How to Read Guitar Tabs ??

Guitar tablature only works if the player already knows the solo or the chords sound like, since TAB usually doesn't allow you to count beats.


A guitar tablature staff consists of 6 lines that represent the 6 strings.  The low E is at the bottom,  the high E at the top :

We can put numbers on the lines.Each number represents a fret on the guitar neck.  A 0 means open string, a 1 first fret, a 2 second fret, ...

Here is the tablature for the chord shape of C :

e|----0----

B|----1----

G|----0----

D|----2----

A|----3----

E|---------

If all numbers are on one line above each other, meaning all notes should be played at the same time as a chord.

When the numbers are next to each other on the staff they should be played after each other.  Advancing from the left to the right on the staff = advancing in time.

In the following example you first play the 5th fret on the E string, then the 3rd fret, again the 5th, then the 3rd fret on the A string...

 e|--------------------------------------------------

B|--------------------------------------2------------

G|----------------------------2----5------------------ 

D|--------------------------------------------------

A|--------------------3----5-------------------------- 

E|-----5----3----5------------------------------------

Various notations are used to denote the guitar techniques like slide can be denoted by s or \ OR a hammer on can be denoted by h and pull offs as p .

Slide : A slide is the sliding of a note up or down from one fret to another.

Hammer On : A hammer on is a slight hammer on a string while playing a note above it.

Pull Off : A pull off is like a hammer but it differs as the finger is hammered on a fret while playing an immediately removed.