An Introduction To Guitar Tablature
Guitar tablature (or “tabs”) is a simplified form of notation for showing where the fingers are placed on the fretboard to play a particular note or chord. Tabs consist of six horizontal lines that represent the six strings on the guitar, with the top line representing the high E (thinnest) string and the bottom line representing the low E (thickest string). This orientation is how the guitar looks from the player’s perspective when it is held in the normal playing position.
Guitar tabs are read from left to right, with the notes represented by numbers that signify the fret at which the string is fretted. Each note in a vertical line is played simultaneously. In addition to the fret numbers, other symbols commonly used in tabs are outlined in the following table.