What Guitar Tab Is and Why You Write It
Guitar tab (short for tablature) is a way of writing down what you play on guitar using numbers instead of musical notes. Each line represents a string on your guitar, and the numbers tell you which fret to press. Tab is faster to learn than standard musical notation and shows you exactly where your fingers go—it does not require you to read music or understand rhythm symbols.
You write tab when you want to record a song, riff, or exercise so you can play it again later, share it with other musicians, or teach someone else. Unlike sheet music, tab does not show timing or how long to hold each note, so many players combine tab with standard notation or write timing notes above the tab lines.
Key Takeaways
- Guitar tab uses six horizontal lines (one for each string) with numbers showing which fret to play on each string.
- The top line is the high E string and the bottom line is the low E string, matching the order of strings on your guitar.
- Write numbers left to right in the order you play them, and use symbols like hyphens, slashes, and letters to show techniques such as slides, bends, and hammer-ons.
- Standard tab notation includes symbols for common techniques, but you can add your own notes or abbreviations if you explain them at the top of the page.
- Many guitarists use free tab software or plain text editors to write tab, though pencil and paper work just as well for learning.
Setting Up the Six Lines of Your Tab
Start by drawing or typing six horizontal lines stacked on top of each other. These lines represent your six guitar strings. The top line is the high E string (the thinnest string), and the bottom line is the low E string (the thickest string). This matches the order of strings when you hold your guitar and look down at it.
Label each line on the left side with the string name: E, B, G, D, A, E (from top to bottom). This helps anyone reading your tab know which string they are playing. Leave space on the left for these labels, and make sure the lines are evenly spaced so numbers are straightforward to read.
If you are writing by hand, use a ruler to keep the lines straight and parallel. If you are typing, most text editors will let you use hyphens to create lines, though tab software (covered later) does this automatically and looks cleaner.
Adding Numbers to Show Which Frets to Play
Write numbers on the lines to show which fret your finger should press. The number 0 means play the string open (without pressing any fret). The number 1 means press the first fret, 2 means the second fret, and so on. Write numbers left to right in the order you play them, just as you would read words on a page.
When you play two or more notes at the same time (a chord), stack the numbers vertically so they line up. For example, if you play a C major chord, you might write numbers on three different lines at the same position, showing that all three notes happen together. If notes play one after another, write them horizontally across the lines.
Space your numbers so they are straightforward to read and do not run together. If you are writing by hand, leave at least one space between each number. If you are typing, use hyphens to fill empty spaces on each line so the tab stays aligned and readable.
Using Symbols for Slides, Bends, and Other Techniques
Tab includes standard symbols to show how you play a note, not just which fret. A slide is written as a forward slash (/) or backslash (\) between two numbers—for example, 5/7 means slide from the 5th fret to the 7th fret. A bend is written as a b after the number—for example, 7b means press the 7th fret and bend the string up. A hammer-on (pressing a fret without picking) is written as an h between numbers—for example, 5h7 means pick the 5th fret, then hammer onto the 7th fret without picking again.
Other common symbols include p for pull-off (lifting your finger off a fret to sound a lower note), ~ for vibrato (shaking the string), and x for a muted or percussive sound. A bend release (bending up and then letting the string return to normal pitch) is written as b followed by r—for example, 7br means bend the 7th fret and release it.
Write these symbols directly above, below, or next to the numbers they explore to. If you invent your own symbols or abbreviations, write a legend at the top of the page explaining what each one means. This is especially important if you are sharing your tab with other musicians who may not recognize your shorthand.
Organizing Your Tab for Clarity and Readability
Break your tab into short sections that fit on one line or page. A typical line of tab might show 8 to 16 notes before you start a new line, depending on how much space you have. This keeps the tab from becoming a long, hard-to-read block of numbers.
Add labels above each section to show what part of the song it is—for example, "Intro," "Verse," "Chorus," or "Bridge." If the same section repeats, you can write it once and note that it repeats, rather than writing it out multiple times. Use repeat symbols (two dots before and after a section) if you are familiar with them, or straightforward write "Repeat 2x" above the section.
Leave space between sections so your tab does not look crowded. If you are writing by hand, use a new line or leave a blank line between sections. If you are typing, add a blank line or a row of dashes to separate sections visually. At the top of the page, write the song title, artist name, and the tuning you are using (standard tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E from lowest to highest string).
Tools for Writing Tab: Software and Paper
Free tab software makes writing and sharing tab much easier than typing or writing by hand. Guitar Pro is the most popular paid option, but free alternatives include TuxGuitar (which works on Windows, Mac, and Linux) and Flat.io (a web-based editor). These programs handle spacing and symbols automatically, let you hear what you wrote, and export your tab in standard formats that other musicians can read.
If you prefer typing, plain text editors work fine for straightforward tab. Many online tab sites (such as Ultimate Guitar) accept tab written in plain text format. The downside is that you have to manage spacing and alignment yourself, and the result may not look as polished as software-created tab.
Pencil and paper are still a valid choice, especially when you are learning or working out a riff by ear. Use a ruler to keep lines straight, write clearly so numbers do not blur together, and leave plenty of space for symbols and notes. Once you have worked out what you want to play, you can type it up or enter it into software later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing Tab
The most common mistake is forgetting to show timing. Tab shows which frets to play but not how long to hold each note or how fast to play them. If you write tab without any timing information, someone reading it will not know if a note is a quarter note, eighth note, or whole note. Add timing notes above the tab (such as quarter notes, eighth notes, or rests) or write a separate rhythm notation alongside your tab.
Another mistake is misaligning numbers so they do not line up vertically. If your numbers drift out of alignment, the reader will not know which notes are supposed to play together and which play one after another. Check your alignment as you write, and use a ruler or tab software to keep lines and columns straight.
Do not assume the reader knows your abbreviations or symbols. If you use h for hammer-on, p for pull-off, and b for bend, write these out in a legend at the top of the page. If you invent a symbol for a technique that is not standard, explain it clearly. The goal of tab is to communicate clearly, so clarity always comes first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to know how to read music to write guitar tab?
No. Tab uses numbers instead of musical notes, so you do not need to read standard notation. However, if you want to show timing (how long each note lasts), you may want to learn basic rhythm notation or add timing notes above your tab so others know how fast to play it.
What if I want to write tab for a song I do not know how to read music for?
Work out the song by ear on your guitar, one note at a time. As you figure out each note, write down which fret you are playing on which string. This is how most guitarists learn to write tab—by playing and recording what they hear, not by reading sheet music first.
Can I write tab for techniques like tapping or two-handed playing?
Yes, but you may need to add extra symbols or notes to explain what is happening. For tapping, you might write "T" above the number to show that you are tapping with your picking hand rather than fretting normally. Add a legend at the top explaining any non-standard symbols you use.
Should I write tab in standard tuning or the tuning the song actually uses?
Always write tab in the tuning the song uses, and write the tuning at the top of the page. If a song is in drop D tuning (where the low E string is tuned down to D), write "Tuning: D-A-D-G-B-E" at the top so the reader knows to retune before playing your tab.
What is the difference between tab and standard musical notation?
Tab shows you where to play (which fret on which string) but not how long to hold each note. Standard notation shows timing and rhythm but requires you to know which fret matches each note. Many musicians use both together—tab on top and standard notation below—so you get the benefits of both.