Hey guitar enthusiasts! Today, we're diving deep into the world of guitar tabs, specifically focusing on the intersection of two awesome musical forces: IFailure and Breaking Benjamin. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, understanding tabs is crucial. We'll explore how to find accurate tabs, how to read them effectively, and some tips for mastering songs by these incredible bands. So, grab your guitars, tune up, and let's get started!

Unveiling the Importance of Guitar Tabs

Guitar tabs (short for tablature) are a simplified form of musical notation designed specifically for stringed instruments like guitars. Unlike traditional sheet music, tabs represent the fretboard visually. They show you where to place your fingers to play a specific note. Think of them as a roadmap to playing a song. The reason that tabs are so important is the ease of access and the widespread community support, making guitar playing easier and more fun. In the world of music, especially for guitar players, tabs play a huge part. They help musicians across the globe in playing and learning their favorite songs. Tabs aren't just for beginners; even experienced players use them to learn new songs quickly and efficiently. Tabs allow for a more immediate learning experience, and the visual format makes it easier to understand how a song is structured, which is a big advantage over traditional sheet music, especially for those new to music notation. Finding the right guitar tabs can be the difference between struggling through a song and experiencing the joy of playing it.

Tabs are organized in a simple, easy-to-read format. They consist of six horizontal lines, each representing a string on the guitar. The thickest line at the bottom represents the low E string, and the thinnest line at the top represents the high E string. Numbers on these lines indicate which fret to press down. For example, a '0' means you play the open string, while a '3' means you press down on the third fret. Rhythmic values, such as the length of a note, are typically indicated above or below the tab, using standard musical notation symbols or sometimes by the spacing of the notes within the tab. One of the greatest benefits of using guitar tabs is the ability to easily find and access them online. Platforms and communities dedicated to sharing tabs are full of different songs, all of which are easily accessible. This allows guitarists of all levels to find tabs for their favorite songs, quickly expanding their repertoire and improving their skills. This availability is particularly valuable for complex songs, where sheet music might be harder to find or interpret. Using guitar tabs also gives musicians the ability to play with a song they may have never heard. With the help of the tabs, musicians are able to understand the structure of the song. Guitar tabs are an important tool in the guitarist's arsenal, making learning and playing music easier and more fun.

Furthermore, the evolution of guitar tab software and websites has greatly enhanced the tab experience. There are now numerous programs and online resources that allow you to view tabs with interactive features. Many sites offer playback options, allowing you to hear the song while following the tab, which helps with understanding rhythm and timing. Some even provide tools for slowing down the tempo, which is extremely helpful when learning complex passages. The evolution of online tabs and software, with their interactive features, is what keeps guitarists all over the world coming back for more.

Where to Find Reliable IFailure and Breaking Benjamin Tabs

Finding accurate guitar tabs is crucial for learning songs correctly. There are several online resources you can use. Websites are the most popular sources for guitar tabs. They have a wide variety of songs from multiple different bands. Let's look at some places where you can look for reliable tabs for IFailure and Breaking Benjamin.

One of the most popular platforms is Ultimate-Guitar.com. This website is a massive database of tabs, with a strong community that often rates and reviews tabs. This allows you to identify more reliable options. This site is very well organized, and the user interface makes it easy to find tabs for any band. The community aspect is great, because users can share and critique tabs, increasing the odds that you'll find an accurate version. Be aware that the quality of tabs can vary, so always compare different versions and listen to the original song to ensure accuracy. Another great platform to check is Songsterr.com. Songsterr offers interactive tabs with audio playback. This feature is particularly useful for learning songs because you can hear the notes as you play them. This helps with rhythm and timing, which is an important aspect of playing music. Songsterr is a paid service, but it offers a free trial that allows you to test it out. Other sites to consider include Chordify.net, which converts audio files to chords and tabs, and Tabs.ultimate-guitar.com, where you can browse a specific list of tabs.

When searching for tabs, use specific keywords to narrow your search. For example, search for "Breaking Benjamin - Diary of Jane guitar tab" or "IFailure - [Song Title] guitar tab". When you find a tab, always cross-reference it with other sources and listen to the original song to ensure accuracy. Another pro tip is to look for tabs with ratings and reviews from other users, which helps identify the most reliable versions. Sometimes, you can find official tab books for Breaking Benjamin, which are guaranteed to be accurate. These books are available in music stores or online retailers. By using a mix of these resources and verifying the tabs, you'll greatly increase your chances of successfully learning songs by IFailure and Breaking Benjamin.

Decoding Guitar Tabs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Alright, let's break down how to actually read these guitar tabs. Understanding guitar tabs involves knowing the different parts and what they mean. First off, as mentioned earlier, tabs consist of six horizontal lines representing the guitar strings. Let's go through the order of the strings:

• E (Low E string)
• A
• D
• G
• B
• e (High E string)

Numbers placed on these lines indicate which fret to press down. The number '0' means you play the open string, meaning you don't press down on any fret. The number '1' means the first fret, '2' the second fret, and so on. Multiple numbers stacked vertically indicate that you play those notes simultaneously, which means they are being played at the same time as a chord. You can also tell the notes from the tab by how they are spaced, and the notes can be grouped together. Standard musical notation symbols may be used to show the rhythmic values of the notes. These include symbols for whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. These will tell you how long each note should be held. Pay attention to other musical elements within the tab, such as bends, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs. These are usually indicated by special symbols or text.

• h: hammer-on
• p: pull-off
• /: slide up
• ****: slide down
• b: bend
• r: release
• x: mute

Learning to read tabs takes practice, but with time, you'll become fluent. Start with easy songs, and gradually work your way up to more complex pieces. There are lots of online resources and tutorials that can help you understand the symbols and techniques used in tabs. Some tabs may also include strumming patterns. These show you the direction of the strum (up or down) to use for each chord. This can be indicated by arrows above or below the tab. Practicing consistently will help improve your reading skills and your ability to play the songs. A great way to learn to read is to pair the tab with a recording of the song. As you play along, pay attention to the timing and how the notes fit together. This will help you understand the relationship between the tab and the music, further increasing your musical abilities.

Mastering Songs by IFailure and Breaking Benjamin

Now, let's talk about some strategies for mastering songs by IFailure and Breaking Benjamin. Both bands are known for their distinctive guitar riffs and emotional depth, so getting their songs right is a great accomplishment. First, when you pick a song, choose something that's within your current skill level. You can always work your way up to more complex pieces. Start by listening to the song multiple times. This will help you get familiar with the melody, rhythm, and overall structure of the song. Then, find a reliable tab online. Remember to check multiple sources and listen to the original song to ensure accuracy. Break the song down into smaller sections, such as the intro, verse, chorus, and bridge. Master each section before moving on to the next. Focus on slow, accurate playing. Use a metronome to keep your tempo steady, and gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable. Pay attention to the details. Breaking Benjamin songs, in particular, often involve interesting guitar techniques. Pay attention to the bends, slides, and other effects, which help to reproduce the original sound and can set you apart from other guitarists.

Both IFailure and Breaking Benjamin have a great selection of songs that make good practice material. You can start with songs that are relatively simple and then gradually move to more advanced pieces. Some great IFailure songs to learn could include "My Curse" or "The End Of Heartache," which are known for their guitar riffs and great songs to play on guitar. If you're looking for something by Breaking Benjamin, "The Diary of Jane" is also a classic, and it's a great song to play if you're a beginner. "Breath" is also another good one that is a little more simple than the other songs, but it still has a lot of great riffs to play. Practice regularly, and don't be discouraged by mistakes. The most important thing is to enjoy the process and to keep playing. Play along with the original recordings to help develop your timing, feel, and musicality. Playing along with the recording also helps to see how the different parts of the song work together. Join online communities or find local groups to play with other guitarists, and don't be afraid to experiment. Play around with different techniques and find your own interpretation of the songs.

Troubleshooting Common Tab Issues

Even with the best resources, you might run into issues when learning tabs. Here's how to troubleshoot some common problems. The first is inaccurate tabs. It's important to cross-reference tabs from multiple sources and listen to the original song to catch any mistakes. Pay attention to the rhythm. If the notes don't sound right, the rhythm might be off, especially the note lengths. Make sure the timing is correct and adjust the tab if needed. Another common issue is difficulty with specific techniques. Some songs may require advanced techniques like bending, sliding, or tapping. The best approach is to break down the technique into smaller steps. Practice the technique slowly and build up speed over time. Watch tutorials or videos to get a better understanding of how the technique is performed. If you're struggling with a particular section, try slowing down the tempo. This will make it easier to play the notes accurately. If you don't fully understand the tab symbols, find a guide to tab symbols that can help you with the different notation marks. Also, try different fingering. If one fingering is difficult, try another. You might find a way to play that is much more comfortable for you. Don't be afraid to change things up.

Another thing that you could find difficult is that you might have difficulty with the tuning. Make sure your guitar is properly tuned before you start playing, using a tuner or online tuning tool. Pay attention to how the guitar sounds. If it doesn't sound right, the guitar may be out of tune or the tab could be inaccurate. Many of the problems you will face as a guitarist can be resolved with slow practice, patience, and a bit of critical thinking. Keep in mind that playing and learning music is an ongoing process. Be patient with yourself, and don't give up. Practice, make mistakes, and learn from them. The key to mastering guitar tabs and playing songs by IFailure and Breaking Benjamin is to keep practicing and enjoying the process.

Final Thoughts: Rock On!

Learning to play songs by IFailure and Breaking Benjamin can be incredibly rewarding. It allows you to connect with the music and to improve your skills. Remember to find reliable tabs, understand the notation, and practice consistently. Don't be afraid to experiment, and most importantly, have fun! So, keep strumming, keep practicing, and keep rocking! With dedication, you'll be playing your favorite tunes in no time. Enjoy the journey!