May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow
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Tab (Tablature) or Tab notation is an easy way to read and notate guitar music.
It is commonly used for notating rock, blues, country and pop music. Whereas standard notation is more used for classical music, film scores and jazz music.
Tab is widely transcribed and used by guitar players on the internet but it also published in official guitar books (which is often more accurate).
It is especially designed for fretted stringed instruments like guitar and bass, while standard notation is arranged for all instruments. There are some pros and cons for each notation method.
When you’re learning music from tabs you can not just plainly rely on the tab notation. You need to listen to the song first, because the tab doesn’t indicate note lengths, pauses, rhythm and dynamics.
To know how long or loud each note is being played you need to use your ears and listen to the song. Train your ears because they are your most essential tools while reading and learning from tabs.
We focus here on Tab because of it’s convenient pros. Tab is easy to read and it gives you the exact fret numbers and strings you need to play.
TAB STAFF
There are two kind of tabs. Formal tab and internet tab (the latter is designed to make tab writing easy on websites and blogs)
Tab has six horizontal lines. Each one represents a string on the guitar. The top line is the thinnest string called the high e-string or 1st string. Next comes the B-string also called 2nd string, then the G-string or 3rd string, D-string (4th string), A-string (5th string) and finally the low E-string (6th string) on the lowest line which is the thickest string on your guitar.
Remember: The thickest string on your guitar (6th string) is the lowest string/line in the tab notation!
Internet tab:
e:------------------------| B:------------------------| G:------------------------| D:------------------------| A:------------------------| E:------------------------| Formal tab:
FRET NUMBERS The numbers on the lines indicate the fret numbers and so what fret you have to play. In the example below you first see an "0" on the D-string (you read tab from left to right). "0" means an open string. So you play an open string D-string, then you put your finger on the 2nd fret and pick the D-string, next play the 4th fret D-string and finally the 5th fret D-string.e:----------------------| B:----------------------| G:----------------------| D:--0--2--4--5----------| A:----------------------| E:----------------------|CHORDS When notes are stacked vertically on top of each other it means that all notes are played at the same time. In the example below you put one finger on the 3rd fret low E-string (lowest line), another finger on the 2nd fret A-string and one finger on the 3rd fret high e-string (top line). The other lines are open strings. You play/strum all six strings simultaneously. If you already know how to play chords you'll notice this is a G major chord. Chords are indicated as notes stacked on top of each other. Tip: Knowing your chords makes tab chords easier to read and decipher.e:----3------------------| B:----0------------------| G:----0------------------| D:----0------------------| A:----2------------------| E:----3------------------|MUTES The chord in the example below above is a C chord. Notice the "x" on the 6th string. This indicates that this string must not be played. A single "x" indicates a "mute". In the example you put your finger on the D-string pressing it really gentle/soft (almost not pressing) then pick the string so it leaves no sound. The note is muted. Several x's stacked on top of each other indicates a "rake"e:----0---------------------------------------------| B:----1-----------------------------x---------------| G:----0-------------x---------------x---------------| D:----2-----------------------------x---------------| A:----3-----------------------------x---------------| E:----x---------------------------------------------|ARPEGGGIATED CHORDS The example below shows a C chord played arpeggiated, so the notes of the chord are played one at a time.e:-----------0--------------------------------------| B:---------1----------------------------------------| G:-------0------------------------------------------| D:-----2--------------------------------------------| A:---3----------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|A basic fingerpicking pattern looks like this. See below a C chord with a basic fingerstyle pattern. Of course this can also be played with a pick. More fingerstyle patterns see heree:-----------0--------------0-----------------------| B:---------1---1----------1---1---------------------| G:-------0-------0------0-------0-------------------| D:--------------------------------------------------| A:---3---------------3------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|TAB SYMBOLS
h = hammer on
p = pull off
/ = slide up
\ = slide down
b = bend
~ = vibrato
t = tappingHAMMER ON
"h" stands for hammer on. See example below. You put your finger on the 2nd fret G-string, pick the string and leave your finger there, then you hammer on the 4th fret with another finger (without picking the string again). The "hammer on" produces the sound of the 4th fret. This takes a bit of practice, but after a few tries you'll get the hang of it.
e:--------------------------------------------------| B:--------------------------------------------------| G:---2h4--------------------------------------------| D:--------------------------------------------------| A:--------------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|PULL OFF "p" stands for pull off. It's the opposite of the hammer on. In the example below you put one finger on the 2nd fret G-string and another on the 4th fret G-string. You pick the string so you hear the 4th fret and pull of your finger from the 4th fret to release the sound of the 2nd fret. Tip: Do not just lift your finger off the strings, but try to pull your finger down from the string.e:--------------------------------------------------| B:--------------------------------------------------| G:---4p2--------------------------------------------| D:--------------------------------------------------| A:--------------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|SLIDES "/" symbol stands for "slide up". Put your finger on the 4th fret D-string, pick the string and while keeping the pressure of your finger down on the string slide up to the 6th fret.e:--------------------------------------------------| B:--------------------------------------------------| G:--------------------------------------------------| D:----4/6-------------------------------------------| A:--------------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|"\" symbol stands for "slide down". Put your finger on the 6th fret D-string, pick the string and while keeping the pressure of your finger down on the string slide down to the 4th fret.e:--------------------------------------------------| B:--------------------------------------------------| G:--------------------------------------------------| D:----6\4-------------------------------------------| A:--------------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|BEND "b" stands for bend. Put your finger on the 5th fret G-string and bend the string so that it produces the sound of the 7th fret (as if your finger were on the 7th fret). Note: You don't actually put your finger on the 7th fret, you just create the sound of the 7th fret by bending the string on the 5th fret.e:--------------------------------------------------| B:--------------------------------------------------| G:----5b7-------------------------------------------| D:--------------------------------------------------| A:--------------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|VIBRATO "~" symbol stands for vibrato. Some transcribers will notate a "v". You put your finger on the 7th fret G-string and vibrate the finger by bending the note slightly with small movements up and down or in horizontal directions.e:--------------------------------------------------| B:--------------------------------------------------| G:----7~~~~~~~-----------------7v-------------------| D:--------------------------------------------------| A:--------------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|TAPPING "t" stands for tapping. Tapping is usually done with the picking/strumming hand using the index or middle finger. A tapping lick is often combined with hammer ons or pull offs. See example below.e:--------------------------------------------------| B:--------------------------------------------------| G:----12t5h7----------------------------------------| D:--------------------------------------------------| A:--------------------------------------------------| E:--------------------------------------------------|Tip: Guitarhabits is loaded with scales, licks, arpeggios and exercises transcribed with tab notation. Have fun playing guitar with tab!
Hi Klaus sir,
This article has wonderful information on tabs.I had a difficulty in reading tabulature.This post has taken out that difficulty.I love to read tabulature.thanks for sharing these wonderful tips.
Hi Prasana,
I’m glad the post is helpful to you.
Thanks for your comment.
Bets regards,
Klaus Crow
thank you, now I will look to see chords within the tabs. I would love to learn Stairway to Heaven…looks sooo difficult.
Hi Sue,
Stairway to heaven is quite a challenge if you’re just starting out playing guitar. You can try and see how far you will come. If it is too challenging you can always try again after a couple of months of regular guitar practice. Regular practice is the key to improvement.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Great article! One question though. When you give the example for Vibrato you show fretting the G-string at the 7th fret on the Internet Tab but the Formal Tab shows fretting the G-string at the 5th fret. Is this a typo or am I confusing something? I ask because it’s usually me. Thanks!