Guitar tablature (tab for short) is a system of notation that graphically represents strings and frets of the guitar fretboard. Each note is indicated by placing a number, which indicates the fret to play, on the appropriate string.

The Basics

To begin with, tab is written in lines - six in all - each line representing a string on the guitar. The thickest string is the bottom line and the thinnest string the top.

e-------------------------------
B-------------------------------
G-------------------------------
D-------------------------------
A-------------------------------
E-------------------------------

Numbers are then placed on these lines to represent finger positions on the guitar fretboard. According to the diagram below, you would play this on a guitar by putting your finger just behind the 2nd fret on the fifth (or the second thickest) string. As musical notes, this would read as follows: B B B C# B A. The ‘zero’ represents playing an 'open' string. So in this case you would play the A open with no finger on the fretboard.

e-------------------------------
B-------------------------------
G-------------------------------
D-------------------------------
A--2--2--2--4--2--0-------------
E-------------------------------

Reading Guitar Tab Chords

For a tab chord, the notes are placed in a vertical line over the horizontal ones (the strings). The diagram below represents a C chord. Strum the top five strings of the guitar in one motion.

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

This tab tells you to strum the C chord three times:

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

The one shortcoming of guitar tab is that it does not represent the duration of notes - that is, how long to hold them for. Nor does it represent rhythm very well. Sometimes tab will represent these by how the notes are spaced, but this can't accurately reflect the subleties of the music. In general, tab works best if you listen to the song for guidance on timing, and then read the notes and practice it. Here, for example, is the opening riff of ‘Day Tripper’ by The Beatles. Note the distances between the numbers: the first ‘0′ would ring slightly longer then the next four notes, and the distance between D2 and D0 would also indicate a break in timing:

e-------------------------------
B-------------------------------
G-------------------------------
D-----------2---0---4---0-2-----
A---------2-------2---2---------
E-0---3-4-----------------------

For another example, here's the opening riff of Cream's 'Sunshine of Your Love':

e-----------------------------------
B-----------------------------------
G-----------------------------------
D-12-12-10-12-----------------------
A--------------12--11--10-----8b----
E--------------------------10-----10

Tablature Symbols

The numbers alone can't describe the many techniques that a guitarist can execute. The following tablature symbols represent various techniques:

A Hammer On

A hammer on is executed by picking a note and then 'hammering' with the fretting hand on the second note (the second note isn’t actually picked). Here is an example of how hammer ons are written in tab:

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

A Pull Off

A pull off is the opposite of a hammer on. The first note is played, and then the fretting hand pulls the finger off and lets the one fretted behind it play.

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

A Bend

A bend is represented by the symbol 'b'. This is when the fretting hand actually bends the string, raising the pitch.

e-----------------------------
B-----------------------------
G--7b----7b-------------------
D--------------7b----7b-------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------

A Release Bend

A release bend is represented by the symbol 'r'. This tells you when to release the bend and go to the next note.


e-----------------------------
B-----------------------------
G--7r5---7r5------------------
D--------------7r5---7r5------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------

A Slide Up

A slide up is represented by the symbol '/'. You would play the first note on 7, then slide the finger - that is, hold that note - up to 9.

e-----------------------------
B-----------------------------
G--7/9---7/9------------------
D--------------7/9---7/9------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------

A Slide Down

The opposite of a slide up, a slide down is represented by the symbol '\'. You would play the first note on 7 then slide the finger holding the note down to 5.

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

Vibrato

Vibrato is a constant rhythmic bending of the string. It is usually represented by ‘v’ or '~'.

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

Tapping

Tapping is much like a hammer-on, but you don’t strum any notes. Just tap the notes on the fret board with your fretting hand.

e-----------------------------
B-----------------------------
G--7t---7t---7t---------------
D-----------------------------
A-----------------------------
E-----------------------------

There is, of course, much more to guitar tab than this, but these basics should give you a general idea of how it works.

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