Don't fret! Ha! Just kidding! You will need to fret! Ha! I kill myself!

There are many different types of notation for tab, and while they should be explained in a legend, many times they aren't.

Here are some common tab symbols, including the ones you're asking about:

hammer-on: 7h9; 7^9
pull-off: 9p7; 9^7
slide: 7s9; 7/9
bend: 7b9; 7^9
release bend: 9r7; 9^7
ghost note: (7)
harmonic: <7>; (7); *7

These are ones that I've encountered in my few years of reading tab. I've got about three 3" binders full of tab, and a couple 1 1/2" binders lying around, too. Then there are the tabs I haven't yet printed... With that experience and the confusing terminology as shown above, I've learned that it is a must to hear the song and play along to learn from tab. After a while, you'll be able to sight-read from a tab.

Anyways, back on to the topic at hand...

Therefore, "^" means hammer-on/pull-off. "/" means slide. The first two notes should be a chord, played by your thumb and ring finger (or whatever is comfortable for you; that would be my choice, since the middle and index will be needed to pick the next two open strings).

So, here's another way of putting it...

a a a a
E-7-----------7^0---------|---------7---8---7^8^7\5-7--
B-----0-----------0-------|---------0---0-----------0--
G---------0-----------0---|-----0----------------------
D-------------------------|----------------------------
A-------------------------|----------------------------
E-0-----------------------|-0--------------------------
t m i a m i t i m m m m


t=thumb
i=index
m=middle
a=ring (annulus)

Pluck the open E and the 7th fret on the high E with your thumb and ring. The rest should be pretty self-explanatory. If not, ask again and I'll launch into another page-long explanation.