[kahawe]

The difference is, typical guitar beginners want to play certain riffs they already know or are listening to while looking at the tabs or they can easily write down ideas in tabs. Very often you get the traditional notation above the tabs, then you have all you need. Most guitar training nowadays is very non-classical, the summit of that modern learning route is being able to improvise freely. You are actively being trained to LISTEN and pick it up that way, you pick up chord changes, rhythm and melody, even the key, just by listening and then repeat them or improvise over what is there. You end up applying quite a lot of theory but most guitar players don't study 100% dry theory but are taught to use certain patterns or to use their instrument to find out certain correlations others are learning by heart. It is more about expression.

In contrast, the highest point you can reach in typical classical training is being able to perfectly sight-read and reproduce the music exactly as it is on the sheet, hence the very clear and detailed instructions. The focus lies on re-production and precision.

A Jazz guitarist's lead sheet can be as short as half a page and he could still play for hours.

Both ways have their merits and disadvantages, this notation actually helps neither. It is still way too complicated for the average tab user - while the proficient classical player is missing vital information.

On top of that I find it EXTREMELY hard to read, the difference between the circle being filled on the side or on top is practically indistinguishable when you are a little further back, so are the tiny little lines sticking out of circles pointing up or down.