How to Read Tabs (Advanced Guitar Tab Reading)

This guitar lesson on reading tabs is meant to give an overview of what advanced guitar tablature symbols mean. For new players, you probably have difficulty figuring out how to play these on the guitar.

The reason is that you might probably come across these symbols when reading tablature and I don't want you to get stuck on figuring what they mean. You should read the lesson on introduction to guitar tabs prior to coming to this lesson.

Techniques and details on how to play them can be found at the guitar techniques section. Once again, I want to stress that you should go through the beginner guitar lessons first before attempting more advanced stuff.

Download Guitar Pro 6

Most guitar lessons in this website usually come with a guitar pro 6 file (.gtp). Guitar Pro is used to facilitate teaching the guitar as this useful tool enables you to HEAR and SEE how a guitar tab is played in real time. Get your free download of Guitar Pro 6 with this link.

Let's take a look at how tablature are shown in Guitar Pro 6. This tool does wonders to understanding how tabs are play and I strongly encourage you to download the software

Common symbols in guitar tablature are shown below

String Bending - Strike the note and bend the string up a tone (2 frets).

Pre-Bend and Release - Bend the note up 2 a tone before striking it and release the bend back down to the original note.

Vibrato - Vibrate the string by rapidly using the left hand or tremolo arm.

Wide Vibrato - Same as vibrato but varying the pitch to a greater degree.

Harm. Natural Harmonics - Place finger over the string at the indicated fret but and lightly touch the string as you strike the note.

A.H. Artificial Harmonics - Fret and play the note normally. Produce the harmonic by touching the string lightly with the edge of the thumb when striking the string

Tremolo Bar Dip - The pitch of the note is dropped and returned by depressing and releasing the tremolo bar.

Inverted Tremolo Bar - The pitch is raised and returned to by raising and releasing the tremolo bar.

Hammer On - Strike the first note and use your finger to hammer on the second note.

Pull Off - Position your fingers on the notes to be played. Strike the first note and use your finger to pull off the second note.

Trill - Fret the note and rapidly hammering and pulling off the fret indicated in the brackets.

Slide - Strike the first note and slide to the second note and strike the second note.

T Finger Tapping on Guitar - Tap the fret indicated and pull off.

Click here to access Guitar Tricks instantly...