Guitar reading music help.?

Question:Ok, well I'm learning acoustic guitar on a Classic Spanish guitar.
I got a book to teach me, after I learned some chords and wanted to see what else there was.
I'm learning Edelweiss, and the way the book is set up, it has the sheet music, but above it, it tells you what string you use, and below, says the fret.
Thats simple, it matches up and plays the song (for the most part, there is 2 measure that make no sense, and I had to make up my own there)
But what confuses me, is that above all of this, at various parts, it shows a chord. Do I play that chord?
How do I even play a chord?
I know the fingering for the chords, but if I do that, how do I play the song?
It sounds fine if I just ignore those, but I'm pretty sure that they're important.
Anybody know anything about this?G

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Ok, well I'm learning acoustic guitar on a Classic Spanish guitar.
I got a book to teach me, after I learned some chords and wanted to see what else there was.
I'm learning Edelweiss, and the way the book is set up, it has the sheet music, but above it, it tells you what string you use, and below, says the fret.
Thats simple, it matches up and plays the song (for the most part, there is 2 measure that make no sense, and I had to make up my own there)
But what confuses me, is that above all of this, at various parts, it shows a chord. Do I play that chord?
How do I even play a chord?
I know the fingering for the chords, but if I do that, how do I play the song?
It sounds fine if I just ignore those, but I'm pretty sure that they're important.
Anybody know anything about this?G

Generally speaking, your music lists the tablature for more than one guitar player. The lower portion of the treble clef tablature is the melody which could be played by a lead guitarist or sung by the lead singer. Above the treble clef are the chords which could be played by a rythym guitarist. And there is probably a bass clef portion below the treble clef portion. This bass clef tablature could be played by a bass guitarist.
For a beginner, the best thing to do is learn each tablature separately. First learn the melody. Then learn the chords. Then learn the bass.

It is possible to play a combination of tablatures if you use finger pickin' style. That is where you are use most or all of your fingers and thumb on the playing hand to pick the strings. But this is for more advanced players.

hmm, the way i had my notes were the old fashion kind, i dont know if i can help you, be more specific...

The music part is pretty much the melody of the song, the notes you would sing, if you were singing it. The chords are optional, they are the accompaniment. It is a completely separate part, and normally, another musician would be playing it. I guess one person could play the chords and melody at the same time, but I can't tell you how to do that, as I do not have the music in front of me right now.
You might want to get a teacher, he or she could help you out with this kind of stuff.

I think what you are talking about with the chord diagram above the staff.Is what another instrument would play.Or the chord diagram is the rhythym,while the staff is the melody.

Well first of all I'm confused...it sounds like your playing a classical guitar, and with classical guitar you play with your fingers, and if the chords are above the written music you don't play both at once, you either play the chords or play the music that's written on the staff...using your fingers...not a pick...does this guitar have nylon strings ? I'm betting it's a classical...and that doesn't sound well played with at pick, if that's what your using. A chord is three or more notes played together usually strumed or played with tthe fingers at the same time, I sorry but I'm not even sure what to tell you because I'm confused as to what your trying to do. I always tell my student that it's best to have a have a teacher in the beginning or take music stores lessons for this reason...at least you'll have a better understanding about how things work...it sounds like you got confused somewhere alone the line. I'm going to send you some free sites so that you can get an idea of what your doing wrong....I don't approve of the free sites because I don't think there complete...or very good for that matter. I'm also going to send you some sites that I think are great, and some of them have a lot of free information for guitarist, some even have free lesson as an introduciton, also you'll find free chord charts, and charts that show you where all the notes are on the fretboard, the one site has a place where you name the chord and on the left side they have a guitar that shows you how to make the chord...some even have free electronic tuners. Well I hope that this helps you to get back on track, check out these sites, I hope that they help ...and like I said, I'm sorry but I really don't understand your exact problem...and I don't want to confuse you anymore then you are. Here are some free sites :
http://www.guitar.about.com/
http://www.freebasicguiar.com/
http://www.abclearnguitar.com/
http://www.learnhowtoplayguitar.com/
http://www.cyberfret.com/
http://www.daddydoodle.com/
Here are some classical guitar free sites :
http://www.dirk.meineke.free.fr/classica...
http://www.stormthecastle.com/classical-
http://www.infovisual.info/04032_en.htm
http://www.kickassclassical.com/
Here are some great sites, some have online lessons, DVDs', Videos, Cd, and books :
http://www.guitarchordsmagic.com/
http://www.billbrutal.com/
http://www.jamplay.com/
http://www.8notes.com/ (Click on the guitar, be sure to read all the information on this site, scroll up and down and read the different things that they have for guitarist, especially the one that says chords., this is the one that will show you how they are made, there's lots of information on this site, including a free tuner)
Here are some free sites, and a couple of classical :
http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/
http://www.learn-to-play-guitar-online.i...
http://www.worldguitar.com/
http://www.guitarlessons.net/
http://www.infiniteguitar.com/
http://www.stringdancer.com/
http://www.chordfind.com/
http://www.guitartutoronline.com/
http://www.learntoplaygutiar.net
http://www.absolutelyunderstandguitar.co...
I hope that something above helps you to understand what type of guitar that you want to play and how to start it....sorry for not quite getting what you wanted...good luck and I hope that I could be of some help...bye !!!!!