Hide tabs by unchecking the tablature track in the View menu
Open Guitar Pro and load your file. Go to View in the menu bar, then look for Tablature or Tab. Click the checkbox next to it to uncheck it. The tab staff will disappear from your workspace when ready, leaving only the standard notation visible.
This is the fastest method if you want to work with notation alone or print sheet music without tabs. You can turn tabs back on the same way — just check the box again. The entire process takes seconds and requires no file changes.
Most users reach for this method first because it is the most direct path. Whether you are switching between notation and tab view multiple times in a single session or you just want a cleaner workspace for the next hour, the View menu toggle handles it without touching your file settings.
Key Takeaways
- The View menu's Tablature checkbox toggles tabs on and off for all tracks at once.
- Right-clicking a track header and unchecking "Show Tablature" hides tabs for that single track only.
- The Display menu in Preferences lets you set whether tabs appear by default when you open files.
- Hiding tabs does not delete them — they remain in the file and reappear when you turn them back on.
- You can print notation-only or tab-only by hiding one before you print.
Hide tabs for a single track instead of the whole file
If your file has multiple instruments and you want to see tabs for some tracks but not others, right-click the track header on the left side of the screen. A menu will appear with several options. Look for Show Tablature and uncheck it.
This approach is useful when you are learning a song with drums, bass, and guitar — you might want to see only the guitar tabs while reading the drum notation. Each track remembers its own setting, so you can hide tabs on the bass track and keep them visible on the guitar track.
The per-track method also works well when you are mixing notation study with tab reference. Hide tabs on the rhythm section to focus on the lead guitar line, or hide tabs on lead instruments to concentrate on chord changes. Your choices stick until you change them again.
Change the default so tabs stay hidden when you open files
If you always work in notation and rarely need tabs, you can set Guitar Pro to hide them automatically. Go to Tools in the menu bar, then select Preferences (or Settings on some versions). Look for the Display section.
Find the option labeled Show Tablature or Default Tablature Display and uncheck it. From that point forward, any file you open will load without tabs visible. You can still turn them on for any file using the View menu — this setting only changes what appears by default.
This preference change affects every file you open going forward, so it is worth doing only if you genuinely prefer notation most of the time. If you switch between tab and notation depending on the song or your mood that day, the View menu toggle is faster than changing Preferences repeatedly.
Print without tablature by hiding it first
Before you print, hide the tabs using the View menu method described above. Then go to File and select Print. Guitar Pro will print only what is visible on screen, so your output will show notation without tabs.
If you want to print tabs only, do the reverse: hide the standard notation instead. Go to View, find Standard Notation, and uncheck it. Then print. Some versions of Guitar Pro have a separate print preview that lets you choose what to include, but hiding first is the most reliable method across all versions.
This approach also lets you control what your bandmates or students see on paper. Hide tabs before printing a lead sheet for notation readers, or hide notation before printing a tab-only version for players who work exclusively from tabs.
Restore tabs if you hide them by accident
Tabs are never deleted when you hide them — they stay in your file. To bring them back, go to View and check the Tablature box again. If you hid tabs for a single track, right-click that track header and check Show Tablature.
If you changed the default setting in Preferences and want tabs to appear again, return to Tools > Preferences > Display and check the Show Tablature option. Your file will load with tabs visible from then on.
Why you might want to hide tablature
Some players prefer reading standard notation because it transfers to other instruments and teaches music theory faster. Others hide tabs to reduce screen clutter when working with complex arrangements. Teachers often hide tabs when creating worksheets so students must read notation instead of relying on tab.
Hiding tabs is also useful when you are transcribing by ear — keeping only the notation visible forces you to listen and write what you hear rather than copying what Guitar Pro generated from the tab. Professional musicians sometimes hide tabs during practice to strengthen their reading skills.
Screen real estate matters too. On smaller monitors or when you are working with many tracks, hiding tabs gives you more vertical space to see the full arrangement at once without scrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiding tabs delete them from my file?
No. Hiding tabs only removes them from your view. They remain in the file and reappear when you turn the display back on. Your data is never lost.
Can I hide tabs for one instrument but keep them for another?
Yes. Right-click the track header for the instrument you want to change, then uncheck Show Tablature. Other tracks keep their own settings independently.
Will hiding tabs affect how the file plays back?
No. Hiding tabs changes only what you see on screen. Playback, MIDI output, and the actual file content remain unchanged.
What if I want to print only tabs without notation?
Hide the standard notation instead of the tabs. Go to View, find Standard Notation, and uncheck it. Then print. The output will show tabs only.
How do I make tabs stay hidden every time I open Guitar Pro?
Go to Tools > Preferences > Display and uncheck Show Tablature. New files will open without tabs visible, though you can still turn them on per file using the View menu.