A tape servo system includes tape having bands of tracks including at least one data band having a plurality of data tracks of track pitch P and a servo band dedicated for servo information. The servo band includes two or more noncontiguous servo tracks with each pair of adjacent servo tracks of the two or more noncontiguous servo tracks having a center to center separation equal to M * P, wherein M for each pair of adjacent servo tracks may be any integer .gtoreq.2. The system may further include a head assembly having a single magnetoresistive read element tapped to provide at least (K+1) tapped servo read elements for use in reading servo information written to the servo band; wherein K is equal to the integer M for the pair of adjacent servo tracks having the greatest center to center separation and a repositioning assembly for repositioning the head assembly as a function of the servo information. Further, the center to center separation between pairs of adjacent servo tracks of the two or more noncontiguous servo tracks may be different for at least two pairs of adjacent servo tracks. A servo tracking data recording tape with two or more noncontiguous servo tracks having center to center separation between pairs of adjacent servo tracks being different for at least two pairs of adjacent servo tracks is also provided along with a method for servo track identification for use therewith. Further, track read/write head assemblies wherein the servo read and write elements are along the same gap lines as the data read and write assemblies, respectively, are provided.