This invention relates to a method and apparatus for notating music for a stringed instrument. A weighted tablature includes a staff having multiple horizontal lines. Each line represents a string of a musical instrument and at least some of the lines are of varying thicknesses. The relative thickness of a line corresponds to the relative thickness of the string represented by the line. In another aspect, a weighted chord diagram includes multiple vertical lines and multiple horizontal lines intersecting to form a grid. Each vertical line represents a string of a musical instrument and at least some of the lines are of varying thicknesses, the relative thickness of a line corresponding to a relative thickness of the string represented by the line. At least some of the horizontal lines represent a fret. A marking placed on the tablature or grid indicates a string to be played at a specified fret.