier).
Secondly, it may contain all the right notes, but it is how someone else would play it, so you need to look hard at certain fingerings to see if there isn't a better or more economical way to achieve the same end.

I agree with OMG tab is not good I only wish I could get my rock and acoustic pupils to learn to read