Tablature Question

Hi All, just started back up playing guitar after not having played for a number of years. Stumbled onto this sight, Looks interesting like it it be a great place to get help and learn. Unfortunatly I'm not sure I'm smart enough hehe. I tried the "Easy fingerstyle Acoustic 1" lesson, and I don't understand the tab at all. The way the "reading tabs" in the FAQ says to read this wouldn't apply(well, i don't think so anyway) I see that you play a D chord but I don't know what the 3, 0, 2,2 mean. Can anyone help me get started?

D
E |----------------2--------------|
B |-3-----------------------------|
G |------2------------------------|
D |-0-----------------------------|
A |-------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------|

Also, is there anyone knowledgeable on 12 strings that can advise? I just purchased a washburn cumberland jumbo 12 string from musiciansfriend. It has great sound, its a real beauty but.. when i tuned it the base of the top raised noticably. It takes only the very slightest of pressure on the neck to distort the chord. Is this normal for a 12 string, or is this either a manufacture defect, or just plain poorly made guitar. I have about 2 more weeks of my 30 day money back left to decide if I should keep this guitar or not. I really like the guitar, its easy to play but don't want to keep it if it isn't going to hold up.

Thanks

ok. well tabs show what finger you are pressing on the fingerboard.

the six lines represent the six strings and the numbers on the lines are the fret u are suposed to press down.
the top string in the tab is the high e string and the bottom is the low e string.

in your example u play the opens string on the d string and the 3 fret of the b string. then u play the second fret of the b string, then u play the second fret of the high e string.

as u say this is a d chord but the notes picked out individually u will notice all the notes in that tab make the open d chord shape.

tabs fault is it doesnt tell u anything about the rythm, u ave to do that by ear.

anyway hope this is helpfull, if it was please give me rep points buy clickin the scale at the top of my message next to my name and such. plzzzzzz. i really want rep points. :D

I just want to make a quick correction. The numbers show you what [U]frets[/U] your [U]fingering.[/U]

Thanks Fret Spider and elklandercc. I see now. I had thought that since it was a finger picking lesson that the numbers had something to do with what your right hand should be doing. I guess you just need to watch the video and try to figure what the right hand is doing from that. Thanks again.

With 12 strings it's generally advisable to tune it a whole tone below standard tuning. I used to own a Yamaha 12 string and got tired of using a capo all the time and started tuning it to standard. In less than a year the bridge had bowed up and the guitar was useless.

If it's already happening to your guitar I'd return it if I was you. It's not going to get any better and it'll just make it harder to play.

yah more rep points its been like a month