Tab Notation

Reading TAB · Fingerstyle Symbols

TAB is the notation guitarists use most. Get this page down and fingerstyle sheets, figuring out songs and playing along will all click.

How to read TAB

Six horizontal lines = the six strings, the top line is the 1st string (thinnest / highest) and the bottom is the 6th (thickest / lowest). A number on a line tells you which fret to press, 0 means open string; play left to right, and numbers stacked in one column are played together. Below is the C major scale — follow the numbers left to right and it's Do–Re–Mi–Fa–Sol–La–Ti–Do:

C major scale (first position): number = fret, 0 = open string, play left to right

Symbol reference

The right-hand fingering and technique symbols common in fingerstyle sheets, all in one table:

Reading basics

≡Six linesSix lines = six strings; the top line is string 1 (thinnest / highest pitch).
3Fret numberWhich fret to press; numbers in one column are played together, left to right in sequence.
0Open stringPlay this string open, without pressing any fret.
|Bar lineVertical lines split the tab into measures to help you count beats.

Right hand PIMA (fingerstyle)

pThumbHandles the bass roots on strings 6 / 5 / 4.
iIndexUsually handles string 3.
mMiddleUsually handles string 2.
aRingUsually handles string 1.

Left hand techniques

hHammer-onAfter picking the first note, hammer a left-hand finger onto a higher fret to sound the next note.
pPull-offAfter picking, pull a finger off the string to sound a lower note (distinct from the right-hand thumb p).
/Slide upHold a note and slide up to a higher position.
\Slide downHold a note and slide down to a lower position.
bBendPush the string up (or pull down) to raise the pitch continuously.
~VibratoSmall repeated push-and-release that makes the note shimmer and sing.

Color & percussion

‹n›HarmonicA bell-like note sounded by lightly touching the string over a fret wire (e.g. ‹12› = 12th-fret harmonic).
✕Mute / don't playMute the string (a pitchless click), or don't play this string at all.
TTapTap a right-hand finger directly onto the fretboard to sound the note.
≈Percussive hit / slapStrike the soundboard or slap the strings for a drum-like rhythm (modern fingerstyle).

A few common examples

Put the symbols back into real snippets to get a feel for them (each has a matching lesson in the courses):

① The go-to arpeggio 53231323 (fingering on top)

53231323 on Am: p starts the bass, i / m / a break up the treble strings (see Stage 9 “Open-string arpeggios”)

② Alternating bass boom-chick

C chord: the thumb plays the “boom” bass on strings 5↔4, the fingers the “chick” treble (see Stage 9 “Alternating bass / Travis”)

③ Natural harmonics

‹12› means a natural harmonic at the 12th fret: rest the left hand lightly right over the fret wire, then lift it the instant the right hand plucks (see Stage 9 “Harmonics”)

④ This is what technique markers look like

5h (hammer-on) · 7p (pull-off) · 5 / (slide) · 7b (bend) · 7~ (vibrato) — the symbol comes right after the note

⑤ Alternate tunings: the note names on the left change too

In DADGAD, strumming all six open strings = Dsus4; the note names on the far left change with the tuning (see Stage 9 “Alternate tunings”)

💡 Tip: songs in our library are currently mostly chord charts; to practice full fingerstyle pieces, play along to clearly-marked legitimate sheets, or use public-domain / original arrangements (copyright-friendly).