How To Read Guitar Tabs

Here's an example:

But don't worry, it works just the same as before.

-----------------------------------------------

------7--5-----------------8-----------8/10-

------7--5h6----------------7b9r7p6--------

--------------7---5-6-7----------------------

----------------7--------0--------------------

--5-5-----------------------------------------

e--------------------

B--------------------

G--------------------

D-----2--------------

A--------1-0---------

E--0----------3--0---

Sometimes the string names won't be written at the beginning of the tab staff, and it will look something like this:

e--------------------- <- high E string

B--------------------- <- B string

G--------------------- <- G string

D--------------------- <- D string

A--------------------- <- A string

E--------------------- <- low E string

If you're not quite sure about your string names yet, here's an easy mnemonic device to help you remember them:

See? It's not hard to figure out how to read guitar tabs!

Chords are written the same way, except the fret numbers are stacked on top of one another. Here's an E7 chord for example:

What do the numbers mean?

Ed And Dan Go Bowling Every Day.

Sometimes, if you're supposed to take your time strumming, the tab will look like this:

Here's what a guitar tab staff looks like:

What about chords?

So, learning how to read guitar tabs is not that hard, especially when you compare it to note reading! To get the most out of a tab, get a recording of a song to practice with and get the rhythm from.

Alright, let's walk through it.

First, play the open low E string. Then play the second fret on the D string. After that play the first fret on the A string, then the open A string. Play the third fret on the low E string, and finally the open low E string again.

There are some other symbols that you are likely to see on tabs besides just numbers. Here's a list of what they mean:

• h - hammer on


• p - pull off


• / - slide up


• - slide down


• b - bend


• r - release bend


• ~ or v - vibrato


• x - mute


• t - tap


• pm - palm mute


• tr - trill, rapid hammer ons and pull offs

Guitar tabs are written on a six lined staff. Each line represents a string on the guitar. The top line of a guitar tab is for the high E string, and the bottom line is for the low E string. All of the other strings fall between in order.

e--0-----

B--0-----

G--1-----

D--0-----

A--2-----

E--0-----

e------0-

B-----0--

G----1---

D---0----

A--2-----

E-0------

How To Read Guitar Tabs

It's much easier to learn how to read guitar tabs than it is to learn sight reading on guitar. Knowing exactly which fret and string to put your fingers on is the main advantage of tabs over notes. However, most tabs don't clearly express the rhythm of the music so it's best to also have a recording of the song you are learning.