How to read tabs

Guitar tabs or tablature, as it is sometimes called, is a very old way of music notation or writing music down so other musicians can understand the song. We will start by looking at a blank piece of tablature.

The above picture shows 6 horizontal lines. They are the 6 guitar strings. The bottom of the tablature staff starts with the low E string (the thickest string). Then we have the A, D, G, B string, with the high e string (the thinnest string) at the top, as shown in picture above.

Next we're going to put numbers on the tablature lines. The numbers tell you what frets you have to place your fingers on. 1 means you have to put your finger on the first fret of the appropriate string. 2 means the second fret, 3 the third one, ...
0 on a guitar tab means an open string is played. 

Here's an example to make it more clear for you:

The picture below is a tablature of a C chord.

In the above picture the notation represented a strum. All the numbers were all together, or on top of each other if you like. When you see that, it means all the notes should be played together and at the same time. You are now playing a chord.

In the next example we will look at notes being played after each other. This is commonly used in guitar solos and fingerpicking arrangements.

In the example above, you start off by playing the 5th fret on the low E (6th) string first. Then the 3rd fret on the same string followed by the 5th fret again. Now move up to the 3rd fret on the A string and so on.
That's the basics of playing guitar tabs.

Next we'll cover a few symbols you will encounter from time to time in different tablatures. 

 
The pull-off/hammer-on
Place your index finger on the 5th fret on the A string. As you plug the string, you use your middle finger to hammer on the 7th fret. All while still keeping your index finger on the 5th fret. That is called a hammer-on.

If you do this in reverse, it is called a pull-off. Try placing your middle finger on the 7th fret and your index finger on the 5th fret. As you plug the string, you lift your middle finger at the 7th fret while keeping your index finger on the 5th fret.

This clip shows how to do a hammer-on according to the tab

This clip shows how to do a pull-off according to the tab

The Slide
The next guitar technique is called a slide. You do this by sliding your finger from the 5th fret to the 7th fret without lifting your finger as shown in the picture below.

This clip shows how to do a slide according to the tab

We have now covered the most common and basic guitar techniques you will encounter in tablatures. There are other more advanced techniques, but stick to these to begin with. You should now be able to play some  easy guitar songs.

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