What Are Guitar Tabs?

Guitar tabs are a simple way of representing music for guitar players. Instead of using standard musical notation, tabs use numbers and lines to show:

• What strings to play.

• What frets to press.

• The order and rhythm of the notes.

Tabs are perfect for beginners because they focus on what to play, not complex music theory or notation.

The Lines Represent Strings

A tab is made up of six horizontal lines. Each line represents one of the strings on your guitar:

• Low E (the thickest string) is the bottom line.

• High E (the thinnest string) is the top line.

Example:

e|-------------------------   

B|-------------------------   

G|-------------------------   

D|-------------------------   

A|-------------------------   

E|-------------------------   

The Numbers Represent Frets

Numbers are placed on the lines to tell you which fret to press. For example:

e|-------------------------   

B|-------------------------   

G|-------------------------   

D|------------------2------   

A|-------------3-----------   

E|--------0----------------   

• E (0): Play the open (unfretted) low E string.

• A (3): Press the 3rd fret of the A string.

• D (2): Press the 2nd fret of the D string.

Reading Left to Right

Tabs are read from left to right, just like reading a book. Play the notes in the order they appear.

Symbols for Techniques

Tabs may also include symbols to indicate playing techniques:

• h: Hammer-on (e.g., 3h5 means hammer on from fret 3 to 5).

• p: Pull-off (e.g., 5p3 means pull off from fret 5 to 3).

• / or : Slide (e.g., 5/7 means slide from fret 5 to 7).

• ~: Vibrato (e.g., 7~ means add vibrato to the note).