Playing on guitar is an exciting and amazing experience. In the traditional method, it takes so many months or years to learn to play songs, tunes, and chords fluently on the guitar. Learning how to read guitar tabs is the shortest and easiest way to play your favorite songs on the guitar.
Traditional standard notation, staff notation, or sheet notations are the elaborate process of reading guitar tabs. In this guide, we will highlight guitar tabs and make them easier to use for you. By learning these techniques you can play guitar more fluently and comfortably.
To become a master guitarist you must have the proper knowledge of reading guitar tabs. Before you learn how to read guitar tabs, you should be familiar with the guitar tabs’ symbols like Bending, Palm muting, Muted note, Hammer-ons, Pull-offs, etc.
Hope, you are so excited to know how to read guitar tabs. Whether you are an experienced or beginner guitarist this article will help you with the knowledge to read guitar tabs and interpret them perfectly.
1. Basics of Guitar Tabs
Before learning the guitar tab, a guitarist must know a guitar’s three basic numbering systems. Those are – 1. Strings, 2. Frets, and 3. Fingers.
1.1. Strings
In a six strings guitar, strings are counted as 1 to 6 starting from the thinnest string as 1 to the thickest string as 6. This is as simple to remember as I mentioned. Guitar strings are denoted as six horizontal lines as shown below.
- e |————————————————-1 (Thinnest string)
- B |————————————————2
- G |————————————————3
- D |————————————————4
- A |————————————————5
- E |————————————————6 (Thickest string)
String numbers will not be written anywhere on the guitar tabs. We have to understand them by their position only. Generally, the uppermost line represents the highest pitch (High E), and the lowermost line the lowest pitch (Low E) on the guitar.
1.2. Frets
The metal strips on the guitar neck starting from left to right are called frets. A guitar has generally 19-24 frets. They are numbered 1, 2,3 so on to the body of the guitar. You can see some fret markers on the fret-board on the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and twelfth frets.
It’s too important for a guitarist to memorize fret numbers to read guitar tabs easily. Zero (0) fret means the open strings. The numerals written over guitar tabs are the fret numbers.
1.3. Fingers
The position of your finger is also a significant part of this learning process. So you should know very well when and where you have to tap your finger and when not. The general numbering system of fingering position is 1 for the index finger, 2 for the middle finger, 3 for the ring finger, and the little finger 4. The circled numbers on the guitar tab are the fingers to be used to tap.
2. What Are Guitar Tabs?
The symbolic representation of strings and fret numbers with the position of finger tapping are called guitar tabs. Guitar tablature or simply tab gives a whole view of a note or tune. You can easily understand which strings you have to play by tapping which finger on which fret at a time.
3. Understanding Guitar Tab Symbols
Understanding guitar tab symbols is important to interpret a note with accuracy. Here we will discuss the common symbols used in guitar so that you can easily identify them when reading guitar tabs and play the proper tune, chord, or song.
3.1. Muted Note (X)
Muted notes are denoted by ‘X’ in the guitar tabs. If you see an ‘X’ symbol on a tab sheet, you have to place your finger there without touching the metal fret and hitting the string. It produces a soft and soothing sound. Muted notes can be used in single or several strings at a time depending upon the tune.
3.2. Palm Muting (PM)
Palm muting is a guitar technique to mute the vibration of a string by keeping the palm on the connecting point of that string. The tune got silent for a while when we apply this function. Palm muting is written as ‘PM’ on the guitar tab.
3.3. Hammer-ons (h)
Hammer-on function is denoted by ‘h’ in the guitar tab, and a curve symbol in staff notation.
For example, 3h5 means you have to play on the 3rd fret and then hammer on to the 5th fret on the same string. Here actually you hit only on the 3rd fret but the note will be rendered to the fifth fret note and produce a different resonance. It’s an amazing guitar technique to make a tone melodious.
3.4. Pull-offs (p)
Pull-offs are the just opposite function of hammer-ons and symbolize ‘p’ on the guitar tab. It is also denoted by a curve on standard notation. Releasing hammer-on makes a pull-off.
3.5. Bend (b)
The bending technique is expressed by ‘b’ in the guitar tab. A curve with an arrow upward is used to denote a bend in standard notation.
Suppose there are 5b7 written on a particular string. It means you must bend the fifth fret note until it sounds like the seventh fret pitch. Bending can be done by pushing the same string with the index finger until the pitch matches the next bending pitch.
In staff notation, a number like 1/2 or 1/4 is used to be written above the curved line to represent the half note or quarter note. It depicts the time to hold the bend.
3.6. Pre-bend (pb)
Pre-bend is the just opposite function of bend and is depicted as ‘pb’ on tablature. First, we bend a string upward by our index finger up to a full or half note and then bring it down to its normal position by pre-bending.
3.7. Vibrato (~~)
Vibrato is the process of bending and releasing a string frequently in a rhythmic manner. If we see ‘~~’ symbols on a guitar tab sheet, it means we have to perform vibrato there.
The length of this zig-zag symbol indicates the duration of vibrato. If it is long, you have to play vibrato for a long time. The first or third fingers are generally used to perform vibrato.
We have to learn this technique by practicing again and again. Vibrato brings a melodious essence to a tone, making it soother for our ears.
3.8. Natural Harmonics (< >)
A symbol of ‘< >’ is used to express Natural Harmonics. When we see this symbol between two notes we have to play natural harmonics there.
For example, if we see < 10 > on a guitar tab, that means we should play natural harmonics on the 10th fret on that string.
Sometimes you can see ‘N.H.’ written over there above and below staff notation. It indicates the natural harmonics to play.
3.9. Parentheses ()
Parentheses are used to mark a ghost note of a tune or chord and are denoted by the first bracket ‘( )’.
It can be used for three purposes:
- Indicating the silent note that can be a part of the chord.
- Mentioning the same note to be rendered from the previous beat.
- Expressing the optional note of a chord or melody.
3.10. Slide Up (/)
In guitar tabs, a front slash ‘/’ is the symbol of slide-up. Slide-up is done by sliding your finger from the lower fret to the upper fret of a guitar.
For example, 5 / 7 means you have to strike only on the fifth fret and then slide your finger to the seventh fret.
3.11. Slide Down (\)
Slide down in guitar tabs is mentioned as a ‘ \’ symbol. It is performed by sliding your finger from the upper to the lower note.
For example, 7 \ 5 means you have to play only the seventh fret and slide your finger down to the fifth fret.
3.12. Up Stroke (V)
To highlight the higher note in a specific tune upstroke is used and it is indicated by the symbol ‘ V ‘ on the tablature. Upstrokes are done with the upward movement of the pick. This technique is used for strumming on a guitar.
3.13. Down Stroke (U)
Downstroke is used for strumming on a guitar and indicated as ‘ U ‘ on the guitar tabs. This is the downward movement of the pick. Downstrokes and upstrokes are used simultaneously during playing a chord or strumming on a guitar.
3.14. Tapping (T)
The symbol of tapping in a guitar tab is ‘T’ or ‘t’. In this technique, both hands are used to hammer on and pull-off emphatically to make the note sounds clear.
Tapping is generally used in electric guitars. Eddie Van Halen, the legendary guitarist, first implemented this amazing technique and made it popular.
If you master the tapping function, you can create some melodious pieces of tune yourself. Tapping is also used in the prelude or interlude of a song.
4. How to Read Guitar Tabs with a Single Note
Reading single notes or solo is as simple as reading books. The numbers mentioned on the guitar tab are the fret numbers where you have to put your left-hand fingers. The single-note guitar tablature looks like the below:
- e I——-1——————3———-0———–I (Thinnest string)
- B I—————3———————————-I
- G I————————————————–I
- D I————————————————–I
- A I————————————————–I
- E I————————————————–I (Thickest string)
5. How to Read Guitar Tabs with Chords
The stacked numbers on the strings on a guitar tab denote a chord. After practicing single notes, your fingers play the correct note on the particular strings and frets. You can play chords on the guitar now. Chords look like the below pattern on guitar tabs:
- e I———–0—————————— (Thinnest string)
- B I———–2——————————
- G I———-0——————————-
- D I———-1——————————-
- A I———-3——————————-
- E I———-0——————————- (Thickest string)
As we know, the uppermost string shown above is the thinnest string on a guitar, and ‘0’ means open string. So we have to play the first, third, and sixth strings open and keep our fingers on 2nd fret on 2nd string, 1st fret on 4th string, and 3rd fret on 5th string. In this way, we can play a chord on a guitar.
6. Guitar Technique: Strumming
Strumming is a technique to apply chords in a rhythmic pattern using upstrokes and downstrokes. It consists of a series of chords. The tablature presentation is like the below:
- U U U V U V V
- E I—–X—— X——–X—–X—–X—–X——–X—-I
- B I—–X——X———X—–X—–X—–X——–X—-I
- G I—–X——X———X—–X—–X—–X——–X—-I
- D I—–5——-5———5——5——5——7——-7—-I
- A I—–5—— 5———5——5——5——7——–7—-I
- E I—–3——-3———3——3——3——5——-5—-I
The first three chords above should be played downstrokes, then the next chord upstroke, again downstroke, and finally last two chords upstrokes.
To perform your strumming smoothly you should remember some tips:
- Both of your arms should be completely flexible.
- Don’t let your left elbow tuck with your stomach.
- Always try to keep your wrist straight with your arm and perform from your elbow.
- Begin to practice strumming with a pick, later on by finger.
7. Guitar Techniques – Legato
To be a professional guitarist you must learn how to play guitar smoothly. Legato is one of the crucial parts of this learning session.
Legato is a combination of Hammer-on, Pull-off, and Slides. We have to use these functions fluently in a rhythmic pattern.
Some easy ways to grab the Legato technique are :
- Doing finger exercises: Regular practice of hand and finger exercises helps to enhance your Legato skills.
- Don’t pay attention: Try to practice Legato in front of a Laptop or TV so that you can’t pay attention to your guitar. It helps you to memorize your lessons.
- Scaling it up: Always try to practice Legato in different scales and make different patterns yourself from that scale.
- Slow down and speed up: Start Legato exercises slowly and then speed up. Follow slow-down and speed-up patterns several times. It will improve your skill efficiently.
8. How to Read Guitar Tabs for Riffs?
Guitar riffs are the collection of notes or jingles played in a sequence or phrase. Every guitarist should learn some riffs to make their musical journey more melodious.
Why you should learn riffs? Here are some points :
- Riffs are more pleasurable to play: Playing your favorite riff on the guitar becomes more fun.
- It’s ultimately a beneficial technique: Playing riffs on your guitar makes your learning curve more fruitful.
- Riffs are a popular part of guitar culture: In the history of guitar culture riffs play a crucial role, it helps to make you popular among the people.
Reading guitar tabs for riffs is the same method applied to reading the chords. The all symbolic representations discussed above are used in riffs and you can easily interpret them in your performance.
9. How to Read Guitar Tabs for Trills?
Trills are repeated hammer-ons and pull-offs of two different notes on a single string. It is written as ‘Tr’ on the guitar tablature placed between two notes. Most trills are half-step or whole-step wide duration.
Trills exercises are helpful to improve your accuracy, strength, and speed of guitar playing.
10. Tremolo Picking on Guitar Tab
Tremolo picking is noted as ‘ TP ‘ on guitar tablature. It means you have to mandatorily tremolo pick the single note repeatedly.
Tremolo pick is generally used in electric guitars but you can perform this function in some acoustic guitars also.
11. Guitar Tabs Vs Sheet Music
There are some advantages and disadvantages of guitar tabs. Here we will discuss that.
- The advantage of guitar tabs is that we can easily interpret the notes and play on the guitar. But in sheet music, you have to consider so many parameters and understand them to play.
- The main disadvantage of the guitar tab is that there is no rhythm or tempo denoted, so you have to understand it by yourself as per your experience. No timing information is provided in the tabs. On the other hand, in standard notation or sheet music, the time duration or pitch of a note is mentioned.
- Only guitarists use guitar tabs. But sheet music is used by all musicians, singers, and instrumentalists.
- The main advantage of the guitar tab is that it is easy to understand for the guitarists. In a short time, you can grab the rules of guitar tabs. But to understand sheet music, it takes so many months or years. Sheet music or staff notation is the complete expression of a tune or song. To play a song on guitar perfectly you must learn the staff notations.
Conclusion
I think, now you understand how to read guitar tabs. You have to practice these techniques regularly to acquire the expertise. So, if you want to know guitar tabs better you should invest some valuable time on it daily.
Learning to read guitar tabs is not sufficient to become a professional guitarist. You should have the proper knowledge of Staff Notation or Standard Notation to play guitar successfully and efficiently. It gives you the complete vision to play a song or tune accurately. If you know both the techniques like guitar tabs and standard notations you can improvise some notes on your own and compose new music too.
Lastly, don’t be confused, here is your first step to the world of guitar. Just follow the rules, listen to your heart, and practice – practice – practice. This is the thumb rule to become a successful guitarist. Happy playing. Wish you a melodious journey!
