Master guitar TAB from absolute beginner to advanced techniques — hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, slides, vibrato, harmonics, and how to combine TAB with standard notation.
Guitar tablature (TAB) is the most widely used notation system for guitar — simpler than standard notation and instantly readable. Every guitarist should be fluent in TAB, regardless of whether they also read standard notation.
Six horizontal lines represent the six strings. Bottom line = low E (thickest string). Top line = high E (thinnest). Numbers indicate which fret to press. 0 = open string. Read left to right. Stacked numbers = chord — play simultaneously.
A hammer-on (h): pick the first note, then bring a fretting finger down forcefully on the second note without picking again. Written as '5h7'. A pull-off (p): the reverse — pick the first note, then pull the fretting finger off to sound the lower note. Written as '7p5'.
A bend (b) raises the pitch by pushing the string across the fretboard. '7b9' means bend the string at fret 7 until it sounds like fret 9 (a whole step). The release (r) returns to the original pitch.
Slide (/): '5/7' — pick fret 5, slide to fret 7. Vibrato (~): rapidly rock the fretting finger to add expression. Natural harmonic (< >): lightly touch the string directly above the fret without pressing down — produces a bell-like tone.
Learn TAB first — you will be reading songs within hours. Add standard notation gradually as your musicianship grows. The combination of both (TAB + Staff paper) is the most powerful.
Traditional TAB does not show precise rhythm — that is its main limitation. Modern TAB often adds stems and beams below the numbers to indicate note duration. For precise rhythm, use TAB paired with standard notation.
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