How to read tab?

Guitars usually have six strings (there are 7 string and 12 string guitars also, we'll ignore them now). The first thing you have to know is the name of the six strings. The top string is the thickest string, and it is called the 6th string or E-string because it plays E note at open fret (when you don't hold down any frets and just pick the string), assuming standard tuning. The next string is called 5th string or A string for similar reasons. The other string in order are 4th or D string, 3rd or G string, 2nd or B string and 1st or e-string (thinnest string). As the 1st and 6th string are both E notes, we distinguish the 1st string by writing it in a smaller case 'e'.

e ------------------------
B ------------------------
G ------------------------
D ------------------------
A ------------------------
E ------------------------

Also note that in some cases the string names may be writter differently. These are the cases when the song is not played with standard tuning. That means the open strings don't play the notes E,A,D,G,B,e but some other notes. As this lesson is for beginners, we will stick to standard tuning guitar tabs.

The next thing you notice on a tab is the numbers. The numbers represent frets. 1 means 1st fret, 2 means second fret and so on. A 0 (zero) means open string. For example:

e --------2-----------------
B ------3---3---------------
G ----2-------2-------------
D --0-----------------------
A --------------------------
E --------------------------


The tab is read from left to right. So, this tab means, first you play D string at open fret, then G string at 2nd Fret, then B string and 3rd fret and so on. If you know your chord, then you would notice that this tab plays the notes of D-major chord.

e --0--0--0--2--2--------------
B --0--0--2--3--3--------------
G --1--1--2--2--2--------------
D --2--2--2--0--0--------------
A --2--2--0--x--x--------------
E --0--0--x--x--x--------------

The difference between this tab and the first tab is that in this tab, multiple strings are hit at the same time, so this indicates strumming. At first you hold down and A and D string and 2nd fret and G string at 1st fret and play all 6 strings. If you know chords, then you would notice that this is E-major chord. According to the tab, E-major chord is strummed twice. The next chord is A-major which is strummed once and then D-major is strummed twice.

The x indicates that that string is not played. Meaning you don't hit that string with your strumming hand. It could also indicate a dead note. This means that you play that string with your strumming hand but it doesn't make a sound becuase you muted that string with your other hand. Holding a string lightly (rather than pressing it firmly down at the fret board) and hitting it creates a dead note. Wheather or not a string in not played or a dead note can be confusing as they are both represented by x. Listining to the song will often give you a clue. For a beginner, assume that the x indicates that the string is not played.

For the special symbols used in tabs:

p = pull off
h = hammer on
\ = slide (downward)
b = string bend
/ = slide (upward)
~ = string vibrato

Example

e |------------------------------------------------|
B |------------------------------------------------|
G |-----------------------9-11-11h12 12p11--9h11---|
D |-9-9h11--11p9--9-11/12--------------------------|
A |------------------------------------------------|
E |------------------------------------------------|


first, D string at 9th fret is played. Then we notice 9h11. This means you put your finger at 9th fret, pick the string than hammer the 11th fret. Hammering means you pick a string with your finger at one fret, then without picking that string again you use your fretting hand to hit another fret (in this case 11th fret) hard enough to creat sound. Remember, you pick once but get 2 notes when hammering.

Next we see 11p9. This means pick the string at 11th fret then 'pull-off' that finger while another finger is already placed at 9th fret. It's like pincing the string at 11th fret with the fretting hand while you have a finger placed at 9th fret. The effect is like reverse hammering. 2 notes are played with one picking of the strumming hand. Hammering and pull-offs are often done in a row like 9h11p9. It's playing the 9th fret, then hammering the 11th fret and then pulling-off to 9th fret again. All with just one pick of the strumming hand. Sound difficult? You will learn it if you practice. It's not that hard.

As we move along the tab, we notice 11/12. This means you hold down 11th fret and pick the string, then without releasing the pressure, you 'slide' the finger to 12th fret. Again, you pick once but get two notes when sliding.

\ is just sliding in the other direction. So 5\3 means slide from 5th fret to 3rd fret, picking onle once (at 5th fret).

~ means just vibrating the finger when you hold down a string at a fret. It gives a nice effect.

b means bending the string at a fret to give the sound of another fret. For a beginner I would suggest, avoid string bending for now, and don't try to play the tabs that has a lot of string bending.

Modes and C-A-G-E-D system

On this page you can see the basic chord shapes (not the actual chords!) the (major) patterns are build
around: in red (root notes) and black; the remaining notes are grey. This is based on the C-A-G-E-D
system, but because I used a different order for my patterns, it’s become the E-D-C-A-G system here.

You can also see which major mode you’ll be playing in, when you start the pattern with the first note
on the 6th string. Two modes, marked with a *, start on the second note of the pattern of the 6th string.

Blues Scale Patterns

Minor Pentatonic Scale Patterns

Minor Scale Patterns

Major Pentatonic Scale Patterns

Major Scale Patterns

The Guitar Scale Patterns

On the next pages you will see various patterns which will enable you to play the guitar, using the
complete fretboard, without ever hitting a wrong note. Well, after practicing a little... ;)
I placed the patterns below each other in such a way that you can clearly see where they overlap,
which notes they share. Above the first and below the last I placed the last and first pattern once
more (in grey) so you can see how they relate too. This is because all patterns are repeated in the
exact same order over and over until your fretboard has ended... I also haven’t added fretnumbers
because the position you play the pattern depends on the key you play in!
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just follow the links I’ve added on the last page, which
shows some information about the C-A-G-E-D system (which I heard about after making these
patterns, so it’s become the E-D-C-A-G system here...) and the various modes (in case you want
to go real deep...).
The main 5 patterns are on the next page, the major scale patterns. All others are based on these.
When you’ve mastered these 5 , you’ve (almost) mastered the others too.
The pentatonic scale is a simpler version of the major scale: it only has 5 notes (penta =5, tonic = tones):
2 notes are left out. This scale is used a lot for solo’s in popular music.
The minor scales are exactly the same as the major scale: the only difference is the root note.
You could also look at the root note in the major scale and go two places backwards on the pattern to
determine the right spot of the minor root note. I just added these patterns for your convenience.
I also added the blues scale patterns, which is the minor pentatonic with a sharp 4th note added.
To give you that bluesy feeling.