Jam Jam
The six lines of a guitar tab
In a tab, the top line is the highest string (high E, written e) and the bottom line the lowest (low E, written E): the opposite of what you see when you look down at your guitar. The example below, an original pattern, arpeggiates A minor then G: play the numbers one by one, from left to right. Vertical bars separate the bars of music.
e|-----------------|-----------------| B|-----------1-----|-----------0-----| G|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-| D|---2-------------|---0-------------| A|-0---------------|-----------------| E|-----------------|-3---------------|
Original pattern: bar 1, A minor arpeggio (open A string, D string fret 2, open G, B string fret 1); bar 2, G major.
| Line | String | Open note | Frequency (Hz) |
|---|---|---|---|
| e | 1 | E4 | 329.63 |
| B | 2 | B3 | 246.94 |
| G | 3 | G3 | 196.00 |
| D | 4 | D3 | 146.83 |
| A | 5 | A2 | 110.00 |
| E | 6 | E2 | 82.41 |
Fret numbers and chords in a tab
The number is the fret, not the finger: 3 means third fret, 0 open string, x a muted or unplayed string. When several numbers line up vertically, you strum those strings together: that is a chord. Read from the low string to the high one, the C major below is also written x32010, a compact and widespread notation.
e|---0---|---3---|---0---|
B|---1---|---0---|---1---|
G|---0---|---0---|---2---|
D|---2---|---0---|---2---|
A|---3---|---2---|---0---|
E|---x---|---3---|-------|
C G Am C (x32010), G (320003) and Am (x02210), read from the low string to the high one.
Guitar tab symbols: h, p, b, /, ~, x
Letters and signs between the numbers describe how to play: slurs, bends, slides, vibrato. They are not fully standardised, but the common ones are stable from one tab to the next. The chart below collects them, with an example for each.
| Symbol | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
h | 5h7 | Hammer-on: ascending slur, the second note is struck without picking |
p | 7p5 | Pull-off: descending slur, the finger plucks the string as it lifts |
b | 7b9 | Bend: push the string up to the pitch of the fret shown |
r | 7b9r7 | Release: let the bend down back to the starting note |
/ | 5/7 | Slide up, without lifting the finger |
\ | 7\5 | Slide down |
~ | 7~~ | Vibrato on the held note |
x | x | Muted note (percussive), or unplayed string in a chord |
PM | PM 0-0-0 | Palm mute: edge of the picking hand resting near the bridge |
<12> | <12> | Natural harmonic: touch the string lightly over the 12th fret |
Reading rhythm in a guitar tab
An ASCII tab gives the notes but rarely their exact length: the spacing between numbers is only a hint. Some tabs add a counting line (1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &) under the strings, as in the example below, or duration letters. The most reliable method is still to listen to the piece while following the tab, then play it slowly with a metronome.
e|-------------------| B|-------------------| G|-------------------| D|-------------------| A|-0---0-2-3---2-0---| E|-------------------| 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Each number falls on a beat (1, 2, 3, 4) or an offbeat (&): here eighth notes on the A string.
Playing a tab in Jam Jam
Jam Jam’s songbook (free, with an account) reads an ASCII tab pasted as is and plays it back, so you can hear the rhythm and check your reading. The tab becomes a melody you can also show as staff notation or note names. Tabs you paste stay in your songbook.
To go the other way, from a recording to a tab, read our article on melody extraction.
Frequently asked questions about reading tabs
How do beginners read guitar tabs?
Remember that the top line is the high E string. Read from left to right: each number is a fret to press on the string of its line, 0 being the open string. Numbers lined up vertically are played together.
What do “h” and “p” mean in guitar tabs?
h is a hammer-on: you strike the next note with a fretting-hand finger without picking again. p is a pull-off: you lift the finger while plucking the string so the lower note sounds.
What does an x mean in guitar tabs?
A muted note: the fretting hand rests lightly on the string and you pick it for a percussive, pitchless sound. In a chord written x32010, the x marks a string not to play.
Do guitar tabs show rhythm?
Not always. ASCII tabs mostly give the notes; some add a counting line. Tabs with note values, or listening to the piece, give the exact rhythm.
Paste a tab into the Jam Jam songbook and hear it played back, to check your reading before you pick up the guitar.