Guitar Tablature: What It Is, How to Read It & More

We’re about to demystify guitar tablature: what it is, how to read music with it, and why it’s such an incredible tool for any guitarist, especially beginner guitar players.

What is Guitar Tablature?

Guitar tablature (tab) is a simplified way to write down music specifically for fretted instruments like the guitar. Forget the complex world of musical staves, clefs, and whole notes for a moment. Tablature is a visual representation of where your fingers go on the fretboard, making it incredibly intuitive for beginners who are just learning how to play guitar.

Imagine someone telling you, “Put your first finger on the second fret of the third string of the guitar.” That’s essentially what a tab does, but in a concise, universally understood format. It’s like a blueprint for your fingers, showing you exactly which string to pluck and which fret to press down. It doesn’t tell you how long to hold a note or the exact rhythm, but it’s a phenomenal roadmap for getting the right notes under your fingers quickly.

Anatomy of a Tab

Strings

Look at any guitar tab, and you’ll immediately see six horizontal lines. These lines represent the six strings of the guitar. These lines are usually inverted compared to how you might look at your guitar while playing.

The top line in a tab represents your high E string (the thinnest string, closest to the floor when you’re holding your guitar). The bottom line represents your low E string (the thickest string, closest to the ceiling).

Frets

Along these string lines, you’ll see numbers. These numbers represent the fret you need to press down on that specific string. So, if you see a 3 on the second line from the top, it means you’ll press down on the third fret of your B string.

Numbers

Numbers tell you which fret to play. A 0 means play the open string (no fingers pressed down). Any other number corresponds directly to the fret you’re pressing. It’s a direct instruction: “Play fret X on string Y.”

Common Tablature Symbols

Tablature goes beyond just frets and strings; it also includes symbols for common guitar techniques. These tab symbols add flavor and expression to your playing, making a simple sequence of notes and guitar chords come alive.

Hammer-ons

Hammer-ons are represented by an (h) or a curved slur mark connecting two numbers. A hammer-on means you play the first note, then quickly press down on the second fret (on the same string) with another finger without plucking again. It creates a smooth, flowing sound.

Pull-offs

Indicated by a (p) or a curved slur mark, often going downward from a higher fret to a lower one. A pull-off is the reverse of a hammer-on. You play the first note, then quickly “pull off” your finger from the fret, letting the lower note (or open string) ring out without plucking again.

Alternating quickly between hammer-ons and pull-offs is known as trill.

Bends

Shown with a (b) and sometimes an arrow indicating the direction and extent of the bend [e.g., (1/2) for a half-step, (full) for a whole step]. A bend means you pluck a note, then push or pull the string across the fretboard to raise its pitch. It’s one of the most expressive guitar techniques.

Slides

Represented by a (/) for an ascending slide/slide-up (from lower fret to higher) or a () for a descending slide/slide-down (from higher fret to lower). A slide involves playing a single note, then sliding your finger up or down the string to another fret while keeping the finger pressed down and the note ringing.

Vibrato

Often shown as (~) or (v) above a note. Vibrato is a subtle, rapid variation in pitch, achieved by wiggling your finger on the fretted string. It adds warmth and sustain to a note.

Palm Mute

Indicated by (P.M.), or palm mute, above the tab, often followed by a series of dashes indicating the duration. To palm mute, you lightly rest the side of your picking hand’s palm near the bridge while you pluck the strings, creating a short, percussive, muffled sound.

Harmonics

Usually shown as (< >) around a fret number (e.g., <12>) or nat. harm./natural harmonic or art. harm./artificial harmonic. Harmonics are bell-like, ethereal sounds produced by lightly touching the string at specific points without pressing it down fully, then plucking.

Whammy bar

Indicated by a (v) or (w/b) with arrows showing direction (up or down) and extent. If your guitar has a tremolo arm (whammy bar), this symbol tells you to use it to raise or lower the pitch of the note.

Upstrokes & Downstrokes

Upstroke means striking guitar strings in an upward motion, from the floor to the ceiling. A downstroke means the opposite; downstrokes are when the finger or pick moves from the ceiling to the floor.

In guitar tablature, upstrokes are generally denoted with an upward arrow (↑) and downstrokes by a downward arrow (↓).

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How to Read Tabs

Lines

The six lines correspond to your guitar strings, usually with the high E (thinnest) at the top and the low E (thickest) at the bottom.

e|————————————| (High E string)
B|————————————| (B string)
G|————————————| (G string)
D|————————————| (D string)
A|————————————| (A string)
E|————————————| (Low E string)

Numbers

The numbers tell you which fret to press on that specific string.

If you see:

e|————————————|
B|—————–3——————|
G|————————————|
D|————————————|
A|————————————|
E|————————————|

…it means play the 3rd fret on the B string.

Zero (0)

A ‘0’ means play the open string (i.e., no fingers pressed down on any fret).

If you see:

e|————————————|
B|—————–0——————|
G|————————————|
D|————————————|
A|————————————|
E|————————————|

…play the open B string.

Stacking Numbers

Sometimes you’ll see numbers stacked vertically, indicating a chord.

If you see:

e|————————————|
B|—————–1——————|
G|—————–2——————|
D|—————–2——————|
A|—————–0——————|
E|————————————|

…it would typically be an A minor chord: open A string, 2nd fret on D, 2nd fret on G, 1st fret on B, open E string. You play all these notes at the same time.

Reading Direction

You read tablature from left to right, just like you read a book. The notes on the left are played first, followed by the notes to their right.

Rhythm

Here’s where tab has its main limitation: it usually doesn’t tell you the rhythm or timing. You won’t see quarter notes, eighth notes, or rests.

Technique Symbols

Symbols will be interspersed among the fret numbers, telling you how to play those notes. When you encounter them, apply the technique to the connected notes.

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Tips for Mastering Tablature

Reading tabs isn’t just about decoding symbols; it’s about making music.

Start Slow

Your fingers need to learn new pathways. Play one note at a time, making sure each note rings clear. Gradually increase your speed only when you can play it perfectly slowly.

Listen to the Song

This tip is perhaps the most important. Tabs often lack rhythm information. Before you even try to play, listen to the actual song you’re trying to learn. Listen to the rhythm, the feel, the nuances. This auditory input will fill in all the rhythmic gaps the tab can’t convey.

Practice Regularly

Consistency trumps intensity. Ten minutes of focused practice every day will yield far better results than a two-hour marathon once a week. Your fingers need repetition to build muscle memory, and your brain needs consistent exposure to solidify the patterns.

Experiment

Don’t be afraid to try different fingerings. While tabs suggest what to play, they don’t always dictate how to finger it. Sometimes shifting your hand position or using a different finger will make a passage much easier or sound smoother. Trust your ears and your hands; it’s a critical aspect of learning guitar.

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Guitar Tabs vs Sheet Music/Standard Notation

Now that you’re well-versed in tablature, it’s worth understanding how it fits into the broader world of guitar music notation.

What is Standard Notation?

Standard musical notation (sheet music) is a universal system for writing down music that’s been around for centuries. It uses a five-line staff, clefs (like the treble clef for guitar), notes with specific shapes (whole, half, quarter, eighth, etc.) to indicate duration, and rests to indicate silence. It also shows pitch, dynamics (loudness/softness), and tempo.

The key difference is that standard notation is prescriptive of the exact pitch, duration, and rhythm, but descriptive of the instrument. In other words, it doesn’t tell you where on the guitar to play a specific note, though it tells you what note to play. A C note written on a staff, for instance, could be played in several places on the guitar.

When to Use Tabs vs Standard Notation?

Use Tab Notation When:

• You’re a beginner: It’s incredibly accessible and gets you playing songs quickly without needing to learn complex music theory.
• You want to learn a specific song quickly: Tabs are direct blueprints for finger placement.
• You’re learning a non-traditional technique: Some guitar techniques are easier to represent visually on a tab.
• You primarily play by ear: Tabs can augment your ear training by confirming notes.

Use Standard Notation When:

• You need precise rhythm and timing: For complex classical pieces or intricate jazz arrangements, standard notation is indispensable.
• You’re playing with other instruments: It’s a universal language that all musicians understand, ensuring everyone is on the same page.
• You want a deeper understanding of music theory: Standard notation forces you to think about intervals, scales, and harmony in a more abstract, universal way.
• You’re composing original music: It allows you to document your ideas with complete rhythmic and melodic information.

In essence, tabs are fantastic for getting your fingers on the fretboard and playing songs, especially as a beginner. Standard notation is the comprehensive language for truly understanding and communicating music. Many guitar pros use both, leveraging the strengths of each.

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Guitar Tablature FAQs

What is tablature for guitar?

Tablature, or tab, is a visual method of writing music specifically for guitar and other fretted instruments. It uses six horizontal lines to represent the guitar strings and numbers on those lines to indicate which fret to play. It’s a simplified system focused on where to put your fingers rather than traditional musical pitch and rhythm.

What is the 80/20 rule for guitar?

The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in guitar practice suggests that 80% of your progress comes from 20% of your effort. It emphasizes focusing on the most impactful and challenging areas of your playing rather than spreading your efforts too thinly.

For example, if a specific chord change or a difficult lick is holding you back, spending concentrated time on just that element will yield disproportionate improvements. It’s about smart, targeted practice.

What is the forbidden chord on guitar?

There isn’t a universally agreed-upon forbidden chord on guitar. This phrase is often used humorously or hyperbolically to refer to a chord that is difficult to play or unpleasant. Experienced guitarists may also joke that these chords are ones that are particularly difficult for beginner guitarists.

How do you read tablature?

You read tablature from left to right. The six horizontal lines represent your guitar strings (high E at the top, low E at the bottom). Numbers on these lines tell you which fret to press (0 for open string). Stacked numbers mean to play those notes as a chord. Symbols indicate specific guitar techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, bends, and vibrato.

What does guitar tablature look like?

Guitar tablature typically looks like the following:

e|—————–0——————–|
B|————-1—–1——————|
G|———2———–2—————-|
D|—–2—————–2————–|
A|-0————————————|
E|————————————–|

This example shows the notes of an A minor arpeggio being played. The lines are the strings, and the numbers are the frets. Technique symbols would be interspersed with these numbers.

With a deeper understanding of guitar tablature, you’re well on your way to becoming a better musician.

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Expert Insight From: Griffin Piazza – Electric & Acoustic Guitar Expert
Griffin has over a decade of experience in the music retail industry and a deep knowledge of both electric and acoustic guitars. His hands-on experience helps ensure our recommendations and insights are grounded in real-world expertise.