TAB and Notation Quick Reference

Everything you need to read guitar TAB, chord diagrams, strumming patterns, and basic standard notation.

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Reading Guitar TAB

TAB (tablature) uses six horizontal lines representing the six guitar strings. The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (low E), the top line is the highest (high e).

e|---  ← high e string (thinnest, 1st string)
B|---  ← B string (2nd string)
G|---  ← G string (3rd string)
D|---  ← D string (4th string)
A|---  ← A string (5th string)
E|---  ← low E string (thickest, 6th string)

Numbers on Lines

• A number on a line = press that fret on that string and play
• 0 = play the string open (no fretting)
• Read left to right, like text

e|--0--1--3--|
B|-----------|
G|-----------|
D|-----------|
A|-----------|
E|-----------|

This means: play high e string open, then fret 1, then fret 3.

Notes Stacked Vertically

• Numbers stacked in a column = play those strings simultaneously (a chord)

e|--0--|
B|--1--|
G|--0--|
D|--2--|
A|--3--|
E|--x--|

This means: play all five strings at once (this is a C major chord). x = do not play that string.

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TAB Technique Symbols

Symbol	Name	Meaning	Example
h	Hammer-on	Pick the first note, tap finger onto the second fret without picking again	0h2 = play open, hammer to fret 2
p	Pull-off	Pick the first note, pull finger off to sound the second note	2p0 = play fret 2, pull off to open
/	Slide up	Pick the first note, slide finger up to the second fret	2/5 = play fret 2, slide to fret 5
\	Slide down	Pick the first note, slide finger down to the second fret	5\2 = play fret 5, slide to fret 2
b	Bend	Push the string sideways to raise the pitch	7b9 = play fret 7, bend up to pitch of fret 9
r	Release bend	Return a bent string to its normal position	7b9r7 = bend up, then release
~ or v	Vibrato	Wobble the string rapidly for a wavering sound	7~ = play fret 7 with vibrato
x	Muted string	Touch the string lightly without pressing to fret; produces a percussive click	x on any string
PM	Palm mute	Rest the picking hand’s palm lightly on the strings near the bridge while playing	PM above or below the TAB

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Strumming Pattern Notation

Symbol	Meaning
D	Downstroke (strum toward the floor)
U	Upstroke (strum toward the ceiling)
d	Soft/accented downstroke
x	Muted strum (touch strings without pressing, strum for percussive sound)
-	Rest (do not strum on this beat)
>	Accent (strum this beat harder)

Reading a Strumming Pattern

Patterns are written with the beat count above:

Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Strum: D D U U D U

• Beats 1, 2, 3, 4 are the main beats (downbeats)
• & marks the “and” between beats (upbeats)
• A blank space on a beat means skip that strum (keep your hand moving but miss the strings)

Common Patterns in This Course

Pattern 1 — All downstrokes (Sessions 2-5)

Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Strum: D D D D

Pattern 2 — Down-up basics (Sessions 5-8)

Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Strum: D D U U D U

Pattern 3 — Waltz in 3/4 (Session 7)

Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 &

Strum: D D D

Pattern 4 — Folk/rock (Sessions 10-12)

Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Strum: D D U U D U D U

Pattern 5 — Syncopated (Sessions 13+)

Beat: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Strum: D D U U D

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Reading Chord Diagrams

Chord diagrams show you where to place your fingers on the fretboard.

Am

XOO

1

2

3

EADGBe

This is an Am chord.

Element	Meaning
Vertical lines	The 6 strings (left = low E, right = high e)
Horizontal lines	Frets
Numbers in the grid	Which finger to place (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky)
O above a string	Play that string open
X above a string	Do not play that string
Fret number on the left	Which fret row you are looking at

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Finger Numbering

Fretting Hand (Left Hand for Right-Handed Players)

Finger	Number
Index finger	1
Middle finger	2
Ring finger	3
Pinky finger	4
Thumb	T (rarely used for fretting at beginner level)

Picking Hand (Right Hand for Right-Handed Players)

Used in fingerpicking (Session 15 onwards):

Finger	Letter	Spanish Name
Thumb	p	pulgar
Index	i	indice
Middle	m	medio
Ring	a	anular

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Basic Standard Notation

The Staff

• Five horizontal lines
• Guitar music is written in treble clef (G clef)
• Guitar sounds one octave lower than written

Note Values

Symbol	Name	Duration (in 4/4 time)
Filled notehead, stem, no flag	Quarter note	1 beat
Filled notehead, stem, one flag	Eighth note	1/2 beat
Open notehead, stem	Half note	2 beats
Open notehead, no stem	Whole note	4 beats
Filled notehead, stem, two flags	Sixteenth note	1/4 beat

Rest Values

Symbol	Name	Duration
Squiggle	Quarter rest	1 beat of silence
Angled mark	Eighth rest	1/2 beat of silence
Hat on line	Half rest	2 beats of silence
Block under line	Whole rest	4 beats (or full bar) of silence

Time Signatures

Signature	Meaning	Feel
4/4	4 quarter-note beats per bar	Most common in rock, pop, blues
3/4	3 quarter-note beats per bar	Waltz feel

Notes in First Position (Open Strings and Frets 1-3)

Note	String	Fret
E	1st (high e)	Open
F	1st (high e)	1
G	1st (high e)	3
B	2nd (B)	Open
C	2nd (B)	1
D	2nd (B)	3
G	3rd (G)	Open
A	3rd (G)	2
D	4th (D)	Open
E	4th (D)	2
F	4th (D)	3
A	5th (A)	Open
B	5th (A)	2
C	5th (A)	3
E	6th (low E)	Open
F	6th (low E)	1
G	6th (low E)	3

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Quick Symbol Reference

Context	Symbol	Meaning
TAB	0	Open string
TAB	h	Hammer-on
TAB	p	Pull-off
TAB	/	Slide up
TAB	\	Slide down
TAB	b	Bend
TAB	x	Muted note
TAB	PM	Palm mute
Strumming	D	Downstroke
Strumming	U	Upstroke
Strumming	x	Muted strum
Chord diagram	O	Open string
Chord diagram	X	Do not play
Chord diagram	1-4	Finger number
Fingerpicking	p i m a	Thumb, index, middle, ring