Help with tab

[treepwood]

How am I supposed to play something like this:

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---9---
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---8---

How can I play both the E and d strings at the same time WITHOUT playing the string in between?

And secondly:

What does "(pound)" mean when placed in TAB?

Thanks in advance

[The Fury]

Hi, what you have to do is play the E string with your 1st finger, play the D string with your 2nd or 3rd finger and mute the string inbetween with the finger that is playing the lower note (in this case, the finger that is on the E string) by lightly resting it on the string with enough pressure to stop it vibrating but not so hard that it touches the fret wire and can be heard. It may take a bit of practice but keep at it.

I've never heard of 'pound' though. It could mean a hammer on, I'm not sure.

Just a word of advice, most tabs off the internet will be wrong in some way (I'm assuming that's where this tab came from), whether it's the wrong notes or an odd description like 'pound'. The're only good as a guide to work the song out by yourself.

[treepwood]

That seems to work, thanks.

[Dropt-D]

this tab could also want you to mute the A string with your finger, and (pound) play the chord hard for effect.