Reading Guitar Tab

Guitar tablature (tab for short) is a system of notation that graphically represents strings and frets of
the guitar fretboard. Each note is indicated by placing a number which indicates the fret to play, on the
appropriate string. With these easy instructions you will be able to understand how to read and write
guitar tab in 5 minutes.

The Basics Of Reading Guitar Tab

To start out, tabs are written in lines, each line representing a string on the guitar. The thickest string
being the bottom most line and the thinnest string being the topmost.

e-------------------------------B-------------------------------G-------------------------------D-------------------------------A-------------------------------E--------------------------------

Numbers are then placed on these lines to represent finger positions on the guitar fret board. If you
read the diagram below you would play this on a guitar by putting your finger just behind the 2nd fret
on the 5th string (or the second thickest string). As musical notes this would read as follows B B B C#
B A. The zero represents playing an open string. So in this case you would play the A open with no
finger position on the fretboard.
e------------------------------B------------------------------G------------------------------D------------------------------A--2--2--2--4--2--0-----------E-------------------------------

How To Read Guitar Tab Chords

To tab a chord the notes would be placed in a vertical line upon the horizontal ones. This diagram
represents a C Chord. You would strum the bottom 5 strings of the guitar in one motion if you were to
read this tab properly.

e--0---------------------------B--1---------------------------G--0---------------------------D--2---------------------------A--3---------------------------E-------------------------------

And this one you would strum the C Chord three times.

e--0--0--0--------------------B--1--1--1--------------------G--0--0--0--------------------D--2--2--2--------------------A--3--3--3---------------------

E------------------------------

The one shortcoming of guitar tab is it doesnt usually represent how long to hold a note for, or rhythm
very well. Although some good tab writers will represent it by how much space is between each note.
Tab works best if you listen to the song for guidance on timing then read the notes and practice it.
Here for example is the timing of Day Tripper by the Beatles, note the distances between the
numbers, the first 0 would ring slightly longer then the next 4 notes and the distance between D2 and
D0 would also indicate a break in timing:
e----------------------------B----------------------------G----------------------------D-----------2---0---4---0-2-A---------2-------2---2------E-0---3-4---------------------

Tablature Symbols
The numbers dont really describe the subtle techniques that a guitarist can execute, these are the
tablature symbols that represent various techniques.
h

hammer on

TP

pull off

PM

bend string up

\n/

release bend

slide up

slide down

vibrato (sometimes written as

~)

palm muting

tremolo bar dip; n = amount

to dip
\n

tremolo bar down

n/

tremolo bar up

/n\

tremolo bar inverted dip

right hand tap

legato slide

shift slide

natural harmonic

[n]

artificial harmonic

n(n)
tr

trem. picking

tapped harmonic

hold bend; also acts as

connecting device for
hammers/pulls
<>

volume swell (louder/softer)

on rhythm slash represents

muted slash
o

on rhythm slash represents

single note slash

trill

tap

A Hammer On
A hammer on is executed by picking a note and then hammering done with the fretting hand on the
second note. The second note isnt actually picked but kind of echos the first one. Here is an example of
how hammer ons are written in tab:

e----------------------5h7---B------------------5h7-------G--------------5h7-----------D----------5h7---------------A------5h7-------------------E--5h7------------------------

A Pull Off
A pull off is the opposite of a hammer on, so the first note is played again then the fretting hand pulls the
finger off and lets the one fretted behind it play.

e----------------------7p5---B------------------7p5-------G--------------7p5-----------D----------7p5---------------A------7p5-------------------E--7p5------------------------

A Bend
A bend is represented by the symbol b, this is where the fretting hand actually bends the string to give a
wobbly effect.

e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7b----7b------------------D--------------7b----7b------A----------------------------E-----------------------------

A Release Bend
A release bend is represented by the symbol r, this is just like a bend, but it tells you when to release the
bend and go to the next note.

e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7r5---7r5-----------------D--------------7r5---7r5-----A----------------------------E-----------------------------

A Slide-Up
A slide up is represented by the symbol /. You would play the first note on 7 then slide the finger that is
holding that note up to 9.

e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7/9---7/9-----------------D--------------7/9---7/9-----A-----------------------------

E-----------------------------

A Slide-Down
Opposite of a Slide Up, slide down is represented by the symbol \. You would play the first note on 7
then slide the finger that is holding that note down to 5.

e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7/5---7/5-----------------D--------------7/5---7/5-----A----------------------------E-----------------------------

Vibrato
Vibrato is like a constant rhythmic bending of the string. You do a bend up and bend down quickly to
create a moving sound. It is usually represented by v or ~.

e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7v------------------------D--------------------7~~~----A----------------------------E-----------------------------

Tapping
Tapping is much like a hammer-on but you dont strum any notes. Just tap the notes on the fret board with
your fretting hand.

e----------------------------B----------------------------G--7t---7t---7t--------------D----------------------------A----------------------------E-----------------------------

Hotel California
The Eagles
Date: December 2, 1999
By: Charles Brooks, aerobrooks@hotmail.com

Bm
F#
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
A
E
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
G
D
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Em
F#
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim. I had to stop for the night
Bm
F#
There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell
A
E
And I was thinking to myself, This could be Heaven or this could be Hell'
G
D
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
Em
F#
There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say...
chorus
G
D
Welcome to the Hotel California
F#
Bm
Such a lovely place. Such a lovely face
G
D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em
F#
Any time of year, you can find it here
Bm
F#
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
A
E
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
G
D
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Em
F#
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Bm
F#
So I called up the Captain, Please bring me my wine'
A
E
He said,'We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine'
G
D
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Em
F#
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say...

chorus2
G
D
Welcome to the Hotel California
F#
Bm
Such a lovely place. Such a lovely face
G
D
They're livin' it up at the Hotel California
Em
F#
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis
Bm
F#
Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice
A
E
And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'
G
D
And in the master's chambers, They gathered for the feast
Em
F#
The stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast
Bm
F#
Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
A
E
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
G
D
'Relax,'said the night man, We are programmed to receive.
Em
F#
You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave

SOLO
Notation
bend ---5^bend hold ---5^hbend release ---5^rhammer to note ---5h7pull off to note ---5p3vibrato ---5~~~~slide up to note ---/5slide down to note ---\5Bm
F#
E--------------9^(10)-------------------------------------------------------B--------10-12--------10-12---------7---------------------------------------G----/11--------------------9^--7-9---7-------------------------------------D---------------------------------------8^--9h11-7^~~~~---------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A
E
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------B--------7--------------7---------------15----------------------------------G----7-9---7--------7-9---7--------14^h----14^-11-14-12^--------------------D------------9-8-9----------9-7-9-------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

G
D
E---------------------------------------------10----------------------------B----12----15^-15^-12------15-----------------------------------------------G-------11------------14^h----14^r-12~~---9^h----9^r-7-6-7-6-7~~~-----------D---------------------------------------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Em
F#
E-----------------------------------------------7---------------------------B--------7^r-7^r-----7^r-7^r-7^r--------7-10--------------------------------G----7-9---------9-7-------------9p7-9^------9^---9^r-p8p7-9^~~~~-----------D---------------------------------------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bm
F#
E-----------------7----7-7----7-7-------------------------------------------B-------7-10----7------7-7----7-7-------------------------------------------G----9^------9^-----9^-----9^-----9^-9p8p7-9-7-9^~~~~-----------------------D---------------------------------------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A
E
E-----------------------7---------7-10--12-11-10----------------------------B----9^r----7-------10^---10-7-10-------12-11-10-9~~~~----------------------G---------9---7-------------------------------------------------------------D---------------9-----------------------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

G
D
E---------------12---------17-------------------14-15-16-19-----------------B---------12-15----15-17^h----17^r-15-17-15-15^-------------17^r-15-17------G----14^--------------------------------------------------------------------D---------------------------------------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Em
F#
E------------------17-17-------------------------------17-17----------------B----17p16p15-17^h-------17^r-17^~~-17^r-17p16p15-17^h-------17^r-17-17^~~~~G---------------------------------------------------------------------------D---------------------------------------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bm
F#
E--------------19~~~-----10-----10------------------------------------------B----17^-17-15-------14^----14^---------11~~~~------------------------------G---------------------------------------------------------------------------D----------------------------------\9-8-------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A
E
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------B----17^h-(pick 10 times)-17p15----17-15----------------------10~~~~--------G-------------------------------16-------16--14-11\9-----9/11---------------D-----------------------------------------------------12--------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

G
D
E--------10----9---7--------------------------7-----------------------------B----10^----10---8---7-10---8---7---------------10-7------------------------G-------------------------9---7----------------------9^-7~~~~---------------D---------------------------------9-7-------7-------------------------------A-------------------------------------9-7-9---------------------------------E----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Em
F#
E-----------------------------------12--------------------------------------B-----------------10-12-11~~~-14-15-----------------------------------------G-----11-12~~~-12-----------------------------------------------------------D---------------------------------------------------------------------------A---------------------------------------------------------------------------E---------------------------------------------------------------------------Outro
Bm
F#
E--14p10----14p10----14p10----14p10----14p10----|-12p9----12p9----12p9-18~~~B--------12-------12-------12-------12-------12-|------11------11-----------G-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------

A
E
E--12p9----12p9----12p9----12p9----12p9-----|-10p7---10p7---10p7--16~~~-----B-------10------10------10------10------10--|------9------9-----------------G-------------------------------------------|--------------------------------

G
D
E--10p7---10p7---10p7---10p7---10p7----|--10-------10-------10-----14~~~~---B-------8------8------8------8------8--|-----10-------10-------10-----------G--------------------------------------|--------11-------11------------------

Em
F#
E--7p3---7p3---7p3---7p3---7p3----|--9p6---9p6---9p6--14~~~~----------------B------5-----5-----5-----5-----5--|------7-----7----------------------------G---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------Repeat Outro

Rolling stones paint it black intro version 1

Intro
ok this is my first tab, i only figured out the intro and first verse.
intro
e|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|
B|--5--7--8--10--8--7--5--5--4--5--7---|--5/7--7-----7\4--4-----------|
G|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------|------------------------------|
first verse
e|----------------------------------------|
B|--5--7--8--10--8--7--5--5--4--5--7--7\4-|
G|----------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------|

Rolling stones version 2

Intro
e--|--------0-----1-----3-----1-----0----|-----------------------0---------|B-4|--3--------------------------------3-|-3-----2-----3/5-0h2h3---3p2p0-2-|G--|-----------------------------------2-|---------------------------------|D-4|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-------|----0-----0----------------------|A--|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------|E--|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------|-

e-|------0-------------|--0-------------|B-|------3-------------|--3-------------|G-|------0-------------|--2-------------|D-|------0-------------|--0-------------|A-|------0-------------|--0-------------|E-|--------------------|----------------|e-|--------------------|----------------|-

B-|------3-3--3--3--3--|----3--3--3--3--|G-|------2-2--2--2--2--|----2--2--2--2--|D-|------0-0--0--0--0--|----0--0--0--0--|A-|------0-0--0--0--0--|----0--0--0--0--|E-|--------------------|----------------|e-|----------0---1---|-3---1---0-----|--------------|---------------|B-|------3-----------|-------------3-|-3--2---3-/-5-|-3---2-0h2-(2)-|G-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|D-|--------0---0---0-|---0---0---0---|--------------|---------------|A-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|E-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|e-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|B-|----3--3--3--3--3-|-3---3---3---3-|--------------|---------------|G-|----2--2--2--2--2-|-2---2---2---2-|-(2)(2)(2)(2)-|-(2)(2)(2)(2)--|D-|----0--0--0--0--0-|-0---0---0---0-|--2--2--3--2--|--2--2--3--2---|A-|----0--0--0--0--0-|-0---0---0---0-|--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0---|E-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|e-|------------------|-full----------|-full---------|-full----------|B-|--------3--5--6---|6^(6)-6--5--3--|3^(33)2-3--5--|3^(33)2--------|G-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|D-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|A-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|E-|------------------|---------------|--------------|---------------|e-|-1---0---1-|B-|-3---1---1-|G-|-2---0---2-|D-|-0---2---3-|A-|-x---3---3-|E-|-x---x---1-|-

-|-3---5--|-|-0---2--|-|-0---2--|-|-0---2--|-|-2---0--|-|-3---x--|-

-|--0------3----|-|--3------3----|-|--2------2----|-|--0------0----|-|--x------x----|-|--x------x----|-