How to read guitar tabs
Guitar tablature maps notes to strings and frets. Read the six lines as the six strings, then follow fret numbers from left to right to play a phrase.
Read the six strings and fret numbers
A six-line tab is usually printed with the high, thin E string at the top and the low, thick E string at the bottom. The letter labels identify strings; a 0 means play open, and a number means fret that string. Numbers in the same column start together; numbers farther to the right come later.
e|------0---2h3-| B|----1---------| G|--0-----------| D|--------------| A|--------------| E|0-------------|
- Start with the low E string open, then play G-string fret 0, B-string fret 1, and high E-string fret 0 in sequence.
- The final 2h3 means play fret 2, then hammer the same string onto fret 3 without picking again.
- The vertical bar marks the end of this written measure; spacing suggests sequence, but plain tab does not reliably encode note duration.
Common tab symbols
A slash often marks a slide, “h” a hammer-on, “p” a pull-off, and “b” a bend. An “x” marks a muted or percussive note. Conventions can vary, so check any legend and listen where a recording is available.
- Keep a fretting finger close behind the fret wire.
- Loop a short phrase and slow it down when the player supports those controls.
- Increase tempo only after the notes sound clean.
What plain tab leaves out
Basic text tab may show string and fret positions without exact note lengths, rests, or time signatures. Use bar lines as landmarks, count a steady pulse, and compare with the recording when available. Some notation-based formats preserve more rhythmic detail; support depends on the arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
- Which line of a guitar tab is the low E string?
- The bottom line of a six-line tab is the low, thick E string, and the top line is the high, thin E string. It mirrors the view you get when looking down at your own guitar.
- What does 0 mean in a guitar tab?
- A zero means play that string open, without fretting any note. Any other number tells you which fret to press on that string.
- What do h, p, b and x mean in tabs?
- An “h” marks a hammer-on, “p” a pull-off, “b” a bend, a slash a slide, and “x” a muted or percussive note. Symbols vary slightly between transcribers, so listen to the recording alongside the tab.
- Do guitar tabs show rhythm?
- Plain text tabs often leave rhythm implied. Some notation-based arrangements preserve note lengths and rests; what is available depends on the arrangement format.