HOW TO READ GUITAR TABS

THE BASICS

Tab uses six horizontal lines to represent the six strings of a guitar. The bottom line is the thickest string (low E), and the top line is the thinnest (high e). Numbers on the lines tell you which fret to press. 0 means play the string open (no fret pressed).

e|---0---1---3---|
B|---------------|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

Read tabs left to right, just like text. Numbers stacked vertically are played at the same time (a chord). Numbers spaced apart are played one after another.

CHORDS

When numbers are stacked vertically, strum all those strings at once. Here's a C major chord:

e|---0---|
B|---1---|
G|---0---|
D|---2---|
A|---3---|
E|-------|

HAMMER-ON (h)

Pick the first note, then press down ("hammer") a higher fret with your fretting hand to sound the second note without picking again. In tab, this is shown with an h between the notes, or with a curved arc connecting them.

e|---------------|
B|---5h7---------|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

PULL-OFF (p)

The reverse of a hammer-on. Pick the higher note, then pull your finger off to let the lower fretted note (or open string) ring. Marked with a p or a curved arc.

e|---------------|
B|---7p5---------|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

SLIDES

Pick a note, then slide your finger up or down the fretboard to the next fret without lifting. A / means slide up (lower to higher fret). A \ means slide down (higher to lower fret).

e|---------------|
B|---5/7---7\5---|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

Slide in means sliding into a note from an unspecified starting fret (shown as a diagonal line leading into the note). Slide out means sliding away from a note to an unspecified fret.

BENDS

Push the string upward (toward the ceiling) while pressing a fret. This raises the pitch without changing fret position. The amount is shown as a fraction of a step:

• 1/2 = half step (one fret higher in pitch)
• full = whole step (two frets higher in pitch)
• 1 1/2 = one and a half steps

e|---------------|
B|---7b(9)-------|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

A pre-bend means you bend the string before picking it. A bend release means you bend up, then release back down to the original pitch.

VIBRATO (~)

A rapid, rhythmic bending of the string that gives a note a singing, sustained quality. Shown as a wavy line (~~~) above or after the note. Apply by rocking your fretting finger back and forth while holding the note.

e|---------------|
B|---7~~~--------|
G|---------------|
D|---------------|
A|---------------|
E|---------------|

PALM MUTING (P.M.)

Rest the edge of your picking hand lightly on the strings near the bridge while you play. This gives a chunky, muffled sound used heavily in rock and metal rhythm guitar. Shown as P.M. with a dashed line indicating how long to keep muting.

   P.M.----------|
e|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|----------------|
D|---2--2--2--2---|
A|---2--2--2--2---|
E|---0--0--0--0---|

HARMONICS

Lightly touch the string directly above a fret wire (don't press down) and pick it to produce a bell-like chiming tone. Common positions are frets 5, 7, and 12. Shown with angle brackets: <12>.

e|---<12>---<7>---<5>---|
B|---------------------|
G|---------------------|
D|---------------------|
A|---------------------|
E|---------------------|

DEAD NOTES (x)

Lay your fretting fingers across the strings without pressing down to the fretboard. When you pick, you get a percussive "click" with no pitch. Shown as x on the string.

e|---x---0---x---|
B|---x---1---x---|
G|---x---0---x---|
D|---x---2---x---|
A|---x---3---x---|
E|---x-------x---|

GHOST NOTES

Notes that are felt more than heard. Play them very softly, almost inaudibly. Shown with parentheses: (5). Common in funk and blues to add groove.

e|-----------------|
B|---7---(5)---7---|
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-----------------|
E|-----------------|

TAPPING (T)

Use a finger from your picking hand to tap directly onto a fret, sounding the note without picking. Marked with a T above the note. Often combined with pull-offs for fast runs.

        T              
e|---12p7p5---------|
B|-------------------|
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|-------------------|
E|-------------------|

GRACE NOTES

Quick ornamental notes played just before the main note. They happen so fast they don't take up any rhythmic space in the measure. In our tab viewer, grace notes appear smaller and in italic.

STACCATO

Play the note short and clipped, regardless of its written duration. Release pressure right after picking to cut the note off. Shown as a dot below the note.

LET RING

Keep the note ringing and sustaining after you pick it, even as you play other notes. Don't mute or release the string. Shown with a dashed line extending from the note indicating how long to let it sustain.

TRIPLETS

Three notes played in the time of two. Instead of dividing a beat into two equal parts (eighth notes), you divide it into three. Shown with a 3 bracket above or below the note group.

    3       3
e|--5-7-8---8-7-5---|
B|------------------|
G|------------------|
D|------------------|
A|------------------|
E|------------------|

REPEATS AND ENDINGS

Repeat signs are double bar lines with dots. When you reach a closing repeat sign (dots on the left), go back to the opening repeat sign (dots on the right) and play the section again.

Alternate endings (volta brackets) are marked with numbers like "1." and "2." above the staff. Play ending 1 the first time through, then skip to ending 2 on the repeat.

TIME SIGNATURES

The two numbers at the beginning of a tab tell you the rhythm structure. The top number is how many beats per measure. The bottom number is which note value gets one beat.

• 4/4 = four quarter-note beats per measure (most common)
• 3/4 = three quarter-note beats (waltz time)
• 6/8 = six eighth-note beats (compound time, common in ballads)