Grace notes?(The ones in ( ) on tab).

[rockonman]

I recently got tab for Purple Haze (Hendrix) and on the opening there is a part that is like ----8(9)---- what does this mean. I have been told this is called a Grace note, but that tells me jack $#!t. So if anyone can help me I would appreciate it.

[SLY]

That one from Hendrix Purple Haze isn't a Grace note , it's a bend .

I think you're talking about this part :

e---------------------------|
b------------8b-------------|
g--------7------------------|
D---/9------------7---------|
A---------------------------|
E---------------------------|


Tab writing differs from different sources , take a look at the tab legend before playing the tab ... So probably that (9) was refering to bending the 8th fret a half step (reaching the tone of the 9th).

Anyway , a grace note is a note played "very quickly" before the desired note ... Usualy using a legato or legato slide.
In original tabs , the fret of the grace notes are usualy written in small fonts.