Originally Posted by: swschuler71) Sometimes there will be a chord letter above the tablature strings and the fret numbers on the strings do not appear to correspond to the chord finger placement. What do you do...play the chord OR the fret numbers...since they do not appear to be the same?[/quote]

Can you please post an example of this? My best guess here without more specific information is that you play the tablature. And the chord is either a different voicing or a general indication of harmonic content. But tab is obviously very specific, so I'd go with that instead of a chord symbol.

That's assuming both are correct. Because you could have a situation in which either the tab or the chord symbol (or both!) is just wrong, or an error.

[quote=swschuler7]Also, on more than one tab for a song I have seen a 0 on the 2nd string and a 3 below it in the same vertical line on the 5th string (for example). We are told to play vertical numbers together but how do you play an open #2 string with a fretted 5th string, at the same time? I get it if the numbers are on top of each other for adjacent strings...but when they are a string or more apart what do you do?

You would have to use fingerpicking technique. Pluck the lower note with your thumb & the higher note with a finger (index, middle or ring depending on the musical context, what happens before and after these notes).

Hope that helps!