Tablatures are music sheets explaining you which fret on which string you have to press to the wanted sound. They're really simple to grasp, and thanks to them, you don't have to learn those boring notes to play your favorite songs!

NOT, but they definitely help out in the beginning. I still mostly use tablature programs, such as Guitar Pro, to write out my ideas and stuff, but I suggest that you don't neglect working on your aural skills just because you rely on tablatures too much.

Note sheets give you much more information on what you should play and how you should play it. They describe song dynamics, what emotion should you put into those notes, what technique you should use and whatnot... They're kinda harder to figure out and read from because they require of you to initally know where each note on your instrument is, what is not the case with tabs. Even if you don't use notes, I suggest you to learn them and play with them a bit because they'll help you out with understanding note system and therefore your instrument.

How to read tabs

 1 - This says that you should play open 5th string, then 1st fret on 5th string, then 3rd fret on 4th string and then 5th fret on 3rd string.

 2 - These are note lenghts. Quarter notes in this case.

 3 - This says with which finger you should fret on which string. Use 1st (index) finger to fret the 3rd fret on 6th string, use 4th finger (pinky) to fret 5th fret on 5th string, etc.

 4 - This says that you should simultaneously play those 4 frets (notes).

 5 - This arrow says that you should strum the chord with a downstroke.

 6 - This symbol says that you should slide from 3rd to 5th fret on 5th string.

 7 - This says that lenght of the note on 5th fret on 5th string should be prolonged by the lenght of this invisible note

 8 - This symbol says that you should do a natural harmonic on 5th fret on 3rd string.

 9 - This says that you should let those notes ring.

10 - This says that you should do a vibrato on those notes.

11 - This says that this partiture is written in 4/4 measure.

Of course, there are many more symbols you may encounter when dealing with tablatures, but we got through the basics, which is most important thing for you now.

How to read notes

 1 - Clef – this is a treble clef. It says that the note written on 2nd line will be G note. There's also a C clef and a Bass clef. You use them depending on the pitch range you're in.

 2 - Time signature. This says that one measure has 4 quarter notes in it.

 3 - Staff. It consists of 5 lines. They're assigned with notes depending on the clef.

 4 - Ledger lines. They extend above and below the staff, allowing for higher or lower notes to be shown than would otherwise fit on the staff.

 5 - Notes. They differ in they appearance as they symbolize different durations.

 6 - Beginning of repetition.

 7 - This is a C major scale. It's notes are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and again, C.

 8 - This says that you play measures starting from this one until the end of repetition only once (in this case). After you repeat the parts before that, you skip these measures.

 9 - End of repetition.

How to read sharp and flat notes?

In the example below, we've got A, A# and B notes. You should notice that sharp notes are written in the way that you add the sharp symbol (#) on the note, and you don't write that note in line (or in space between the lines) below or above. It remains where it is, but only gets the sharp symbol. That's what makes note sheets a bit more demanding, because you have to understand note systems to know which note is on which line or space.

Again, those are only basics of reading and understanding the notes and note sheets.

You should try writing your own tabs or notes for things that you know to play, or try reading them and playing what they say you to play. It's fun and will propel your musical growth a lot.