How to Read Guitar TAB 0

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This useful Guitar tablature (TAB) guide will help you to learn how to read guitar TAB. Guitar Tablature is another way
to notate guitar music. The 6 strings of a guitar are represented by the 6 horizontal lines used in guitar tablature (TAB)
as seen below:
0 1

⁄ ⁄
∑ ∑
1 1
Guitar Fingerboard thinnest string Guitar Tablature
2
(TAB)
E 1st String
2nd String T
⁄ A∑ ∑
B 0

⁄
∑ ∑
1 0
G 1 3rd String

⁄
D
1
2 4th String ∑
A 5 String
th B
E
6th String

⁄ ⁄ ∑3 ∑
1
∑ ∑ ∑
⁄
∑∑
0

⁄
∑
0
thickest string
1 1
frets
2

⁄ ⁄ ∑
∑ ∑ ∑
⁄
∑ ∑
0
1

⁄
The numbers
1
2 ∑ ∑
you see on the strings are the fret number. For example a number 3 on the top line would mean play
the 3rd fret on the top E string. Here are some more examples on3 tablature:
5

⁄ ⁄
∑∑ ∑∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
⁄ ⁄
0 ∑
3
5

3rd string open string (G) 5th string 3rd fret (C) 6th string 5th fret (A) 1st string 1st fret (F)

⁄
(no fingers) 1
∑ ∑ ∑
⁄
∑ ∑
⁄ 5
∑ ∑ ∑
3
Note: When placing your finger in front of the fret, place it as close to the middle as possible as this will ensure
good intonation (tuning).
1

⁄
∑∑ ∑∑ ∑
⁄
∑ 0

⁄
5
1
∑
If you see numbers on top of each other, this means that you play these at the same time - a good example would be
to notate chords in TAB. Here are some examples:
1

⁄
0 ∑
Here you would play the top ∑
1 ∑
Here you would play 1st

⁄
∑ ∑ ∑
⁄
1
string as an open string (E),
1
2 ∑
string 1st fret (F), 2nd string
and then the 2nd string 1st 1st fret (C) & 3rd string 2nd
fret (C) at the same time fret (A) all together

⁄ ∑
1
0 ∑
⁄
1
2 ∑ ∑

⁄
∑ ∑ ∑
⁄
0 ∑
3

⁄ 5∑
∑
⁄
∑ ∑
3

R We kindly thank Fender for allowing us to

1 use their CN-320AS guitar in this resource

⁄
∑ ∑ ∑
⁄
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© Copyright 2014 DS Music
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 ° ∑
& œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœœ œ œ œ
TAB does not usually show you what rhythm to play. This is why
TAB is normally seen with standard music notation over the top
of it to indicate the rhythm - see the example to the right:

¢⁄
More information about reading standard music notation rhythms
can be found in our ‘How to Read Music for Guitarists’ guide 0 0

∑
2 3 2 3 2 0 2
- look at the sections on rhythms and rests. 3 3 3 3

°
Alternatively you will occassionally see notation stems added onto the tablature to indicate the rhythm as seen below:
9

∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
This line °
These represent &
a crotchet &(quarter œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œquavers (eighth∑notes) ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
represents semiquavers
These represent

œ
note) - 1 beat each œ œ
(sixteenth notes)
œ
- 1/4 of a beat each
- 1/2 a beat each

¢⁄
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

⁄ °
0 0 ∑ 19 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
2 3 2 3 2 0 2

&
3 3 3 3

°
9

∑ of TAB ∑notation rhythms

& chart ∑ with∑their beats,∑ alternative
∑ standard∑ music notation
∑ and ∑rests: ∑
⁄
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
¢
Here is a handy

∑™
TAB Notation Beats Equivalent Note Equivalent Rest Name
29j∑ r ∑
¢⁄
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
°4 4 ∑ ∑ n/a w ˙ œ °œ œ∑ ∑ ∑ Œ
∑
‰
∑
≈
∑ ∑
œ œœ œœ œœ œœ œœœœœœœœœœœœœœ∑j œ œ œr œ&œ œŒ œ œ ‰œ œ œ œ œ≈œ œ œ œ∑œ™ ™
4 Semibreve
4& 4 ∑ ∑
œœ œœ œœ œ œ°&œ œ ∑œ œ œœ∑œœ œ œ œ∑ œ œ œ œ∑∑jœ œ œrœ∑ œ œŒ œ ∑œ œ‰ œ œ ∑ ≈ ∑ ∑™ ∑
w ˙ œ œ œ
∑™
n/a
19 2 Minim

∑ ∑
w ˙ œ œ œ
4œœœœ4œ œ∑ œœ∑œ œ0 œ œ00 œ œ00 œ 0œ0 œ 0œ0 œ0 œ0 0œ0 œ0 0∑œ0 œ0j0œ0 0 0 r0 0 Œ00 0 0‰¢0⁄ 0 0 0 ≈0 0 0 0 ∑0 ™ 0 0 0 0 0 ™ 0
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
Ϊ
1 Crotchet

4 4 w ˙ œ œ œ
∑ ∑
¢00⁄ 00 00 0 00 0 00 ∑0 00 0 0∑00 0 0 0j∑ 0 0 r0 0∑ 0 0 0 ∑0 0 0 390 ∑0 0 0 ™0 ∑ ∑™ ∑ Œ ™ ∑ ‰™
1/2 Quaver

¢ ⁄ ∑ œ œ œŒ ‰ ≈° ∑
∑ ∑
w ˙
∑0 00 j00 600 j0 0 Œ0 0 0 ‰0 w0 0 ≈ ˙ r œ ∑r™œ& œ ™ Dotted semibreve Œ™ ‰™
∑ ™
1/4
j r ∑
Semiquaver
∑
°00 0 00 00 00 0 n/a ∑ ∑ ≈
5

™ ™
œ œ œ °œ ™ 29™ Œ Œ ™ ≈ ™ Œ≈ Œ ™ ™ ™ ‰ ™ ‰ ™ ® ™ ‰ ® Œ
‰ Œ ™ ™ ™ ≈ ™ Œ≈ Œ
00 00 00 00 0

™ ™ ™ Dotted∑‰minim ™ ∑ ≈™ ∑
& œ œ œ œœ œ j œ rœ œ œœ œ
∑
jŒ ≈ Œ j™ ≈n/a&Œ ∑ ∑ Œ ‰
∑
3 r w ∑ ≈ ∑ ∑ ∑
r Œ ®˙ ‰ œŒ œ ≈ Œœ ≈ Œ ∑ ∑ Œ
∑
œ™ œ œ™ œ™ œ œ œ™ ™
‰ ™ ‰ ® ‰ ™ œ™ œ™ œ œ ™ ™
∑˙™ ™ œ ™ ™œj ™ ™ œr r ™ Œr¢™™⁄ ‰ ™ ™ Dotted ™
œ ∑ ∑ ∑
∑ ™ ™ ™ Œ ™r ‰
∑ j 1™ ≈w1/2j ™ ∑
™™ ™ ≈
™® ‰œ ™ Œ‰ œœ™ ™ œŒ®™ ‰≈ ŒŒ ≈œ ™Œ œ ™ ≈ Œ
∑™™0∑r ™ ˙≈ Œ∑r0œ™™ œ0j0 ∑™ 0œ‰Œr ™™ ‰∑0 ™ ®‰0™ ™ ‰∑® ‰Œ ≈Œ™∑0 Dotted
crotchet

j ™0 Œ 0 j‰0™ 0 ™ ≈™ ∑Œ ™ w0 3/4 ∑≈0 quaver

Œ≈ Œ∑
⁄
∑ ∑
¢Œ ≈ Œ0 ≈¢0 r Œ 0™ 0 ‰ 0 0™ ‰® ‰ j0 Œ™® r‰ 0 Œ 0™ ≈0 Œ 0 ™ ≈ Œ
⁄
00

™ ≈ ™ ™ ∑w™ ™ œ ™œ Œ œ ‰ ≈
∑
˙
3/8

°® ‰0∑ Œ∑‰ ∑°00 ∑0® ‰≈∑ ∑ŒŒ∑ ∑0 ∑0 ∑≈∑ Œ ∑ ∑ ∑∑ ∑ ∑ ∑∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

Dotted semiquaver
8 39

& &
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
R

∑ ∑ ∑¢⁄ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
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∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
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¢⁄
Guitar TAB (tablature) Symbols
You will notice symbols when reading guitar TAB to indicate various techniques to use - here are some of the most
common:
Hammer On
A curved line with a ‘H’ in-
H P
dicates a hammer on. Play
T the inital note (1st fret 3rd
A 1 3 string) & then use another
finger to hit the next note
B (3rd fret 3rd string).
Bend
A curved line with a ‘B’
B indicates a bend. This is
T where you play the written
A note (2nd fret D string) and
2 then bend the string with
B the same finger.
Vibrato
A wavy line indicates
vibrato. This is where you
T 2 rapidly wobble your left
A hand finger side to side
whilst playing the written
B B
note (2nd fret 2nd string).
Tapping A curved line (slur) with a
‘T’ indicates Tapping. With
T the pick hand or middle
T finger hammer (tap) the
A 12 9 fret (12th fret 3rd string)and
pull off to the lower note
B B
(9th fret 3rd string).
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Pull-Off
A curved line (slur) with a ‘P’
indicates a pull-off. Put your fingers
T 3 1 on the 2 notes (3rd fret & 1st fret, 2nd
A string), pluck the string and then
release the finger placed on the
B higher note.
Release Bend A curved line with an ‘R’ indicates a
release bend. Put your finger on the
R writen note (2nd fret 5th string), push
T the string with your finger (without
A making a sound) and then pluck the
string and bring it back to its normal
B 2
position for that note.
Double-Note Licks
A bracket indicates a double-note
B lick. This is where the two notes are
6
T sustained with the one note being
A 8 bent (8th fret 3rd string) and the other
is just held as normal (6th fret 1st
string).
Slide
S A straight diagonal line with an ‘S’.
T Start your finger further down the
A 3
string than the written note and then
‘slide’ your finger up the string to the
written note (3rd fret 4th string).
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