Tablature or Tab is a way of notating music for stringed instruments that dates back to the 13th century.
A group of horizontal lines create a staff which represent each of the instruments strings. The top line represents the highest pitched string on the instrument.
Numbers are placed on the lines indicating which fret number should be pressed down and played. A zero placed on the string indicates that an open note should be played.
Tablature is read from left to right similar to a sentence.
Note Placement in TAB
Common Symbols in TAB
Guitar playing involves the use of many techniques to enhance the overall performance of a song. Below is the notation for the most common symbols you’ll come across.
HALF-STEP BEND: Strike the note and bend up 1/2 step
WHOLE-STEP BEND: Strike the note and bend up one step.
BEND AND RELEASE: Strike the note and bend up as indicated, then release back to the original note. Only the first note is struck.
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UNISON BEND: Strike the two notes simultaneously and bend the lower note up to the pitch of the higher.[/one_fourth_last]
VIBRATO: The string is vibrated by rapidly bending and releasing the note with the fretting hand.
HAMMER-ON: Strike the first (lower) note with one finger, then sound the higher note (on the same string) with another finger by fretting it without picking.
PULL-OFF: Place both fingers on the notes to be sounded. Strike the first note and without picking, pull the finger off to sound the second.
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LEGATO SLIDE: Strike the first note and then slide the same fret-hand finger up or down to the second note. The second note is not struck. [/one_fourth_last]
TAPPING: Hammer (”tap”) the fret indicated with the pick-hand index or middle finger and pull off to the note fretted by the fret hand.
NATURAL HARMONIC: Strike the note while the fret-hand touches the string directly over the fret indicated.
PINCH HARMONIC: The note is fretted normally and a harmonic is produced by adding the edge of the thumb or the tip of the index finger of the pick hand to the normal pick attack.
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PICK SCRAPE: The edge of the pick is rubbed down (or up) the string, producing a scratchy sound [/one_fourth_last]
MUFFLED STRINGS: A percussive sound is produced by laying the fret hand across the string(s) without depressing, and striking them with the pick hand.
PALM MUTING: The note is partially muted by the pick hand lightly touching the string(s) just before the bridge.
TREMOLO PICKING: The note is picked as rapidly and continuously as possible. ]
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VIBRATO BAR DIVE: The pitch of the note or chord is dropped a specified number of steps (in rhythm) then returned to the original pitch.[/one_fourth_last]
