Unlocking the Music: A Guide to Reading Guitar Tablature (TAB)

Understanding Guitar Tablature (TAB)

I'm Jack Baker. I founded the Fretted Instruments School in Manhattan in 1970 and I've been teaching ever since. If you play guitar, you need to know how to read guitar tablature, or TAB. It shows you directly where to put your fingers on the fretboard, which is the whole point.

What is Guitar Tablature?

TAB is a visual guide for stringed instruments. It skips the abstract side of traditional sheet music and shows you exactly where to play.

• The Lines: Six lines. The top line is the high E (1st string); the bottom is the low E (6th string).
• The Numbers: A number tells you which fret to press. A