“Do I really have to learn standard sheet music to play the guitar?” how to read guitar tabs
This is the ultimate question we get from adult beginners and teenagers all over the world. When you look at traditional sheet music, it looks like an ancient, complicated language. If your only goal is to strum your favorite Ed Sheeran or Metallica songs in your bedroom, learning traditional theory can feel like a massive roadblock. how to read guitar tabs
Fortunately, guitarists created their own secret “cheat code” decades ago: Tablature (or “Tabs”). At Key Tech Music School, we use tabs to get our global students playing their favorite riffs on day one. If you want to bypass the frustration of traditional theory, here is the ultimate beginner guide on how to read guitar tabs in under 10 minutes.
1. The 6 Lines Are Your 6 Strings how to read guitar tabs
The most confusing part of learning how to read guitar tabs is the perspective. When you look at a tab, you will see 6 horizontal lines. These lines represent the 6 strings on your guitar.
However, they are drawn upside down from how you might expect:
- The Top Line is your thinnest string (the High E string, closest to the floor).
- The Bottom Line is your thickest string (the Low E string, closest to the ceiling).
Imagine you are holding your guitar, and you lean it flat on your lap to look down at the strings. That is the exact perspective of a guitar tab!
- Are your strings sounding bad? Ultimate Guide: How to Tune a Guitar Perfectly
2. The Numbers Are the Frets (Not Your Fingers!) how to read guitar tabs
When you look at standard sheet music, you see dots. When learning how to read guitar tabs, you see numbers placed directly on the lines.
These numbers tell you exactly which metal fret to press down on.
- If you see a “3” on the bottom line, you press your finger on the 3rd fret of the thickest Low E string and pluck it.
- If you see a “0”, that means you play the string “open” (you pluck the string without pressing down on any frets).
- Remember: A “1” means the first fret, not your first finger! You can use whichever finger feels most comfortable to hold that fret down.
3. Reading Left to Right (Melody vs. Chords) how to read guitar tabs
You read a guitar tab exactly like you read a book: from left to right.
- Single Notes (Melodies): If the numbers are spaced out horizontally one after the other, you play them one at a time. This is how you play guitar solos and famous riffs.
- Chords (Strumming): If you see numbers stacked vertically directly on top of each other, that means you strum all of those strings at the exact same time. This is how a chord is written.
4. The “Secret” Symbols You Must Know
Once you master the basics of how to read guitar tabs, you will start seeing letters and symbols mixed in with the numbers. These tell you how to play the note to give it emotion:
- h (Hammer-on): Example:
5h7. You pluck the 5th fret, and then forcefully slam your finger down on the 7th fret to make it ring without plucking the string a second time. - p (Pull-off): Example:
7p5. The opposite of a hammer-on. You pull your finger off the 7th fret to let the 5th fret ring out. - b (Bend): Example:
7b9. You press the 7th fret and physically push the string up toward the ceiling until it sounds as high as the 9th fret. - ** / (Slide):** Example:
3/5. You pluck the 3rd fret and slide your finger up the metal string to the 5th fret without lifting it.
5. The One Massive Weakness of Tabs
Tabs are incredible, but they have one major flaw: They do not show you the rhythm. A tab tells you exactly where to put your fingers, but it doesn’t tell you how long to hold the note. If you try to learn how to read guitar tabs for a song you have never actually heard before, it will be almost impossible to play it correctly. Always keep the song playing on Spotify or YouTube while you read the tab so your ear can guide your timing.
- Want to master rhythm? How Long to Learn an Instrument: The Ultimate Guide
Learn Faster with an Expert Guide how to read guitar tabs
Tabs can only take you so far. When you get stuck on a difficult chord or your hand starts cramping, a piece of paper cannot correct your posture. By combining easy-to-read tabs with professional online instruction, you can double your learning speed.
Book a Free Trial Guitar Session Today and Master Your First Song!
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