How to read guitar tabs
Guitar tab is a map: six lines for strings, numbers for frets, and symbols for simple moves.
Taught by Rene Free Beginner firstQuick answer
Guitar tab shows the six strings as six lines, thinnest string on top. A number on a line tells you which fret to press on that string, and 0 means play it open. Read left to right; numbers stacked in one column are played together.
- Top line = thinnest string
- Number = fret to press
- Stacked numbers = a chord
The six lines are the six strings
Hold your guitar and look down at it. The thinnest string is closest to the floor. Tab puts that thinnest string on the top line, and the thickest string on the bottom line.
What you see in tab
Where your fingers go
Same notes on the neck, drawn thin string on top like the tab. A ring means play the string open, with no finger on it.
Single notes and chords
Numbers side by side are played one at a time, left to right. Numbers stacked in one column are strummed together. That is a chord.
The symbols you will actually meet
Most beginner tabs only use numbers. These are the extra marks that show up once songs get more interesting. Skip any you have not met yet.
Open string
Pick the string without pressing any fret.
Fret number
Press just behind fret 3 on that string, then pick.
Muted note
Touch the string lightly so it makes a dead click, not a note.
Hammer on
Pick once, then press a higher fret hard enough to sound. 5h7
Pull off
Pick a fretted note, then flick the finger off to sound the lower one. 7p5
Slide up
Keep pressing and slide to a higher fret. 5/7
Slide down
Keep pressing and slide to a lower fret. 7\5
Bend
Push the string sideways to raise its pitch. 7b9
Vibrato
Wobble the pressed string slightly to make the note sing.
Palm mute
Rest the side of your picking hand on the strings near the bridge for a chunky sound.
Try it: your first real phrase
This uses only the two thinnest strings. Tap Hear it, watch each number light up, then play along slowly.
Read a tab in four questions
Every note in a tab answers the same questions in the same order. Ask them slowly for the first few tabs and they become automatic.
Which string?
Find the line. Top is the thin e string, bottom is the thick E string.
Which fret?
Read the number. Press just behind that fret. 0 means no finger.
Alone or together?
Side by side means one after another. Stacked means strum together.
Any symbol?
Letters like h, p or / tell you how to move between two notes.
Your first tab, step by step
- 1
Tune first
The numbers only sound right if the strings are in tune. Standard tuning is E A D G B e from thickest to thinnest.
- 2
Read it out loud
Before playing, say each note: "B string, fret 1". It feels slow and it removes most mistakes.
- 3
Play four notes, then stop
Loop a tiny chunk until it is clean, then add the next four. Never restart the whole tab after one wrong note.
- 4
Add the rhythm last
Listen to the song or the tab player, then play along below full speed.
Mistakes almost every beginner makes
Reading the tab upside down
The top line feels like it should be the top string. It is the thinnest string, which sits at the bottom when you hold the guitar.
Treating 12 as 1 and 2
Two digits together are one fret number. 12 means the twelfth fret, not fret 1 then fret 2.
Playing every tab at full speed
Speed hides mistakes. Start at about 60% of the song tempo and speed up only after three clean loops.
What tab does not tell you
Basic tab shows which notes, not how long each one lasts. Listen to the song first, or use the tab player, so the rhythm is in your ear before your fingers.
Do you need to read music?
No. Tab was made for guitar and is faster for beginners than standard notation. Many professional players read tab and nothing else.
Useful next pages
Common questions
Do guitar tabs show rhythm?
Some do, but basic tabs often show note order more clearly than timing. Listen to the song or use a player for rhythm.
Do I need to read music first?
No. Tabs are designed for guitar and are usually faster for beginners to understand.
Why is the thinnest string on top?
Tab is drawn as if you tipped the guitar up and looked at the neck from above. The high e string ends up on top, the low E string on the bottom.