I'm very new at playing guitar and I read alot of tabs on here but it is confusing how they work reading them and how they sequence for riffs when you post them. I am also confused about how numbers and fractions work for music like fifths and eights and 4/4. if anyone could explain this in the most elemental way that would help.

E--------4---3
A----2--4--2
D-----3---3---5--1---
B
E

that's just made up example but how would you know how to read a tab

The sequence is left-to-right, regardless of what string.

And it´s usually the other way, the example you wrote had the thickest strings on top while most tabs have them in the bottom.

It's easy to understand but I can't think of how to word it. Those are called time signatures.

As far as I'm concerned internet-style tabs are best when you already know the song, and can prescribe rhythmic values to the notes.

Not sure if I misread you, but the numbers equate (sp?) to the fret you're playing.

Okay, I will try to help you. First of all, i'm sorry to say, but tabs cannot show you time signatures or rhythm exactly as they should. Most tabbers simply put space with no notes to indicate a certain rhythm. Such as:

E------0---00---0---00
B------2---22---2---22
G-----------------------
D-----------------------
A-----------------------
E-----------------------

This would indicate playing The second fret on the B string (the second highest string) while playing the high E string open at the same time in a certain rhythm. You pretty much have to know the song to use tabs to learn it.

Now i will tell you how to read your tab example.

E--------4---3-------
A----2--4--2---------
D-----3---3---5--1--
B---------------------
E --------------------

First of all, your tab example is upside down. Also you are missing a string. This will never happen so I will turn it right side up and add the string.

E---------------------
B---------------------
G---------------------
D-----3---3---5--1--
A----2--4--2---------
E--------4---3--------

Now this is a funky example, but i will guide you through it. First off we don't know what the rhythm is because this isn't an existing song. The rhythm can be whatever you want.

You would start by playing the second fret on the A string, the second lowest string. Quickly after that you would play the third fret on the D string, the third lowest sting. You would then take a rest of unknown length before playing the fourth fret on your A string, quickly followed by the fourth fret on your lowest string, the E string. You would continue reading it like this until you are done.

In conclusion the Numbers are the frets, the dashes are the absence of notes being played on a certain string at a given time, and that's about it. I will show you how to make a chord now.

E-------------
B-------------
G-------------
D---2---------
A---2---------
E---0---------

This indicates that you would play the low E string without holding down a fret, while at the same time playing the 2nd fret on both the A string and the D string.

I hope that this helped you understand how to read a very basic tab, but mind you that there will be legends at the top of most tabs telling you what some of the marks on a tab will mean.

Time signatures.

Let's take 4/4 time as an example, standard time for a lot of rock and pop music.

The number at the bottom denotes the value, or length, of each beat in a bar. For 4/4 time, the value of each beat is a quarter note.

Here is a nice list of note values: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Note_value

If the number at the bottom was changed to 4/8, the value of each beat in a bar would turned into an 8th note, which is half of a quarter note. That is, the value of each beat per bar would be 50% shorter.

The number at the top denotes how many such beats there are in a bar. So for 4/4 time, there would be four beats in a bar, each worth a quarter note.

If you counted the time sig. out loud, it would be like this: One Two Three Four | One Two Three Four | One Two Three Four

For 6/4 time, there would be 6 beats in a bar, each worth a quarter note. Example: Star-Spangled Banner.

If you counted the time sig. out loud, it would be like this: One Two Three Four Five Six | One Two Three Four Five Six | One Two Three Four Five Six

And for 7/4 time, there would be 7 beats in a bar, each again worth a quarter note. Example: The first section of "Money" by Pink Floyd.

A small exercise - listen to "Money" by Pink Floyd. Can you feel the change in time signature from 7/4 to 4/4 right around the halfway mark?

That change in Money is so awesome

Another example of the 6/4 time signature is Queen - Im In Love With My Car