Tabulature Fret question

Hi all.. Not sure if this where this belongs but I will ask.. I am new to the guitar playing.. I mean really new, never picked up a guitar really.. Got an electric for christmas (Fender)..

Anyway I have been learning to read tabs. I want to be able to read them and play.. Maybe not the best way to learn but I am a later bloomer and just want to be able to play some songs with tabs..

Anyway I don't know what the tab means when it says (0). I know zero is open however I don't know what it means with the parenthesis mean.. :confused:

There are others I am unaware of and I have been debating on where to take private lessons but so far I am pleased with the site..

Thanks
Robby

Sometimes parenthesis means it is a "ghost" note. It is a note that is played, but barely recognizable. You sort of hear it being played, but its not accented very strongly. For example: Pick a string on your guitar at a normal force, then pick one very lightly. The one you picked lightly is very faint. If you played both at the same time, the faint one could be a ghost note, since it isn't really heard a whole lot over the one you picked harder.

This is what I have always though at least. I could be wrong.

Thanks.. I thought maybe it was a ringing note. Meaning once I play that note let it play for the alloted time it needs to be heard?

Thanks

Actually that might also be it:

------5-----(5)-----

That could mean that the note is played through both beats.

------- 5-----------
-------(0)---------- or --------(5)---------

That could mean that the note is a ghost note like I said.