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How to read guitar TAB

TAB (tablature) shows where to put your fingers instead of which notes to play. Six lines, numbers on them: that's it.

  1. 6Six linesOne line per string
  2. eTop = thinnestHigh e string on top
  3. 3Numbers = frets0 is the open string
  4. →Read left to rightStacked numbers together

Lines and numbers

eBGDAE32010
TAB: the top line is the thin high e string. Each number is a fret.
EADGBE3211234
The same notes on the fretboard (a C chord, one string at a time)

Chords: numbers stacked in one column

eBGDAE10230
Numbers in the same column are played together: this is C (x32010).

Symbols

eBGDAE57h5p57/7b9
h hammer-on · p pull-off · / slide · b bend (7b9: bend fret 7 up to the pitch of fret 9)

Rhythm isn't in the numbers

1&2&3&4&Same TABAnother rhythm
The same numbers can be played with different timing. Read rhythm from the notes on the staff above the TAB, or listen to the song.

Want to hear and see a TAB score move? Open a PDF in the transposer and press Practice: the notes fall onto an on-screen fretboard. Next: how to read bass TAB · guitar chord chart.