What Guitar Tabs Show You
Guitar tabs (short for tablature) are a written system that tells you which frets to press on which strings. Instead of reading musical notes on a staff, you read numbers on six horizontal lines—one line for each string of your guitar. The number tells you which fret to press; the position of the number on the line tells you when to play it.
Tabs look like this at their simplest:
e|—0— B|—2— G|—2— D|—2— A|—0— E|—————
The six lines represent your six strings, with the thickest string (low E) at the bottom and the thinnest string (high e) at the top. A "0" means play that string open (without pressing any fret). A "1" means press the first fret, a "2" means the second fret, and so on.
Key Takeaways
- The six horizontal lines in a tab represent your six guitar strings, with the low E string at the bottom and the high e string at the top.
- Numbers on the lines show you which fret to press; a 0 means play the string open without pressing any fret.
- Numbers stacked vertically mean you play those strings at the same time (a chord); numbers in a line mean you play them one after another.
- Dashes between numbers show the timing and rhythm—more dashes mean more time between notes.
- Tab does not show you how long to hold a note or how fast to play, so you often need to listen to the song or read standard notation alongside the tab.
Reading Strings and Frets
Each line always represents the same string. The top line is always the high e string (the thinnest one). Moving down, you have B, G, D, A, and E (the thickest string) at the bottom. This order never changes, so once you memorize it, you will always know which string a number is on.
When you see a number on a line, press that fret on that string. If the tab shows "3" on the G line, you press the third fret of the G string. If it shows "5" on the D string, you press the fifth fret of the D string. The fret is the metal bar on your neck—count up from the headstock toward the body.
A "0" is not a fret; it means play that string without pressing anything down. Beginners often miss this and try to find a "0 fret," which does not exist. Open strings are just as important as fretted notes.
Playing Notes One at a Time Versus Chords
When numbers are stacked vertically on top of each other, you play all of them at the same time. This is a chord. For example:
e|—0— B|—2— G|—2— D|—2— A|—0— E|—————
This shows you to press all six strings at once—a chord shape. Your fingers go on the frets shown, and you strum or pick all the strings together.
When numbers are spread out horizontally across the lines (not stacked), you play them one after another. This is a melody or a single-note riff:
e|—0—2—3— B|————— G|————— D|————— A|————— E|—————
This means play the high e string open, then the second fret, then the third fret—one note at a time, moving along the same string.
Understanding Timing and Rhythm in Tabs
The dashes between numbers show you timing. More dashes mean more time passes before the next note. Fewer dashes mean the notes come closer together. This is not precise—tab does not show exact note lengths the way standard musical notation does—but it gives you a rough sense of rhythm.
Look at this example:
e|—0———2—3— B|————— G|————— D|————— A|————— E|—————
The gap between 0 and 2 is longer (more dashes), so you hold or wait longer before playing the 2. The gap between 2 and 3 is shorter, so those notes come faster. If you listen to the song while reading the tab, the rhythm becomes much clearer.
Common Tab Symbols Beyond Numbers
Numbers are the core of tabs, but you will see other symbols that tell you how to play:
Slashes and dashes (— or /) show rhythm and timing. Parentheses around a number, like (3), often mean that note is tied or held from the previous note—do not pick it again, just let it ring. An "h" between two numbers means hammer-on: pick the first fret, then press down on the second fret without picking again. A "p" means pull-off: pick a fret, then lift your finger to an open string or lower fret without picking again. A "b" means bend: pick the note and bend the string up to raise the pitch. A "/" or "\" can show a slide: pick one fret and slide your finger up or down to another fret.
You do not need to memorize all of these at once. Start with plain numbers and open strings. As you read more tabs, you will pick up these symbols naturally. Most tabs include a legend at the top that explains what each symbol means for that particular tab.
How to Use Tabs With Your Guitar
Start by finding the song you want to learn. Many websites host free tabs—Ultimate Guitar and Chordify are common sources. read or copy the tab and open it where you can see it while you play.
Read the first few notes and play them slowly. Do not worry about speed. Your goal is to find the right frets and strings and get the muscle memory in your fingers. Once you can play the passage without looking at your hands, speed it up a little. Repeat this for each section of the song.
Listen to the song while you read the tab. Your ear will fill in the timing and rhythm that the tab cannot show precisely. If the tab does not sound right when you play it, check that you are on the correct frets and strings—mistakes there are the most common reason tabs sound wrong.
What Tabs Cannot Tell You
Tabs show you where to play, but not always how to play. They do not show note length precisely—you need to listen to the song to know if a note is a quarter note, eighth note, or whole note. They do not show dynamics (how loud or soft to play). They do not show which fingers to use, though you will develop your own preferences as you practice.
This is why the best way to learn from tabs is to listen to the original song at the same time. Your ear hears the timing and feel; your eyes read the frets. Together, they teach you the song much faster than either one alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the letters at the start of each line mean?
The letters (e, B, G, D, A, E) are the names of the strings. They remind you which string each line represents. The high e string is at the top, and the low E string is at the bottom. Some tabs leave these letters off, but the order of the lines never changes.
Why do some tabs show numbers higher than 24?
Higher fret numbers mean you are playing higher up on the neck, closer to the body of the guitar. Most beginner songs stay below the 12th fret, but as you progress, you will play higher frets. Your guitar has as many frets as your neck allows—usually 20 to 24 on most guitars.
Can I learn songs from tabs without reading standard musical notation?
Yes. Tabs are designed so you do not need to read standard notation. Many guitarists learn entirely from tabs. However, learning to read standard notation alongside tabs will help you understand rhythm and timing more precisely, especially for complex songs.
What if the tab I find sounds wrong when I play it?
Check that you are pressing the correct frets on the correct strings. The most common mistake is misreading which line a number is on. Count the lines carefully from top to bottom. If you are sure the frets are right, the tab itself might be inaccurate—try a different version from another source or listen closely to the song to figure out the correct notes.
Do I need to memorize the fret positions, or can I just read the tab every time?
You do not need to memorize them. Reading tabs and playing along with the song will build muscle memory naturally. Over time, your fingers will find the frets without you thinking about it. Memorization comes from repetition, not from studying—just play the song many times.