E—————————-||(Thinnest string) B—————————-|| G—————————-|| D—————————-|| A—————————-|| E—————————-||(Thickest string)

If the number is greater than 0, (1, 2, 3, 4, etc), then press your finger on that fret when you play, with “1” being the fret closest to the stock and fret numbers increasing as you move towards the guitar’s body. If the number is 0, then pluck the open string without fretting any notes.

If the number is greater than 0, (1, 2, 3, 4, etc), then press your finger on that fret when you play, with “1” being the fret closest to the stock and fret numbers increasing as you move towards the guitar’s body. If the number is 0, then pluck the open string without fretting any notes.

Note that most (but not all) tabs don’t display the rhythm with which you should play the notes in the tab. They may break the tab into measures (usually signified by vertical lines in the tab between measures, but they won’t tell you the rhythm of the notes within the measures. In this case, it’s best to listen to the song while you read the tab to[3] X Research source find the beat. Some advanced tabs do count out the beat for you - this is usually done by including rhythmic markings along the top of the tab notation. Each marking is vertically aligned with a note or a rest to give a sense of how long the note or rest lasts. Typical rhythmic markings include: w = whole note h = half note q = quarter note. e = eighth note. s = sixteenth note. Sometimes & markings are included to show that a note or rest lies on the “and” of a certain beat. A dot after the rhythm marking means the corresponding note or rest is dotted. For instance, q. = dotted quarter note. For rhythm basics, see How to Read Music

Sometimes, these chord changes are printed above the lyrics of the song to give you a sense of when these chords are played, as in this snippet from a tab for The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout:” (A7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (G). . . . . . . . . . . . (A) Well shake it up baby, now (shake it up baby)

Sometimes “^” is used instead (e. g. 7^9).

As with hammer ons, sometimes “^” is used instead (e. g. 9^7). In this case, know to perform a pull off if the second note is lower and a hammer on if the second note is higher.

Sometimes the second number is in parentheses, and occasionally the “b” is omitted altogether. If there is an “r” it denotes what the note should be released to (e. g. 7b9r7).

A lowercase “s” usually means to perform a legato slide. This is like a normal slide, but you only strike the first note with your pick. Let your target note sound simply from the motion in your fret hand. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/e/e0/Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b1. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/e/e0/Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b1. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} There is debate among guitarists over whether a light pick strike is appropriate for the target note. The most important thing is to remember to leave no gap between notes. Shift slides are signified by an uppercase “S. " In this case, strike the target note without striking the initial note of the slide. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/75/Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b2. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:”/images/thumb/7/75/Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b2. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-10b2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"}

If you see a “\n/,” where n = some number, perform a tremolo bar dip. Quickly hit and release the bar to dip the note’s pitch. The number between the slashes gives an indication of the pitch you should dip to - dip the pitch by “n” semitones (a semitone is the same as the pitch between two adjacent frets. ) For instance, “\5/” means to drop the pitch by 5 semitones, which will be the same tone as 5 frets below the original note. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/3/3c/Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b1. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/3/3c/Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b1. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} If you see a “\n,” where n = some number, fret note “n,” then strike it and depress the tremolo bar deeply to dramatically drop the pitch. If you see “n/,” raise the tremolo bar up after striking note “n” to raise the pitch. On some guitars, you can also put your bar in “inverted” position first so that hitting the bar raises the pitch rather than lowers it. If you see “/n,” perform a tremolo bar inverted dip by first depressing the tremolo bar, then raising it. As above, this also works in inverted position. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/9e/Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b4. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b4. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/9e/Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b4. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-11b4. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"}

If you see an “x” or a dot below the number, mute the string. Lay your fretting hand finger(s) across the designated strings so that when you strike them they produce a dull, clicking sound. Several “x” in a row, on adjacent strings, indicates a rake - just mute more than one string at once. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/5/54/Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b1. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/5/54/Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b1. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} If you see “PM,” play using palm muting. For standard right-handed guitar playing, gently lay the edge of your right palm across the strings near the guitar’s bridge. When you strike the notes (with the same hand as is providing the mute), you should hear the tone of the note, but with a subdued, dead quality. Move your hand slightly up the strings toward the neck to deaden the notes more. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/9/9b/Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b2. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/9/9b/Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b2. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-13b2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"}

For natural harmonics, the fret is surrounded by “< >” (e. g. <7>). If you see this, lay a fretting finger across the metal line at the right of the fret, not the middle of the fret. Then, strike the string for a clear bell tone. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/8/81/Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b1. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b1. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/8/81/Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b1. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b1. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} Pinch harmonics are signified by surrounding the fret number in brackets (e. g. [n]). To perform a pinch harmonic, strike the note with your pick hand while your pick hand thumb is also touching the note. Use vibrato from your fret hand to add sustain to the tone. [5] X Research source Pinch harmonics are difficult. It requires lots of practice. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/7/79/Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b2. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b2. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/7/79/Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b2. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b2. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"} Note: these are best performed on an electric guitar with distortion using a bridge pickup. Tapped harmonics are signified by two notes, the second enclosed in parentheses (e. g. n(n)). Tapped harmonics are like natural harmonics, but shifted around the neck. Fret the first note, then use a finger on your pick hand to slap or strike the string at the second fret position. {“smallUrl”:“https://www. wikihow. com/images/thumb/1/16/Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b3. jpg/v4-460px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b3. jpg”,“bigUrl”:"/images/thumb/1/16/Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b3. jpg/aid77638-v4-728px-Read-Guitar-Tabs-15b3. jpg",“smallWidth”:460,“smallHeight”:306,“bigWidth”:728,“bigHeight”:485,“licensing”:"<div class="mw-parser-output">

License: <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" class="external text" href="https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3. 0/">Creative Commons</a>
\n</p>

<br />\n</p></div>"}

E—————3-0——————–|| B——————-3-0—————-|| G—7-7-7—————2-0————|| D-2-7-7-7-7-7-7————————|| A-2-5-5-5-7-7-7————————|| E-0——-5-5-5————————||

E————-3-0—————–|| B—————-3-0————–|| G—–777———–2-0———–|| D-(2)-777–777——————–|| A-(2)-555–777——————–|| E-(0)——555——————–||

E————-3-0—————–|| B—————-3-0————–|| G—-(7)77———–2-0———-|| D-2–(7)77–777——————-|| A-2–(5)55–777——————-|| E-0———555——————-|| E—————3-0—————|| B——————3-0————|| G—-7(7)7————2-0———|| D-2–7(7)7–777——————-|| A-2–5(5)5–777——————-|| E-0———555——————-|| E—————3-0—————|| B——————3-0————|| G—-77(7)————2-0———|| D-2–77(7)–777——————-|| A-2–55(5)–777——————-|| E-0———555——————-|| E—————3-0—————|| B——————3-0————|| G—-777————–2-0———|| D-2–777–(7)77——————-|| A-2–555–(7)77——————-|| E-0——-(5)55——————-|| E—————3-0—————|| B——————3-0————|| G—-777————–2-0———|| D-2–777–7(7)7——————-|| A-2–555–7(7)7——————-|| E-0——-5(5)5——————-|| E—————3-0—————|| B——————3-0————|| G—-777————–2-0———|| D-2–777–77(7)——————-|| A-2–555–77(7)——————-|| E-0——-55(5)——————-||

E—————(3)-0——————-|| B——————–3-0—————-|| G—7-7-7—————-2-0————|| D-2-7-7-7-7-7-7————————-|| A-2-5-5-5-7-7-7————————-|| E-0——-5-5-5————————-|| E—————3-(0)——————-|| B——————–3-0—————-|| G—7-7-7—————-2-0————|| D-2-7-7-7-7-7-7————————-|| A-2-5-5-5-7-7-7————————-|| E-0——-5-5-5————————-|| E—————3-0———————|| B——————–(3)-0————–|| G—7-7-7——————2-0———-|| D-2-7-7-7-7-7-7————————-|| A-2-5-5-5-7-7-7————————-|| E-0——-5-5-5————————-|| E—————3-0———————|| B——————–3-(0)————–|| G—7-7-7——————2-0———-|| D-2-7-7-7-7-7-7————————-|| A-2-5-5-5-7-7-7————————-|| E-0——-5-5-5————————-|| E—————3-0———————|| B——————–3-0—————-|| G—7-7-7—————-(2)-0———-|| D-2-7-7-7-7-7-7————————-|| A-2-5-5-5-7-7-7————————-|| E-0——-5-5-5————————-|| E—————3-0———————|| B——————–3-0—————-|| G—7-7-7—————-2-(0)———-|| D-2-7-7-7-7-7-7————————-|| A-2-5-5-5-7-7-7————————-|| E-0——-5-5-5————————-||