How to Read Guitar Tabs (Complete Beginner Guide)

Guitar tablature (tabs) is the easiest music notation ever invented. You don't need to read sheet music, you don't need to know keys, and you don't need music theory. If you can count to 6, you can read tabs.

The 6 lines = the 6 strings

A tab has six horizontal lines. Each line is a string. The top line is the highest-pitched string (high E), and the bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (low E). This is the opposite of how you see the strings when looking down at your guitar — but it matches how you'd see them if you laid the guitar on your lap facing up.

e|-----------------
B|-----------------
G|-----------------
D|-----------------
A|-----------------
E|-----------------

Numbers = frets

A number on a line tells you which fret to press on that string. 0 means open string, 3 means press the third fret, and so on.

e|---0---|
B|---1---|
G|---0---|
D|---2---|
A|---3---|
E|-------|

That shape is a C major chord.

Reading left to right

Notes stacked vertically = play together (a chord). Notes spread out horizontally = play one after the other (a riff or solo).

Common tab symbols

• h – hammer-on (e.g. 5h7 = pick fret 5, hammer onto fret 7)
• p – pull-off (e.g. 7p5)
• / – slide up (5/7)
• \ – slide down (7\5)
• b – bend (7b9 = bend fret 7 up to the pitch of fret 9)
• r – release a bend
• ~ – vibrato
• x – muted/ghost note

Tips for practicing

1. Start slow. Speed comes from clean, correct repetitions.
2. Use easy beginner songs before tackling solos.
3. Tap the chord names on Free Chord Book to see where your fingers go.