Guitar tablature (TAB) consists of 6 horizontal lines representing each string on the guitar. An example of TAB with standard notation is shown below.
Notice how the TAB diagram is oriented as if you are looking down at your instrument, with the thickest string (E 6th string) closest to your face and the thinnest string (E 1st string) closest to the floor. The lower-pitched strings of the guitar are on the bottom side of TAB and the higher-pitched strings are on the top side of TAB.
How to read Tab
To understand how to read TAB, it's important to grasp the concept of frets on the guitar. A fret is a thin piece of metal that runs across the width of the guitar neck, dividing it into different pitches or notes. The fret closest to the headstock is the 1st fret, and the fret number increases as you move away from the headstock. Most guitars have 20-24 frets. Understanding what frets are is crucial for reading TAB.
When reading TAB, you'll read from left to right just like you would anything else. Different numbers and symbols will be placed on the horizontal lines. These numbers tell you which fret to play. For example, if a TAB shows a 5 on the top line (E 1st string), you will need to play fret 5 of the little e string. After playing that note, you'll read the next note to the right and play it, then the next, and so on. Your tabs will generally show one number at a time, but there are exceptions, such as when a song requires you to play a chord. In these instances, you'll see a series of numbers stacked on top of each other. The numbers still represent your frets (notes), but you'll be playing them all at once. Reading tabs is relatively simple, as long as you have a clear understanding of where your strings and frets are located. If you find yourself searching for notes while reading tabs, refresh your memory on your string and fret positions. Many students struggle with quickly determining which line (string) the tab is asking you to play, so try to commit to memory which line represents each string.
Here is an example of TAB notation with notes played separately and notes played simultaneously
Notes & Chords
The notes on our tabs are single numbers that go from left to right, representing a melody line, solo, or riff that you might play.
Chords are depicted with stacked numbers, representing a specific chord. For instance, the tab shows a G chord.tab-7.jpg
Hammer-ons & Pull-offs
These skillful finger movements are indicated on your tablature by a small arc between two or more notes. Pay close attention to ensure that the timing of your hammer-ons and pull-offs is accurate. You will also see an "H" or "P" above the arc, which indicates whether you should perform a hammer-on or a pull-off.
Muted Notes
If you need to mute a note temporarily, you'll see that indicated by a small "X," just as you would on a chord chart. Expect to encounter this symbol frequently if you're learning strumming patterns or particularly rhythmic leads.
Palm Mutes
If you need to mute a series of notes with your palm, you'll see a reminder on the tab in the form of the letters "PM" followed by a few dashes. The dashes indicate how long you should continue palm-muting the notes.
Slides
Slides can look (and sound) impressive when executed correctly. A long, slanted line connects two fret numbers when you need to slide from one pitch to another.
Bends
When you see an arrow pointing up next to one of your fret numbers, it means you need to bend a particular note. The arrow will show you how much you should bend the string, so make sure to pay attention to this and play the bends as indicated.
Vibrato
This is a cool effect, and you’ll have a chance to try it for yourself whenever you see a squiggly line over a note. The thicker the squiggle, the more intense the vibrato is supposed to be.
Downstrokes & Upstrokes
At times, you can play the guitar by strumming and picking it in any way you like. However, if a specific part of a song requires a particular strumming or picking pattern, you will see downstrokes noted with an upside-down “U” and upstrokes indicated by a downward-style arrow.
