Tablature Basics

Image of a tablature staff (made up of six equidistant horizontal lines) and a guitar fretboard. On the left side of the tablature staff, the word “TAB” is spelled out vertically. The top line is shown to represent the first (or top) string of the guitar. The bottom line is shown to represent the sixth (or bottom) string of the guitar. There are vertical barlines dividing the tablature staff into equal parts called measures.

Numbers placed on the lines indicate the frets to be fingered by the left hand. Zeros represent open strings to be played. The following numbers and vertical barlines are placed on the tablature staff as follows (from left to right): Zero and four on the bottom line; two and four on the second line from the bottom; vertical barline; zero on the third line from the bottom; four and two on the second line from the bottom; four on the bottom line; vertical barline; Zero and four on the bottom line; two and four on the second line from the bottom; vertical barline; zero on the third line from the bottom; four and two on the second line from the bottom; four on the bottom line; vertical barline; zero on the bottom line; ending barline consisting of two parallel vertical lines (indicates the end of the piece of music).

The following examples are used to show the relationship between the numbers on the tablature staff and the frets or open strings to be played on the guitar: A zero on the bottom line of the tablature staff indicates that the open sixth string should be played. The four on the next to the bottom line of the tablature staff indicates that the fifth string should be played on the fourth fret. The two on the next to the bottom line of the tablature staff indicates that the fifth string should be played on the second fret.