How to Read Tab
Tablature is an easy and fast way to write out music for stringed instruments. It is very hard to express rhythm with tab, so it is only helpful when you know the song.
The four horizontal lines on a bar of tab represent the four strings of an ‘ukulele, with the g-string on the bottom and the a-string on the top. The numbers on the lines show which fret should be fingered and played. If there is more than one fret number in a vertical line, play the notes simultaneously. You read the fret numbers left to right.
A |-3-------------|-3------------|-3-2-0---------------------------------|
E |-0-------------|--------------|-------3-1-0---------------------------|
C |-0-("C" chord)-|---("C" note)-|-------------2-0-("C" scale backwards)-|
G |-0-------------|--------------|---------------------------------------|
Tab legend for text document:
p = pull-off: place one finger on the note to be played, and place a second finger behind the first finger. Pick the higher note and lift the first finger off the fret to transfer sound to the lower note.
A |-7p5-|-----|
E |-----|-----|
C |-----|-2p0-|
G |-----|-----|
h = hammer-on: Place your first finger on the lower fretted note, then hammer a second finger onto the higher fretted note.
A |-5h7-|-----|
E |-----|-----|
C |-----|-0h2-|
G |-----|-----|
/ or \ = slide: keeping your finger on the fretboard slide up or down to the designated fret.
A |-5/7-|-7\5-|-------|
E |-----|-----|-------|
C |-----|-----|-2/4\2-|
G |-----|-----|-------|
b = bend: bend the string up so that it equals the pitch of the second note shown. You also release a bend back down with: r
A |------|-7b8r7-|
E |-8b10-|-------|
C |------|-------|
G |------|-------|
~ = vibrato: roll your finger back and forth rapidly on the fret shown to vary the pitch a little.
A |-----|
E |-~8~-|
C |-----|
G |-----|
( ) = ghost note: play note very softly.
A |-(3)-----|
E |-----(3)-|
C |---------|
G |---------|
< > = natural harmonics: place your finger so that it barely touches the string right above the shown fret and pick the string to produce a “chime” like sound.
A |-<12>-----|
E |----------|
C |------<7>-|
G |----------|
[#]< > = artificial harmonics: fret the first shown note then place your index finger over the fret shown in parentheses and pick behind the finger with your thumb. Using this technique you can make any note into a “chime” like sound.
A |-------------|
E |-------0<12>-|
C |-2<14>-------|
G |-------------|
Sometimes people who want to express the timing for a song will add letters on top of the tab to show note duration.
Duration Legend:
- W – whole
- H – half
- Q – quarter
- E – 8th
- S – 16th
- T – 32nd
- X – 64th
- a – acciaccatura
- + – note tied to previous
- . – note dotted
- .. – note double dotted
- Uncapitalized letters represent notes that are staccato (1/2 duration)
- Irregular groupings are notated above the duration line
- Duration letters will always appear directly above the note/fret number it represents the duration for.
- Duration letters with no fret number below them represent rests. Multi-bar rests are notated in the form Wxn, where n is the number of bars to rest for.
- Low melody durations appear below the staff
For example:
a W +H. E E E H.. +W a a W
|------------|--------------|-------------|------------|----------|
|-3s1--------|-(1)----------|-------------|------------|-1h3p1----|
|------------|------------2s|=4s2---------|-(2)--------|----------|
|------------|--------------|-------------|------------|----------|
