How To Read Guitar Tabs: A Comprehensive Guide

Many guitarists starting their journey get stuck on the question, “How to read guitar sheet music?” Feeling intimidated by guitar sheet music is very normal, but there is good news! Beginners can start with guitar tabs, a simpler system that unlocks the world of music before transitioning to sheet music later.

So, if you have ever wanted to strum along to your favourite songs but got overwhelmed with sheet music, guitar tabs are here to help! This guide will take you from an absolute beginner to a tab-reading pro, breaking down everything you need to know about this popular guitar tablature system. Get ready to unlock a world of music and unleash your inner rockstar!

We will discuss everything from the basic numbering system to the different symbols on Guitar Tabs For Beginners. We will also discuss some tips and tricks for reading guitar tablature effectively. So, let us begin!

What are Guitar Tabs?

Guitar Tablature or Guitar Tab is a simplified notation system for stringed instruments like guitar, ukulele, and bass. It’s not as detailed as traditional sheet music which uses staves, clefs, and notes. Guitar Tablature shows finger placement for playing melodies and chords, which frets to press, tell which notes to play, how long to play them, and what techniques to use. No matter how difficult it may seem to learn the guitar tab, by the end of this blog, you will know how to read guitar tablature better.

How does the Guitar Tab Work?

i. The basic layout of the guitar tab

The guitar tabs consist of six horizontal lines, each corresponding to the six strings on the guitar. When reading guitar tabs, look at the strings from top to bottom, with the top line representing the high E string, i.e., the thinnest string, and the bottom line representing the low E string, the thickest string.

The guitar tabs can be considered as the blueprint of your guitar since they show the strings in the same sequence as you see when looking down at the guitar while playing. Therefore, reading guitar tabs is necessary as it facilitates quick learning and allows you to play songs faster because guitar tabs translate finger placement on the fretboard into a simple system.

This is how the standard guitar tablature looks without any numbers and frets, with the thickest string at the bottom and the thinnest string at the top. The placement and representation of other guitar strings (B, G, D, and A) is pretty straightforward. Please note that this diagram represents guitar strings tuned in the standard tuning. In the case of other tuning profiles, the new tuning will be notated either beside the strings or at the beginning. 

ii. How to read guitar tabs or tablature?

Guitar tabs are designed to be easy to read, just like a book! They use numbers to show you which frets to press on the strings and are read from left to right, just like reading text. Each number tells you which fret to press on a specific string.

Before we dive deeper into understanding the details of guitar tabs, let’s first grasp the basic numbering system used by guitarists. This foundation will be crucial for effectively reading guitar tablature.

Basic Numbering System

1. Fingers: The fingers on your fretting hands have specific numbers assigned to them. Number one is your index finger, number two is your middle finger, number 3 is your ring finger, and number four is your pinky finger. This numbering system for your fingers helps you learn which finger to use when playing particular guitar chords.
2. Strings: The guitar strings also follow a numbering system. The thinnest string is the first string, whereas the thickest string is the sixth string. 
3. Frets: Finally, there’s also a numbering system for the frets. The frets are the metal strips found across the neck of the guitar. The fret closest to the headstock is the first fret. The second, third, fourth, fifth frets, and so on continue in order up the neck of the guitar. You’ll soon see how the numbering system for the frets is the most essential to understand to read the guitar tab.

iii. Know where to fret

The tabs aren’t just blank lines; they have a lot of numbers and symbols to tell you exactly how to play the desired notes. First, let’s start with the basics- knowing where to fret. Numbers are an important component of guitar tabs- they tell us which fret of the particular string needs to be pressed. As discussed above, we use numbers to represent frets. Guitar tabs show numbers on top of each string representing which fret of that particular string is to be pressed. 1 means first fret, 2 means second fret, 3 means third fret and so on. However, 0 means open string, i.e. no fret gets pressed on that particular string. 

Take a look at the example given above. In this example, to play the song, you should first press the third fret of the A string with your left hand and play the A string with your right hand. Then play the 5th fret of the A string, then the 4th fret of the D string, then the 9th fret of the G string, then the 5th fret of the G string, then the 6th fret of the G string, and lastly, the B string has to be played loose. 

When we follow the numbers across the lines from left to right, we play the notes in the desired order. 

However, if you see multiple numbers on a single line in a guitar tablature, then that’s a chord- see the image given below. These numbers tell you to fret all those strings at the same time. 

In the guitar tabs, in addition to showing what note you should play, it also shows the techniques used to play each note.

Common Symbols Used in Guitar Tabs For Beginners

Let’s discuss some of the most common techniques and symbols used in guitar tabs for beginners.

i. Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Hammer-on and pull-off techniques allow you to play two or more notes by plucking or picking a string only once. Hammer-ons can be represented by the letter ‘h’ and a pull-off can be represented by the letter ‘p’, but they are commonly represented by a line connecting one note to another. Below are examples of hammer-ons and pull-offs. To learn this technique in detail, check out this lesson on Hammer-on and pull-off on our platform, Torrins.

ii. Bending

Bending is another common element of the guitar tablatures. If you see an upwards-pointing arrow on your guitar tablature, bend a note by one or two frets. There are indicators written beside the arrows which tell how much you need to bend the strings. 

A half bend raises the pitch by one fret, while a whole bend (or full bend) increases it by two frets. The more you bend the string, the higher the pitch it will produce. We also have a series of lessons on Bending on our platform. Check it out.

iii. Palm Muting & Muted Notes

Palm muting is performed by placing the side of the picking hand across the strings, closer to the bridge, while picking. On the guitar tablature, palm muting is indicated with a “P.M.” tag, with little dashes representing how long you should be muting the strings. 

Muted notes are represented with an “x” on the guitar tablature. When you see a muted note on the tab, you should silence the note with either your fretting hand or your picking hand to produce a subdued or dampened sound. 

iv. Sliding

The sliding technique involves smoothly gliding your finger along the fretboard from one fret to another on the same string. This creates a smooth transition in pitch between the notes and adds a distinctive sound to your playing. The two possible ways of sliding are: 

• Slide Up: You start on a lower fret and slide your finger up the fretboard to a higher note.
• Slide Down: You start on a higher fret and slide your finger down the fretboard to a lower note.

The two types of slides are represented on the guitar tablature in the following manner:

v. Vibrato

Vibrato is a technique of repeatedly bending a note and releasing it for an expressive sound. On a guitar tablature, it is represented by a squiggly line after the note that has to be pressed.

vi. Downstrokes and Upstrokes

Guitar tabs sometimes show two picking directions: downstrokes and upstrokes. These symbols appear when the original artist intended a specific picking pattern for a particular piece of music. The symbol for downstrokes looks like an upside-down U, and the symbol for upstrokes looks like a downwards-pointing arrow. If these symbols aren’t mentioned on the guitar tabs, you can have any picking pattern that you think fits well with the music.

As a beginner guitarist figuring out how to read guitar tabs, these symbols are your initial tools for understanding how to play. They will equip you with the basics to get started. As you advance as a guitarist, you can try playing songs of higher difficulty. Those songs will introduce you to guitar tabs having many more symbols than we have covered today.

Positioning tips for effective guitar tab reading

1. Place the guitar on your right leg for better tab learning.  
2. Use your strumming arm to stabilize the guitar for improved tab learning instead of holding it with the fretting hand. 
3. Ideally, the fretboard should be slightly tilted upwards for easier viewing. You can use a guitar stand if available and adjust the height for optimal comfort.
4. A music stand or dedicated tablet holder positioned slightly above your guitar will keep the tablature at eye level, reducing neck and eye strain.

Wrapping up

If you feel overwhelmed seeing so many different symbols, remember that learning guitar tablature is like learning to read a new language. It will take some time to master, but the time and effort will be well worth it. With dedicated practice and patience, you’ll be well on your way to achieving guitar mastery.

The key to becoming a guitar tab pro is consistent practice by reading and playing songs with tablature. At Torrins, you’ll find a vast collection of guitar song lessons in multiple languages, all featuring well-structured guitar tabs. Learning from these tabs will ensure you play your favourite songs accurately.

Beyond song lessons, Torrins offers detailed guitar lessons on all possible guitar techniques and styles. Taught by Torrins experts, these lessons will help you elevate your playing and achieve your guitar goals faster than you might think!