How to Read Guitar Tablature (Tabs)

The following tutorial will help to explain to you the basic concept of reading guitar tab. Although it may seem complex, learning to read tab is quite simple, and you should find yourself reading tab easily in no time.

1. Understanding the Tab Staff

A tab staff for guitar has 6 horizontal lines, each one representing a string of the instrument. The bottom line of the staff represents your lowest "E" string, the second line from the bottom represents your "A" string, etc. Easy enough to read, right?

Notice that there are numbers located smack dab in the middle of the lines (aka strings). The numbers simply represent the fret the tab is telling you to play. For example, in the illustration above, the tab is telling you to play the third string (third line) seventh fret.
Note: When the number "0" is used in tablature, this indicates that the open string should be played.

This is the concept of reading tab, at it's most basic. Now let's examine some of the more advanced aspects of reading tablature notation, including how to read chords in tab.

 

2. Reading Chords in Guitar Tab

Reading chords within guitar tab is a relatively simple process. When a tab displays a series of numbers, stacked vertically, it is indicating to play all these notes at the same time. The above tablature indicates that you should hold down the notes in an E major chord (second fret on fifth string, second fret on fourth string, first fret on third string) and strum all six strings at once. Often, tablature will additionally include the chord name (in this case E major) above the tablature staff, to help guitarists recognize the chord more quickly.

3. Reading Arpeggiated Chords in Tab

The above tablature contains the exact same notes as the first E major chord presented on the previous page, but it will be played differently. In this situation, the notes in the chord will be played one at a time, rather than all together. "How fast should I play these notes?" you may ask. Good question...
 
4. Other symbols used in guitar tab

Here are some of the little details that you'll need to know to fully understand how to read guitar tablature. Be aware that some of these symbols vary, depending on who created the tablature.
Part 1: Hammer-Ons
Until now, I only played single notes in one way - whenever I played a note, I used a pick to hit that string. While this is very common, there are alternate ways to play single notes. The first differing method I'll examine is the hammer-on. The concept of the hammer-on is fairly simple - playing a note, then, WITHOUT re-picking, playing another note on a higher fret on the same string. Let's examine further:

It's most common to see the letter h representing a hammer on, located within the tablature between the original fret, and the hammered on fret (e.g. 7h9)
Part 2: Pull-Offs
The pull-off is a guitar technique that is, in a way, exactly the opposite of a hammer-on. Consider the following illustration:

You're going to start executing the pull-off technique by putting your third AND first finger on the third string, on the frets illustrated above. Play the string with your pick, then remove your third finger from the string. As you do this, make a slight downwards tugging motion with your third finger. This should cause the note your first finger is fretting to ring out. The first few times you try it, the string may stop ringing as you remove your finger. Keep practicing the technique, and you'll get the hang of it. Once you've conquered the above, it's important to challenge yourself a little more, and try playing things that combine multiple hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Similarly, the letter p is generally used to represent a pull off, also found in the same location within the tablature (e.g. 9p7)
Ocassionally, you'll see the ^ symbol used for either a hammer on or pull off (eg. 9^7)
Part 3: String Bending
String bends are often notated several different ways in guitar tablature. Often, a b is used, followed by the fret at which the original note should be bent to. For example, 7b9 would indicate that you should bend the seventh fret until it sounds like the ninth fret. Sometimes, this target note is included in brackets, like this: 7b(9). Occasionally, the b is omitted altogether: 7(9).
An r is generally used to indicate a return of a bent note to it's unbent state. For example, 7b9r7 indicates a note on the seventh fret being bent up to the ninth fret, then returned to the seventh fret again.
Bending Technique
Bending the strings far enough to get the pitch to change (which is what we're trying to do) takes a good deal of effort. The key is to use three of your fingers to bend the string, instead of just the finger on the fret you're trying to bend. You accomplish this by placing your third finger on the fret you're trying to bend. Place your first and second fingers on the frets behind it, and exert pressure with all three fingers. Let's look at the first exercise.

Part 4: Slides in Guitar Tab
Generally, a / symbol is used to notate an ascending slide, while a \ symbol is used to notate a descending slide. So, 7/9\7 indicates sliding from the seventh fret, up to the ninth fret, and back to the seventh fret. If no number precedes the slide symbol, this indicates sliding from an indiscriminate fret.It is also not uncommon to see the letter s used to notate a slide. This is somewhat less concise, as when sliding from an indiscriminate point (e.g. s9), it is unclear whether to slide up to the note, or down to the note.
Sliding Technique
This is another guitar technique that is extremely popular, and one that needs to be mastered by all budding guitar players. As with all other techniques, learning to slide well will take a bit of practice, but you should get the hang of it almost immediately.

Here's the basic concept - we're going to fret a note, play it, then slide the note to another one on the same string, without re-picking. In the above example, we're starting on the third string, second fret. Play the note, then briskly slide your finger up to the fourth fret on the same string.
Done? Chances are, the note died as soon as you started to slide it. The key is to keep exerting downward pressure on the string with our finger while sliding the note. Try it again, making sure you keep pressing the note down as you slide.
Part 5: Miscellaneous Notation
The use of vibrato can be notated several different ways in tablature. Most often, the ~ symbol is used, often strung together to appear as ~~~. Sometimes, vibrato will be simply notated with a v.
A string mute is almost always notated with an x. Several x's in a row, on adjacent strings, is used to notate a rake.
Right hand tapping (for right handed guitarists) is generally notated in tab via a t, in conjunction with the pull off and hammer on techniques used when executing right handed tapping. Thus, 2h5t12p5p2 represents traditional tapping technique.
When notating the tab for harmonics, the <> symbols are usually used, surrounding the fret which the harmonic is played at.
This should give you all you need to get started reading and writing guitar tablature. Again, if you're serious about music, it highly advisable that you learn standard notation as well as tablature.