create this tab?

[jagguy]

How do i create this image in gimp? Do I use layers somehow as there are a few subtle colors here.
http://www.alistapart.com/d/slidingdoors/v1/norm_right.gif

[KDLA]

That's just a rounded rectangle with, instead of a solid color background, a gradient background based on a color applied to it. The gradient, though, is limited to only the top part of the image.
I don't use GIMP, but in Fireworks, you can change the points where the gradients end and begin. You'd need to do this in GIMP.

This might help: http://www.tankedup-imaging.com/gradient.html