How to Read Guitar Tabs

It's essential that you learn how to read guitar tabs. Tablature (tab) has been around since the 1300's. Coupled with chord charts, tab is the most popular way to learn songs.

The guitar as we know it today has only been around for a little over 200 years, so early tab wasn't for guitar, but rather the lute & vihuela.

Tab is an alternative to music notation. Typically, if you want to learn to play songs, you will need to know how to read tab - as many songs are formatted in tablature (tab).

Tablature

Tablature is a system of notation which utilizes 6 horizontal lines to indicate strings, & numbers on the lines to show which frets are to be played. Horizontal lines = strings. Numbers on the lines = frets. Every verticality (column) is a moment in time, just like in regular notation. If a number appears alone, this means to play that tone alone. When numbers are stacked on top of each other, this means you will play those tones at the same time, as in a strummed chords.

Guitar tab is 'upside-down'. The highest string on the page is the thinnest string that is on the bottom of the guitar you are playing. The number in the circles off to the left indicate string number. Numbers in circles are almost always strings. The vertically written TAB just to the right of the string numbers act as a 'clef'. You may or may not see either the numbers in the circle or the word TAB on specific sources. Sometimes, you'll see the string names rather than the numbers in circles. You can check online legends, for specific symbols used for a particular source.

Sometimes the rhythm of a song will be written into the tab, yet this is rare. If tab is coupled with music notation, you can interpret the rhythm from the staff above it. If the rhythm isn't shown, it is assumed that you have a recording of the song, or are familiar with it enough to interpret & play it. Keep in mind that many tabs on the internet can have mistakes. It's a good idea to learn how to listen to songs & figure them out. Everyone can do it. People who say they can't, mean they won't.

Slurs in Tab

Slurs are using the fretting hand to connect tones. We consider pulls, hammers, slides, bends, & vibrato each as a type of slur. You may find sources which don't agree with this.

---

These are the basics of tab. Please consult magazine legends (keys, as to a map) or online legends to describe the particular symbols you may see in a source (magazine, website, etc.).

How to read guitar tabs for chords