How to Read Guitar Tabs: Symbols, Techniques and Rhythm
Tablature (tab) is the most popular way to write guitar music. It takes ten minutes to learn, and it shows you exactly where to put your fingers.
The basics
Tab has six horizontal lines, one for each string. The top line is the thinnest string (high E) and the bottom line is the thickest (low E) — as if you looked down at the guitar on your lap.
e|-------------------0-| B|---------------1-----| G|-----------0---------| D|-------2-------------| A|---3-----------------| E|---------------------|
Numbers tell you which fret to play. 0 means open string. Read from left to right. The example above picks the notes of a C chord one at a time.
Numbers stacked vertically are played together — that is a chord:
e|-0---3---| B|-1---0---| G|-0---0---| D|-2---0---| A|-3---2---| E|-----3---| C G
Tab symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| h | Hammer-on: sound the second note by hammering a finger down | 5h7 |
| p | Pull-off: pull the finger off to sound a lower note | 7p5 |
| / or \ | Slide up or down | 5/7, 7\5 |
| b | Bend the string up to the pitch of the given fret | 7b9 |
| r | Release a bend | 7b9r7 |
| ~ | Vibrato | 7~~~ |
| x | Muted / dead note | x |
| PM | Palm mute (written above the tab) | PM - - - |
| t or T | Tap with the picking hand | 12t |
| ( ) | Ghost note, or a note held from before | (5) |
| <> | Natural harmonic | <12> |
| ↓ / ↑ or ⊓ / V | Down-stroke / up-stroke picking |
The problem with tab: rhythm
Basic tab shows you what to play but not always when. Spacing between numbers gives only a rough idea. To get the rhythm right:
- Listen to the recording — always the most important step.
- Look for tabs that include rhythm notation above the tab (common in guitar books and software).
- Count and use a metronome to place each note.
Reading chord charts
Many songs are written as chord charts rather than tab: chord names above the beats or lyrics, with bar lines. For example:
| G | D | Em | C | | G | D | C | C |
Each box is one bar. Play the chord with your chosen strumming pattern for the whole bar. Look up unfamiliar chords in our chord library.
Where to find tabs legally
Tabs and chord charts of copyrighted songs should come from licensed sources — official songbooks, publisher-licensed websites and apps, or the artist's own lessons. Licensed services pay songwriters, and their tabs are often more accurate. On this site we publish our own exercises and original examples, and for songs we list the chords and progressions only.
Practice exercise
Try this short original riff in A minor using hammer-ons, a slide and vibrato:
e|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-----------------------5/7~~------| D|-----------5h7---7p5--------------| A|---5h7---------------------------| E|-5--------------------------------|
Frequently asked questions
Is tab better than sheet music for guitar?
For most guitarists, tab is faster to learn and shows exact positions on the neck. Sheet music shows rhythm precisely. Many guitar books combine both.
Why is the high E string at the top of the tab?
Tab is drawn as if you were looking down at the guitar in your lap, so the thinnest string, closest to your face when you look down, appears at the top.
