How To Read Guitar TABs: A Beginner's Guide - Liberty Park Music

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This is what a simple blank tab looks like. There are variations here and there on different websites, but the variations are mostly just aesthetic. 

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. 

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. This is something many beginners get confused with. 

There are also professional TABs that come with accompanying standard notation. The great thing about having standard notation displayed above your TABs is standard notation will give you rhythm notations as well. 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. For our purposes, we’ll be using professional TABs.

Here is what a blank professional TAB looks like. Notice that there is a staff with a treble clef above for standard notation and the TABs are below. Also notice that the tuning of the strings are not displayed beside the TAB. This usually means that the song will be using the standard EADGBe tuning. 

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. 

Drop D tuning in simple TABs

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Professional TABs with Drop D tuning