Guitar tablature is a unique notation system just for guitarists.
Guitar tab symbols tell a guitar player what to do when reading guitar tablature.
The symbols may represent a bend, a palm mute, a hammer on, pull off, vibrato, and more.
Even if you do have a key for all of the guitar tab symbols, it may be confusing when it comes time to actually play a tab.
When you're first learning how to play guitar you'll definitely be using guitar tabs to learn your first songs, chords and riffs.
Let’s break it down guitar tabs symbols and how they work!
What Are Guitar Tabs?
Tabs are an easier way to play guitar music if you do not know how to read traditional sheet music.
This process is great for anyone taking beginner guitar lessons.
Guitar tabs are six lines that run from left to right.
The line at the bottom represents the 6th string, or the low E string, which is the thickest string on your guitar.
And from there, you may assume that the top-most line on a guitar tab is the high E string, or the 1st string, which is the thinnest string on your guitar.
Tabs are fairly straight forward but there are some symbols that are not often used.
Check out the Tab Legend below for a variety of guitar tab symbols and their definitions:
So what does this all mean?
Let's go through the main guitar tab symbols in greater detail.
Understanding how to read guitar tab symbols will help you practice guitar and improve!
Half Step Bend
A half step bend is indicated by an upward bending arrow symbol with a "1/2" at the top.
This bend is when you bend the string to change the note up a half step.
This would create the same pitch as playing up one fret from the starting note.
Whole Step Bend
A whole step bend is aslo indicated by an upward bending arrow, but indicating the world "full" instead of "1/2" at the top.
A whole step bend is when you bend the string to change the note up a whole step from the original pitch.
This would create the same pitch as moving up 2 frets.
When figuring out how to learn guitar, using guitar tab symbols can help you get better faster!
Bend And Release
This tab symbol represents releasing your bended note back down to the original pitch.
The upward arrow is the bend, and the downward arrow is the release back to the original note.
This works on both half step and full step bends.
Bending, hammer-ons and pull-offs probably won't be in your first guitar lesson.
These are important aspects to understand if you want to learn how to take a guitar solo or play guitar riffs.
Hammer-On
This curved line from one note to another is called a "sustain" in standard notation.
You are sustaining the pitch between two notes, i.e. you aren't striking the string a second time to get the second note.
You perform a sustain between two different notes on guitar by doing a hammer-on.
Pluck the 5th fret on the G string.
Then while the note is ringing out, press down on the 7th fret.
This will make the 7th fret note ring out without the need for plucking the string again.
There are plenty of video lessons on hammer-ons that will help you master the technique.
Pull-Off
A pull-off is the opposite of a hammer on, though there is some nuance required.
Finger the 7th fret G string with your ring finger, but at the same time, finger the 5th fret with your index finger.
This will ready your fretting hand for the pull-off.
Then pluck the G string, 7th fret with your picking hand.
Now, a pull-off isn't as straightforward as simply lifting your ring finger off the 7th fret.
By doing that, you actually stop the string from vibrating and you won't end up hearing the 5th fret note.
While the plucked 7th fret is ringing out, use your 7th fret finger (ring) to pull the G string downward slightly.
Then let the string go, fully releasing your finger, fully releasing the string.
This will essentially pluck the string again, but you're plucking the string with your fretting hand/ring finger, not your picking hand.
You are pulling the string, then releasing it to cause the 5th fret to ring out.
There's plenty more to learn about when it comes to hammer-on and pull-off guitar exercises.
Palm Mute
A palm mute will simply be indicated with a "P.M." over the tab.
A dotted line will be extended over the section of notes that should be palm muted.
In the example above, if the dotted line stopped at the second to last note, you would then play the final notes open, without a palm mute.
This is a great technique to use when learning how to play acoustic guitar.
Muted Notes
You'll see this muted notes/muted strings symbol a lot in funk guitar music.
Typically in funk music the guitar will play more of a percussive role.
Sometimes rhythms will be strummed while muted, without clear notes ringing.
Vibrato
This wiggly line indicates to use vibrato when playing the note.
Slightly bend the string up and down as this note is ringing out.
This will create a vibrato effect.
Guitar vibrato can take your playing from 'meh' to rad!
Trill
This tab symbol is taken straight from calssical music notation. A wiggly line with a "tr" in front stands for 'trill.'
Where a vibrato will create a effect of slow variation in pitch, a trill is an intentional fluttering back and forth between two distinct notes.
Typically these 2 notes will be a half step apart, creating a dreamy effect.
On guitar, a trill is created by hammering-on and pulling-off between the two notes very quickly.
On flute, clarinet or sax a trill is very easily implemented by pressing down and lifting up on a key very quickly.
In the example above, the trill is between two notes a whole step apart.
Try some trill drills to really get the technique under your fingers.
Shift Slide
A diagonal line between two notes indicates a slide up/down the fretboard from one note to the other.
The fun part about this technique is you can hear the individual frets in between the slide.
The example above is between the 5th and 7th fret.
Be sure to try this starting from a high note and slide down to a low note, like going from the 12th fret down to the 3rd fret.
It's a very fun guitar technique.
Full Guitar Tab Symbol Example
Let’s take a look at an actual piece of music on a tab that incorporates a few of these techniques.
In Rock Level 2, Anders plays a lick that uses slides, bends, pre-bends, and vibrato.
These are the most common moves that a guitar player will use and will most likely be the majority of the symbols you will see in a guitar tab.
Note, the corresponding tablature is directly below the related musical notation.
First the tab is asking for the guitar player to slide into the 14th fret note on the A string.
To do this, simply slide into that note, and then play the next three notes, which are standard notes you can pick.
The next part is where it gets really interesting.
Anders is playing a double bend, which means bending up at the 14th fret of the G string, and then sliding into another bend at the 16th fret of the same string, and then adding vibrato to the end of the note.
There is a lot to learn and practice in this lesson, so we recommend you take the tablature legend above and check out the rest of the lesson here.
As you can see, even on a single bar of music, a lot of movements are possible, and a lot of techniques are used, which is why it is so important to familiarize yourself with guitar tab symbols.
For more on how to read tabs, check out this guitar tab tutorial.
FAQ
How do you read symbols on guitar tabs?
To read guitar tabs, you look at six lines representing the six strings of the guitar, with numbers on these lines indicating which fret to press down. Each number corresponds to a specific note on the fretboard.
What do letters mean in guitar tabs?
Letters in guitar tabs often denote specific techniques or chords. For example, "P" might mean pull-off, "H" stands for hammer-on, and "B" could indicate a bend.
What does a curved line on a guitar tab mean?
A curved line connecting two notes on a guitar tab usually means a hammer-on or a pull-off, depending on the direction of the notes. It shows that the notes should be played smoothly in succession without re-picking the string.
What is tab notation?
Tab notation, or tablature, is a simplified way of writing music specifically for string instruments like the guitar. It shows you where to place your fingers on the fretboard rather than using traditional musical notation.
What are the tab characters?
Tab characters include numbers for frets, letters for techniques (like "H" for hammer-on), and symbols like "p" for pull-offs, "b" for bends, and "x" for muted notes.
What is the standard tab notation for guitar?
The standard tab notation for guitar consists of six horizontal lines representing the strings, with numbers on these lines indicating the frets. Additional symbols and letters indicate specific playing techniques.
What are the strumming symbols on a guitar tab?
Strumming symbols on a guitar tab might include arrows pointing up or down to indicate the direction of the strum. Sometimes you'll see "v" for downstroke and "^" for upstroke.
What is traditional notation for guitar?
Traditional notation for guitar uses standard musical notation with a staff, notes, and various symbols to indicate pitch, rhythm, and articulation. It’s more complex than tab notation and requires knowledge of reading music.
What do parentheses mean in guitar tabs?
Parentheses around a number in guitar tabs usually mean that the note is optional, should be played very lightly, or represents a ghost note, which is barely heard.
What does the squiggly line mean in guitar tabs?
A squiggly line in guitar tabs often indicates vibrato, meaning you should slightly shake the string to create a wavering effect in the note's pitch.
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