How does tablature differ from notation that represents musical sound?

The primary difference between tablature and standard musical notation lies in their fundamental focus: tablature is a system of instructions for the performer's physical actions, whereas standard notation represents the musical sound itself, such as pitch and rhythm.123

• Tablature: This system directs a player on how to physically produce music on a specific instrument. For stringed instruments, it guides the fingers to the correct string and fret; for wind instruments, it indicates which holes to cover; and for percussion, it specifies which drum to strike and which hand or stick to use. Each instruction corresponds to a single physical action by the performer.3
• Standard Notation: This form is designed to record the musical sound, focusing on elements like pitch and rhythm. While tablature can indicate rhythm, its core purpose remains the prescription of the performer's movements rather than the abstract representation of the resulting notes.123

Essentially, while standard notation describes what the music should sound like, tablature provides a map of how to execute the performance on a particular instrument.23