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Courses/Stage 4

Reading Tab and Rhythm Notation

Advanced8 minConquer F, read tab, and just-enough theory

Get a bit deeper into the rhythm and technique markings in tab, and you'll be able to teach yourself almost any song straight from the page.

Video lessons are in production — follow the notes and practice checklist below and you'll learn it just fine.
Stage 4 · Barre Chords & Music Basics6 lessons

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  1. Conquering the Big Barre: F10 min
  2. How the Barre Works: One Shape, the Whole Fretboard9 min
  3. Reading Tab and Rhythm Notation8 min
  4. Just Enough Theory9 min
  5. Chord Families and Common Progressions9 min
  6. Color Chords That Sound Great and Are Easy to Play9 min

A quick tab review

The six lines stand for the six strings (the top line is the thinnest, the 1st string); a number on a line tells you which fret to press, 0 is an open string, and you read left to right.

Rhythm and note values

The score shows note values with stems and beams: a whole note counts 4 beats, a half note 2, a quarter note 1, an eighth note half a beat. Learn to “count the beats” first, and your rhythm won't fall apart.

Common technique markings

h = hammer-on, p = pull-off, / or \ = slide, ~ = vibrato, x = mute / percussive hit. The letters written above the lyrics (like C, G) are the “chord chart” — when you reach one, switch to that chord.

Open the tab symbol referenceUse the symbol cheat sheet to learn all the technique markings — h / p / slide / vibrato / x.→

Practice checklist

  • Find tab or a chord chart for a song you like, and pick out the technique markings on it.
  • Follow a chord chart and play a section of accompaniment as marked.