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.
If you’re new to reading guitar tabs or new to taking guitar lessons, let’s break it down!
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.
Let’s take a look at a chart full of guitar tab symbols below.
So what does this all mean? 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. 
Notice the tab is right below the musical notation, that is what we’ll focus on.
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.
Get More Tips
