How To Read Tablature Symbols
Learn What Different Icons and Symbols Mean in Guitar Tabs
Once you have the basic understanding of how to read a guitar tab, here are the basics to learning how to read and play bends, slides and hammer-ons/pull-offs.
Often in guitar, certain effects are used on notes, such as bends and slides. These have particular notations in guitar tabs as well. Here are some examples:
Just as a reminder to those still learning, remember that each symbol (be it a letter, number or icon) between the dashes, is representative of a note played on the strings EADGBE, in that order. For a refresher in how to read tabs, refer to How To Read Guitar Tabs.
Bends
Bends are symbolized by using the letter “b” or the symbol ^. For example, if it is seen notated as X-X-3b-X-X-X, it means that on the D string, you need to press down on the third fret and after the sting is plucked, bend the string with the finger you are pressing down on the string with upwards towards the A string.
When the symbol ^ is used, the bend is played slightly differently. For example, if it is seen notated as X-X-3^4-X-X-X, it means that the note is bent upwards to sound as if you are playing the note on the fourth fret rather than the note on the third. This kind of bend is always made after the sting has already been plucked so that you can clearly hear the sound of the note bendind.
Slides
Slides are symbolized by using the / or \ icons. A forward slash symbolizes sliding the note upwards, and the backwards slash symbolizes sliding the note downwards. A slide is played by sliding the finger along the string and over other frets starting or ending at the desired note. The slide can come before or after the note. It can be slid into, or slid out of.
There are two kinds of slides, open ended and closed. Open slides are written like this: X-X-3/-X-X-X. Open slides to not end at a particular note and are faded out or just simply stopped wherever it sounds best. Closed slides, however, are written like this X-X-3/5-X-X-X. This slide starts on the third fret of the D string slides upwards and ends at the fifth fret of the D string.
Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs
Hammer ons and pull-offs are very similar to one another. Hammer-ons are symbolized by using an “h” after the desired note, and pull-offs are symbolized by using a “p” after the desired note.
Hammer-ons and pulls-offs are both played very similarly to one another. Say a note is written as this: X-X-3h5-X-X-X. After pressing down on the third fret of the D string, using another finger, while still pressing down on the third fret and while the note is still audible, press down or “hammer-on” your other finger onto the fifth fret of that same string.
The pull-off is played in the opposite fashion to a hammer-on. Say it is written as this: X-X-5p3-X-X-X. After pressing down on the fifth fret of the D string, using another finer, while still pressing down on the fifth fret and while the note is still audible, just like you would the hammer-on, put another finger down on the third fret of that same string.
While there are all kinds of different effects and techniques to playing the guitar, these are just a few of the basics. When you're first starting to learn how to play, you should have no problem learning most songs knowing only a few simple steps to guitar playing.
