

The next one to the right of the first one is the second and so on. The one farthest to your left, if you are right handed, is the first fret. Frets: Frets are the metal strips that go along the neck of the guitar. For instance, if a tab shows a 10 on that bottom-most string, you’ll need to play the 10th fret on the 6th string of your guitar. Before we get into reading Tabs let’s make sure you know the 3 Basic Numbering Systems that all guitar players need to have down.

#How to read guitar tabs how to#
Learn how to read guitar tabs with online guitar lessons from Guitar Tricks. You’ll read your tab from left to right, and the numbers show which fret you should put your fingers on to play the correct notes.

If the song uses alternate tunings like Drop D, the new tuning will be notated either beside the strings or at the beginning of the music sheet. Guitar tabs make it easy for guitar players to learn without the need for traditional sheet music notation. The top line is the thinnest string (first) and the lowest line represents the thickest (sixth) string. This usually means that the song will be using the standard EADGBe tuning. How do you read tabs with numbers TAB has six horizontal lines that represent the six strings on the guitar. Also notice that the tuning of the strings are not displayed beside the TAB. Notice that there is a staff with a treble clef above for standard notation and the TABs are below.
#How to read guitar tabs professional#
Here is what a blank professional TAB looks like. For our purposes, we’ll be using professional TABs. Most simple TABs do not have rhythm notations which means that you’ll have to be very familiar with the rhythm of the notes before reading the TABs. The great thing about having standard notation displayed above your TABs is standard notation will give you rhythm notations as well. There are also professional TABs that come with accompanying standard notation. This is something many beginners get confused with. Take note that the first string on the guitar (thinnest string) is represented on the first line of the TAB, and the sixth string (thickest string) is the last line of the TAB. Notice how there are six lines that run across? Each line represents a string on your guitar, and on the left, you’ll see the notes that these strings are tuned to. There are variations here and there on different websites, but the variations are mostly just aesthetic. Tablature is one of the easiest ways to learn music for the guitar without spending countless hours learning about key signatures, whole notes and all of those other musical terms. This is what a simple blank tab looks like.
