The X in Tableture

i am playing Under the Bridge and i come across a cord w/ all XXXXX's in it. What does the X mean? I can't seem to find it anywhere in any tab instructions.

Hey Fenster...

The 'x' in TAB is a dead note, or percussive click. So mute the string as you see fit and 'click' it rather than making a note. It's often used in funk to punctuate chords, or as part of a rake.

Hope that helps...

Fenster, I dug up a tutorial using these dead notes for you.

Like Ren said they can be used in raking which is what this tutorial is about.

http://guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=405

So when it is a chord,
such as this (- means don't play that string)
- -
7 X
7 X
7 X
5 X
- -

I of course, strum the first one, then mute the strings on the second one then strum it?

Yes - you'd play one strum of a D chord, then one strum of dead (muted) notes to get a percussive sort of click instead. Easiest way to do that is to leave your hand in the D position (or shift to the next chord if you prefer) but not apply any pressure with your fretting hand, just let your fingers rest across the strings.

Just remember there is a difference between a "dead" note and a "palm muted" note. Not the same kind of muting. You don't want to hear the notes being played, you just want to hear that clicking sound, aka a dead note.