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Understanding the Tab Staff

A tab staff for guitar has six horizontal lines, each one representing a string of the
instrument. The bottom line of the staff represents your lowest "E" string, the second
line from the bottom represents your "A" string, etc. Easy enough to read, right?
Notice that there are numbers located smack dab in the middle of the lines (aka
strings). The numbers simply represent the fret the tab is telling you to play. For
example, in the illustration above, the tab is telling you to play the third string (third
line) seventh fret.
Note: When the number "0" is used in tablature, this indicates that the open string
should be played.
This is the concept of reading tab, at its most basic. Now let's examine some of the
more advanced aspects of reading tablature notation, including how to read chords in
tab.
Reading Chords in Guitar Tab

Reading chords within guitar tab is a relatively simple process. When a tab displays a
series of numbers, stacked vertically, it is indicating to play all these notes at the same
time. The above tablature indicates that you should hold down the notes in an E major
chord (second fret on fifth string, second fret on fourth string, first fret on third string)
and strum all six strings at once. Often, tablature will additionally include the chord
name (in this case E major) above the tablature staff, to help guitarists recognize the
chord more quickly.

Reading Arpeggiated Chords in Tab

The above tablature contains the exact same notes as the first E major chord presented
on the previous page, but it will be played differently. In this situation, the notes in the
chord will be played one at a time, rather than all together. "How fast should I play
these notes?" you may ask. Good question... most guitar tab won't tell you this. But,
more on that later.

Hammer-Ons in Guitar Tab

(Hammer-On Tutorial)
It is most common in guitar tab to see the letter h representing a hammer-on, located
within the tablature between the original fret, and the hammered-on fret. So, if you
were to see 7h9, you would hold down the 7th fret and pluck/pick the appropriate
string, then hammer-on to the 9th fret without re-picking that string.
Occasionally, you'll see the ^ symbol used for a hammer-on (eg. 7^9)
Sometimes, in more formally printed guitar tab (like in sheet music books or guitar
magazines), you'll see hammer-ons written as "slurs" (see above), with a curved line
appearing over top of the initial and subsequent hammered-on notes.

Pull-Offs in Guitar Tab

(Pull Off Tutorial)
Similar to the hammer-on, the pull-off is generally represented by the letter p in guitar
tab, appearing between the originally fretted note and the pulled-off note. So, if you
were to see 9p7, you would fret and pick the 9th fret, then without re-picking pull off
your finger to reveal the note behind it on the 7th fret. Occasionally, you'll see the ^
symbol used for a pull-off (eg. 9^7).
Sometimes, in more formally printed guitar tab (like in sheet music books or guitar
magazines), you'll see pull-offs written as "slurs" (see above), with a curved line
appearing over top of the initial and subsequent pulled-off notes.



Slides in Guitar Tab

(Sliding Tutorial)
Generally, a / symbol is used to notate an ascending slide, while a \ symbol is used to
notate a descending slide. So, 7/9\7 indicates sliding from the seventh fret, up to the
ninth fret, and back to the seventh fret. If no number precedes the slide symbol, this
indicates sliding from an indiscriminate fret.
It is also not uncommon to see the letter s used to notate a slide. This is somewhat less
concise, as when sliding from an indiscriminate point (e.g. s9), it is unclear whether to
slide up to the note, or down to the note.

String Bends in Guitar Tab

(String Bending Tutorial)
String bends are notated several different ways in guitar tablature. In the formal guitar
tab found in guitar magazines, generally string bends are shown with an upward
arrow, accompanied by the number of steps the string should be bent (1/2 step = 1
fret).
In ASCII (text-based) guitar tab, a b is often used to signify a string bend. This b is
followed by the fret at which the original note should be bent to. For example, 7b9
would indicate that you should bend the seventh fret until it sounds like the ninth fret.
Sometimes, this target note is included in brackets, like this: 7b(9).
Occasionally, the b is omitted altogether: 7(9).
An r is generally used to indicate a return of a bent note to it's unbent state. For
example, 7b9r7 indicates a note on the seventh fret being bent up to the ninth fret,
then returned to the seventh fret while the note is still ringing.

Vibrato in Guitar Tab

The use of vibrato can be notated several different ways in tablature. In formal guitar
tab, a series of "squiggles" appears above the tab staff, directly above the note you
should apply vibrato to. The bigger the squiggles, the more vibrato should be applied.
In ASCII tab, most often the ~ symbol is used, generally strung together to appear as
~~~.
Although it doesn't appear frequently, sometimes vibrato will be simply notated with
a v in ASCII tab.



Miscellaneous Notation
A string mute is almost always notated with an x. Several x's in a row, on adjacent
strings, is used to notate a rake.
Right hand tapping (for right handed guitarists) is generally notated in tab via a t, in
conjunction with the pull off and hammer on techniques used when executing right
handed tapping. Thus, 2h5t12p5p2 represents traditional tapping technique.
When notating the tab for harmonics, the <> symbols are usually used, surrounding
the fret which the harmonic is played at.

The lack of rhythmic notation is the biggest flaw you'll find in guitar tab around the
web. And it's a doozy of a flaw. Most guitar tab doesn't notate rhythm in any way, so
if you haven't heard how the guitar part to the song you're playing goes, you have no
way of knowing how long to hold each note. Some guitar tab does attempt to include
rhythms, by putting stems on each number (to indicate quarter notes, eighth notes,
etc), but most guitarists find this cumbersome to read. And besides, if you're going to
include traditional rhythmic notation in guitar tab, why not just go the extra step and
write the whole thing in standard notation?
Another major problem with guitar tablature: only guitarists can read it. While
"standard notation" is readable by those who play any instrument, tab is native to
guitarists, so those who don't play guitar won't be able to comprehend it. This makes
any sort of musical communication with a piano player, or other musician, very
difficult.
We've covered the basics of the pros and cons of guitar tablature. Now, we'll take a
moment to talk about a few of the intricacies of tab - like how to read/write string
bends, slides, and more.
This should give you all you need to get started reading and writing guitar tablature.
Again, if you're serious about music, it highly advisable that you learn standard
notation as well as tablature. The excellent Modern Method for Guitar will get you
sight reading almost immediately.
Okay, enough talk... time to get started learning beginner song tabs. Have fun!