Guitar tablature, or “tabs,” is the easiest way to start learning songs without needing to read standard notation. If you’re new to playing guitar, this guide will teach you step by step how to read and understand guitar tabs.

1. What is Guitar Tablature?

Guitar tablature is a simple music notation system that represents the strings and frets of a guitar. Unlike standard sheet music, tabs show exactly where to place your fingers on the fretboard.

Here’s what a basic tab looks like:

E|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|----------------|
D|------2---------|
A|----2---2-------|
E|--0-------0-----|

Each line represents a string, and the numbers indicate which fret to press.

(Image: A labeled diagram of a guitar tab with string names and fret numbers.)

2. Understanding the Basics

The Six Strings

A guitar tab has six horizontal lines, each corresponding to a string on the guitar:

• E (thinnest, high E) – Top line
• B – Second line
• G – Third line
• D – Fourth line
• A – Fifth line
• E (thickest, low E) – Bottom line

Numbers on the Lines

Numbers tell you which fret to press on a specific string. For example:

E|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|------2---------|
D|----2---2-------|
A|--0-------0-----|
E|----------------|

• 0 = Open string (play without pressing a fret)
• 2 = Press down on the 2nd fret

(Image: A close-up of a guitarist pressing the 2nd fret on the D string.)

3. Common Symbols in Guitar Tabs

Tabs include extra symbols to show different techniques:

• h = Hammer-on (e.g., 5h7 means play the 5th fret, then hammer-on to the 7th fret)
• p = Pull-off (e.g., 7p5 means play the 7th fret, then pull off to the 5th fret)
• */ or * = Slide (e.g., 5/7 means slide from the 5th to 7th fret)
• b = Bend (e.g., 7b9 means bend the note at the 7th fret up to match the pitch of the 9th fret)
• ~ = Vibrato (e.g., 5~ means apply vibrato to the note)

Example with techniques:

E|--------------|
B|--5h7--7p5----|
G|----------6/8-|
D|--------------|
A|--------------|
E|--------------|

(Image: Diagrams demonstrating hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides.)

4. Reading Chords in Tabs

Chords are shown with multiple numbers stacked vertically, meaning you play them simultaneously:

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

This represents a C Major chord, where:

• 0 means play the string open
• 1, 2, 3 indicate frets to press
• x means don’t play that string

(Image: A chord diagram for C Major next to its tab representation.)

5. Reading Rhythms in Tabs

Most basic tabs don’t include rhythm notation, so you’ll need to listen to the song to figure out the timing. However, some tabs use dashes (-) to indicate beats:

E|-------------------|
B|-------------------|
G|----2----2----2----|
D|--2----2----2----2-|
A|-------------------|
E|-------------------|

Each dash represents a beat, helping you follow along.

(Image: A visual showing a beat grid with tab timing.)

6. Practice with a Simple Riff

Let’s try ‘Smoke on the Water’ by Deep Purple:

E|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|----3---5------|
D|--5---5---5----|
A|----------------|
E|----------------|

Practice slowly, making sure each note rings clearly.

(Image: A guitarist playing the first few notes of the riff.)

7. Next Steps

Now that you know how to read tabs, here’s what to do next:

• Practice daily – Start with simple songs and riffs.
• Use online tabs – Websites like Ultimate Guitar and Songsterr have thousands of songs.
• Experiment with techniques – Try adding slides, bends, and hammer-ons to make your playing more dynamic.

With practice, you’ll be reading and playing your favorite songs in no time. Happy playing!