How to Read Guitar TAB | DS Music

Home , Tablature

How to Read Guitar TAB 0 1 This useful Guitar tablature (TAB) guide will help you to learn how to read guitar TAB. Guitar Tablature is another way ∑∑∑ to notate guitar music. The 6 strings of a guitar are represented by the 6 horizontal lines used⁄ in guitar tablature (TAB) as seen below:

0 1 1 1 Guitar Fingerboard 2 thinnest string Guitar Tablature∑∑∑ (TAB) ∑∑∑ st E ⁄ 1 String ⁄ 2nd String B 0 T 1 rd 0 G 1 3 String 1 ∑∑∑ D 2 ∑∑∑th A 4 String ⁄ ∑∑∑ A ⁄ 5th String B E ⁄ 6th String 0 1 thickest string 1 1 0 frets2 ∑∑∑∑∑∑ ∑∑∑∑∑∑3 ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄

0 1 The numbers1 you see on the strings are the fret number. For example∑∑∑ a number 3 on the top line would mean play ∑∑∑ 2 rd 5 ∑∑∑ the 3 fret on the top E string. ⁄ Here are some∑∑∑ more examples on3 tablature: ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ 1 0 3 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ 5 ⁄ 3rd string open string (G) 5th string 3rd fret (C) 6th string 5th fret (A) 1st string 1st fret (F) (no fingers) 1 ∑∑∑ 5 3 ⁄ ∑∑∑∑∑∑ Note:⁄ When placing your finger in front of the fret, place⁄ it as close to the middle as possible as this will ensure good intonation (tuning). 1 0 ∑∑∑1 ∑∑∑ 5 If⁄ you see numbers on top of each⁄ other, this means that you play these at the same time - a good example∑∑∑ would be to notate chords in TAB. Here are some examples: ⁄ 1 0 Here you would play the top 1 Here you would play 1st 1 1 string as an open string∑∑∑ (E), 2 string 1st fret (F), 2nd string ⁄ and then the 2nd string ∑∑∑1st 1st fret (C) & 3rd string 2∑∑∑nd ⁄ fret (C) at the same time ⁄ fret (A) all together

0 1 1 ∑∑∑ 2 ∑∑∑⁄ ⁄

0 ∑∑∑3 ∑∑∑ ⁄ ⁄

∑∑∑ 5 3 ∑∑∑⁄

⁄ R We kindly thank Fender for allowing us to 1 use their CN-320AS guitar in this resource MUSIC www.dsmusic.com ∑∑∑Page 1 © Copyright∑∑∑ 2014 DS Music ⁄ 5 ⁄

1 ∑∑∑ ⁄ TAB does not usually show you what rhythm to play. This is why ° TAB is normally seen with standard music notation over the top & œ œ ∑∑∑∑∑∑ of it to indicate the rhythm - see the example to the right: œ œ œ œ œœœœ œ œ œ More information about reading standard music notation rhythms can be found in our ‘How to Read Music for Guitarists’ guide 0 0 2 3 2 3 2 0 2 - look at the sections on rhythms and rests. 3 3 3 3 ¢⁄ ∑∑∑∑∑∑

Alternatively you will occassionally see notation stems added onto the9 tablature to indicate the rhythm as seen below: These represent ° ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ This line represents semiquavers These represent & a crotchet° (quarter (sixteenth notes) quavers (eighth notes) & œ œ ∑∑∑∑∑∑ note) - 1 beat eachœ œ œ- 1/4 ofœ a beat eachœœœœ- œ1/2œ a œbeat each ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄

0 0 19 2 3 2 3 2 0 2 ∑∑∑∑∑∑ 3 3 3 3 ° ⁄ & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ 9 Here is a° handy chart∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ of TAB notation rhythms with their beats, alternative standard music notation and rests: & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑

TAB Notation Beats Equivalent Note Equivalent¢⁄ Rest Name ∑

∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑29 ∑

n/a 4 j r Semibreve ∑ ° ° ⁄ w ˙ œ∑°œ œ Œ ‰ ≈ ∑™ ∑ ™ Œ™ ‰™ ≈™

4 4 ∑ ∑ ¢ & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑

&4&4 n/aœ19 œœ œœ œœ 2 œœ œœœœœœœœœœœœœœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Minimœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ∑ j r ∑ ° ° 4 w ˙ œ œ∑ œ Œ ‰ ≈ ∑™ ™ Œ™ ‰™ ≈™

4 &∑ 4 ∑ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

&4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ° œ œ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑œ œ 1œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œjœ œ œrœ œ œ œ Crotchet ∑ ° ° & ∑ Œ ‰ ≈ ∑™ ∑ ™ Œ™ ‰™ ≈™

4 ∑ 4 ∑ w ˙ œ œ œ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑

&4 œ&œ4 œ œ œœ œœœ œ œœœ œœ œœ œœ œ œœœœœœœ œœœ œœ0 œœœœ00 œœœ0œ0 œœ0œ0œœœ0œ0 œ0 œ0 0œ0 œ0 0œ0 œ0 0œ0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

4 4 1/2 j r Quaver ∑ 4 ∑ ∑ ∑ Œ ‰¢⁄ ≈ ∑ ∑ Œ ‰ ≈

¢⁄ ¢⁄ 4 w ˙ œ œ œ ™ ™ ™ ™ ™ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 390 0 0 0 0

4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑0 0 1/40 0 0 0 0j 0 0 r0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Semiquaver ∑ 4 ∑ 4 ∑ ∑ Œ ‰ ≈ ∑™ ∑ ™ Œ™ ‰™ ≈™

¢⁄ ¢⁄ 5 5 ⁄ w ˙ œ œ œ

0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 00 0 00 0 00 00 00 0 0¢0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ° j r

4 4 ° n/a 6 & ∑∑∑∑∑∑Dotted semibreve ∑ 4 ∑ 4 ∑ ° 29 ∑ j j Œ ‰ w ≈˙ rœ∑∑ r™œ œ ™ Œ™ ‰™ ≈™

¢⁄ ¢⁄ 5 5 & &œ™ œ™ œ™ œ™ Œ Œ œ™ œ≈Œ™ ≈Œœ™ œœ™™ œ‰™ ‰œ™ ®‰œ™ ®‰Œ Œ œ™ œœ™™ ≈Œœ™ ≈Œ

° ° n/a 3 j r Dotted minim ∑ ° ∑ 5 5 ™ ™™ ™ j™ j™ ∑ &™ ™ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑™Œ ™‰r™ w r≈™ ˙ ™œ∑™ ™œ ™ œ ™™ Œ™ ‰™ ≈™

& œ & œœ Œœ œŒ ≈Œœ ≈Œœ œ œ‰ œ œ ‰®‰œ Œ®‰œ Œœ ≈Œœ œ ≈Œ ∑∑∑∑∑∑

° ° 1 1/2 j r Dotted crotchet ∑ ™ ™ j ™ j ∑ ™ ™ r ™ r ™ ™ ™ ™ Œ ™ j™ ™ ≈ŒŒ ™ j™ ™ ≈Œ‰ r™ ∑™®‰™ ™Œ‰ Œ ™r™™ ®‰‰™ ≈ŒŒ ≈w ™ ™ ™∑˙™≈Œœ ™ œ ™™ œ Œ¢™™⁄ ‰™ ™ ≈™™

& œ œ & œ œ œ œ œ œ œœ 0 œ 0 0 œ0œ œ 0 0 œ œ 0 00 0 0 0 0 00 0

Œ Œ 3/4≈Œ≈Œ ‰ ‰ ®‰®‰Œ Œ Dotted≈Œ quaver≈Œ ∑ ™ ™™ ∑ ™ j ™ Œ j‰™ ™ ≈™ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑™ ∑™∑ r ™ r ™ j ™ Œr™ ™ ‰™ ≈ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ w ™ ˙ œ™ œ œ ™ ™ ™ 0 00 0 0 Œ 0 ≈Œ¢0 ⁄ 0 0 0 0 ‰ 0 ®‰0 Œ 0 0 0 ≈Œ ™ ™ ™ j ™ ™ ∑ ™ j ™ ™ ŒŒ r ™‰™ ≈Œ™ ≈ r™ ™ ∑™™ ‰ 3/8™ ™®‰™ j ŒŒ™ r ‰™ ≈Œ≈™ Dotted semiquaver ¢⁄ ¢⁄ 8 8 39 w ˙ œ œ œ 0 0 Œ 0 0 0 ≈ŒŒ 0 0 0 ≈Œ‰ °0 0 °®‰0 Œ‰ 00 0®‰≈ŒŒ 0 0 ≈Œ ⁄ ¢⁄ 8 8 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑° ∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢ & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑R & ° ° & 8 8 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑& ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ° ° & MUSIC www.dsmusic.com Page 2 © Copyright 2014 DS Music & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑& ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ 18 18 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑° ° ¢⁄ ¢⁄ 18 18 & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ° ° & 18 18 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ° ° & & & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑& ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ 28 28 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑° ° ¢⁄ ¢⁄ 28 28 & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ° ° & 28 28 ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ° ° & & & ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑& ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ ∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑∑ ¢⁄ ¢⁄ Guitar TAB (tablature) Symbols You will notice symbols when reading guitar TAB to indicate various techniques to use - here are some of the most common:

Hammer On Pull-Off A curved line with a ‘H’ in- P A curved line (slur) with a ‘P’ H dicates a hammer on. Play indicates a pull-off. Put your fingers T the inital note (1st fret 3rd T 3 1 on the 2 notes (3rd fret & 1st fret, 2nd A 1 3 string) & then use another A string), pluck the string and then B finger to hit the next note B release the finger placed on the (3rd fret 3rd string). higher note.

Bend Release Bend A curved line with an ‘R’ indicates a A curved line with a ‘B’ B R release bend. Put your finger on the indicates a bend. This is writen note (2nd fret 5th string), push T where you play the written T the string with your finger (without note (2nd fret D string) and making a sound) and then pluck the A 2 A B then bend the string with B 2 string and bring it back to its normal the same finger. position for that note.

Vibrato Double-Note Licks A wavy line indicates B A bracket indicates a double-note vibrato. This is where you 6 lick. This is where the two notes are T 2 rapidly wobble your left T sustained with the one note being A hand finger side to side A 8 bent (8th fret 3rd string) and the other B whilst playing the written B is just held as normal (6th fret 1st note (2nd fret 2nd string). string).

Tapping A curved line (slur) with a Slide ‘T’ indicates Tapping. With T the pick hand or middle S A straight diagonal line with an ‘S’. T finger hammer (tap) the T Start your finger further down the 12 9 fret (12th fret 3rd string)and string than the written note and then A A 3 B pull off to the lower note B ‘slide’ your finger up the string to the (9th fret 3rd string). written note (3rd fret 4th string).