Sometimes in metal tabs I come accross this:

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----3------------
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----3------------
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What does this mean? Do you strike the strings in succession on one pick-stroke? For example, as I pick down on the 4th string, do I pick the 2nd string right after in the same stroke?? OR do I mute the middle string with a finger and play the 2nd and 4th together kind of like a power chord? OR does it signify two guitars picking different strings at the same time?

Here's a simple, specific example, an excerpt from "For Whom the Bell Tolls":

|--10--9--8--7--|
|---------------|
|---7--6--5--4--|
|---------------|
|---------------|
|---------------|

I have not found a tab guide that explains this kind of a notation. And I post this here cuz it says "tab QUESTIONS & requests" ..sorry if it pisses off any of you hot-shots. Thanks in advance to anyone who can explain..

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----3------------
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----3------------
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Just stroke those notes at the same time and use another finger to mute the other strings.

thanks, man.. that's what i figured

Anytime. You can always PM if you ever have any other questions.

It depends entirely on the song. If you are talking about something like "Desolate Ways" by Morbid Angel or "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin, you pick the strings with your thumb and forefinger, respectively.

If it's something like "The Conjuring" by Megadeth, you are also probably supposed to use your fingers, but I always just mute the middle string.

If it's basically anything by Morbid Angel besides Desolate Ways, like, as an example, maybe "Rebel Lands" or "Visions from the Dark Side", you always use a pick, they are playing way too fast for fingers, at least too fast for my fingers.

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that makes sense.. tab is definitely pointless without hearing the song itself to put it into context, especially since it doesn't have all of the same signals as sheet musik ..which i definitely can't read. thanks for the info..

Usually riffs like that are harmonies and one guitar plays one and the other plays the other, its like that with meagdeths addicted to choas i think its the pre-chorus and chorus riff.It uses to confuses me to but all you do is play one of those lines a, but if you look at Megadeths looking down the cross thats when you do the plucking thing its not often songs have this techique though

yeah, i guess it depends then on who wrote the tab.. i see most tabs separating the different guitars' simultaneous parts instead of putting them on the same lines together. i suppose the plucking thing does not come into use much with metal.. unless maybe ballads (no thanks) or power metal (no thanks).

No, that is wrong. If a stave is describing the parts played by two seperate guitars, it will usually read "Two guitars arranged for one", which is pretty self explanatory when you see it. It's lazy or forgetful to leave this out and most tabbers won't.

Like I said, it usually means you either pick both strings in one downward stroke while muting the string(s) in the middle, or you pick each string simultaneously with seperate fingers, typically your forefinger and thumb. Sometimes you'll see three strings, which usually means you need to use you're thumb, forefinger, and middle finger. Which method is needed depends entirely on the song, so you have to listen to the song to understand the context in which it was meant.

It's also optional- as I said, while playing the intro to Megadeth's "The Conjuring", I always hit both strings with a downstroke while muting the middle string, even though I'm pretty sure Dave picks the strings seperately with his thumb and forefinger.

Speed is obviously a factor, as is sound. Let's say it's something acoustic, then it's more likely to be picked with the forefinger and thumb. If it's something electric, it's more likely to be played with a pick, muting the string(s) in the middle. If there is more than one string in the middle, it's more likely to be down with the forefinger/thumb method. If there's only one string in the middle, it can go either way equally. If it's a slow song, it can go either way equally. If it's a moderately fast song, like, say, Morbid Angel's "Thy Kingdom Come", than it's almost certainly going to be picked while muting the middle string(s).

Trust me on this. The tabber knows.

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dude i believe you. what i was suggesting is that this type of notation *could* sometimes mean different things (or methods).. just as you suggested, it could depend on the song, be it an acoustic or electric part. thanks for the insight.