How to Read Guitar Tabs (Tablature) for Beginners
Tab (short for tablature) is how most guitarists learn a solo, a riff or a melody. It is not sheet music. And you don't need to read it like sheet music either. 🙂
The six lines
A tab has six lines, one for each string. The bottom line is your thickest string (low E). The top line is your thinnest string (high E). It is like looking down at your guitar while you play.
e |----------------------------------------------------------B |------9--11--11b13r11--9----------------------------------G |--9h10-----------------11~--9---9-------------------------D |----------------------------------11----11~--11\9p7-------A |-------------------------------------------------9~-------E |----------------------------------------------------------
The numbers
A number on a line tells you which fret to press on that string. A “9” on the B string means: press the B string on the 9th fret, and play it. Numbers stacked on top of each other are played at the same time, like a chord.
e |----------------------------------------------------------B |------9--11--11b13r11--9----------------------------------G |--9h10-----------------11~--9---9-------------------------D |----------------------------------11----11~--11\9p7-------A |-------------------------------------------------9~-------E |----------------------------------------------------------
The technique symbols
- Hammer-on (h).
9h10: play the 9th fret. Then hammer a finger down on the 10th fret, without picking again. - Pull-off (p).
9p7: hold both frets down and play the higher one. Then lift that finger, so the lower fret sounds. - Bend (b) and release (r).
11b13: play the 11th fret. Then bend the string up until it sounds like the 13th fret. Anrat the end (11b13r) means you release the bend, back to the 11th fret. - Slide (/ or \).
11/13slides up to the 13th fret.13\11slides down to the 11th. Same finger, same string. The note keeps ringing while you slide. - Vibrato (~).
9~: play the note, and then shake the string a little. It adds life to the note without changing it.
All five, in one riff:
e |----------------------------------------------------------B |------9--11--11b13r11--9----------------------------------G |--9h10-----------------11~--9---9-------------------------D |----------------------------------11----11~--11\9p7-------A |-------------------------------------------------9~-------E |----------------------------------------------------------
Reading it in practice
Read from left to right, just like text. But tab does not tell you the rhythm or how long a note is. It shows where, not when. So keep the original song playing while you learn from a tab. Your ear fills in the timing. 🎧
Frequently asked questions
What does 'h' mean in guitar tab?
Hammer-on. Press and play the first number. Then hit the higher number with another finger, without picking again. The string keeps ringing, just at a higher note.
Is tab or sheet music better for learning guitar?
Tab is faster to read, and it shows exactly where your fingers go. That is why most guitarists use it to learn riffs and solos. Sheet music is more precise about rhythm, which tab does not show at all. Most guitarists use both: the tab for the notes, and the recording for the feel.
Why doesn't guitar tab show rhythm?
Tab was made to answer one question: where do my fingers go? The timing is left to your ear. That is why you should always listen to the original song while you read the tab.