Easy guitar tabs for beginners
Choose a first tab by string count and speed, see how the six lines work, then practise one short phrase at a time.
Taught by Rene Free Beginner firstQuick answer
A good first guitar tab uses one or two strings, a few nearby fret numbers, and a phrase you can loop slowly. The top line is the thinnest string; 0 means play a string without pressing a fret.
- Start with Beethoven or Seven Nation Army
- Read the string first, then the fret number
- Practise two to four notes before the whole tab
Read this tiny tab before choosing a song
Tab (short for tablature) is guitar music drawn as six lines, one per string. Read left to right. The numbers tell you which fret to press. Tap Hear it and follow the notes.
Pick the right first tab
Start with a beginner label, one or two strings, and a short repeating phrase. Leave fast slides and wide fret jumps until a simple line feels automatic.
Brain Stew
Green Day Open tab beginnerLoser
Tame Impala Open tab beginnerOde to Joy
Beethoven Open tab beginnerSmoke on the Water
Deep Purple Open tab beginnerCome As You Are
Nirvana Open tab beginnerSeven Nation Army
The White Stripes Open tab intermediateThe Morning
The Weeknd Open tab intermediateThe Boat I Row
Tame Impala Open tab intermediateChoosin' Texas
Ella Langley Open tab intermediateFlower In A Hurricane (ft Tame Impala, SZA, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard) [from GTAVI]
Justice Open tabA 10 minute tab routine
- 1
Read without playing
Point to the string line and say each fret number from left to right.
- 2
Play two to four notes
Make each note clean. Do not continue when one buzzes or another string rings.
- 3
Loop the small phrase
Repeat the same notes slowly until your picking hand stays relaxed.
- 4
Add the player
Use playback or a metronome below the recorded speed. Raise it only after three clean loops.
Use the interactive player for timing
The app version adds playback and looping. Slow the phrase down, listen once, then play with it only after you can play the notes without stopping.
Tuning comes first
Every tab here assumes standard tuning: E A D G B e from the thickest string to the thinnest. If a tab sounds wrong with the right numbers, tune before you blame your hands.
Useful next pages
Common questions
What do the numbers in guitar tab mean?
The numbers tell you which fret to press. The line tells you which string to play.
Are tabs easier than chords?
For single-note riffs, yes. Chords are better for full songs. Beginners should learn both slowly.