How to Read Guitar Tab

Tab, or Tablature, is a means of representing musical ideas graphically. The horizontal lines represent the guitar strings. The bottom horizontal line corresponds to the low E string on a guitar. The topmost horizontal line corresponds to the high E string on a guitar. The numbers on the tab lines represent frets. For example, the number 5 on the topmost tab line would indicate the 5th fret of the first (E) string (an A note). The numbers beneath the tab lines indicate suggested fret hand fingerings. For further clarification, refer to the diagram below. It is an example of "tab."

The Fret Hand

The Pick Hand

"Tabbed" songs that are to be "fingerpicked" are apt to include additional notation in the form of the letters p, i, m, a, and c. These letters are applicable to your picking hand. The presence of a 'p' beneath the tab indicates that you are to pluck the string with the thumb, 'i' indicates the index finger, 'm', the middle finger, the letter 'a' tells you strike the string with your ring finger and a 'c' tells you to use your little finger. The example below demonstrates this through its use of a "tabbed" D chord. The notes are to be picked individually rather than "strummed."