How to Write Guitar Tablature: A Comprehensive Guide

Guitar tablature, often called guitar tab or simply tab, is a widely used form of musical notation specifically for fretted stringed instruments like the guitar. Unlike standard musical notation, which uses a five-line staff and various symbols to represent notes and rhythms, guitar tab uses a six-line representation corresponding to the six strings of a standard guitar, making it an intuitive way for guitarists to share and learn music. Whether you’re a beginner trying to document your first riffs or an experienced player aiming to transcribe complex solos, understanding how to write guitar tab is a crucial skill. This comprehensive guide will break down the process step by step, covering everything from basic notation to more advanced techniques.

Understanding the Basics of Guitar Tab

Before we dive into the specifics of writing tab, let’s ensure we understand the fundamental components:

The Six Lines

The core of guitar tab consists of six horizontal lines. These lines, from top to bottom, represent the six strings of the guitar, with the top line representing the thinnest string (the high E string) and the bottom line representing the thickest string (the low E string). Think of it this way: the top of the tab is the high pitch, and the bottom of the tab is the low pitch, mirroring the physical arrangement of the strings on your guitar.

E|----------------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

Numbers

Numbers written on these lines indicate which fret to press down on that particular string. ‘0’ indicates an open string (no fret pressed). For example, a ‘3’ on the top line means you should press down on the 3rd fret of the high E string. If two numbers appear on the same vertical line then these two notes should be played at the same time which means a chord will be played

E|--3-------------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates that you should play the 3rd fret on the high E string.

Reading Direction

Tab is generally read from left to right, just like reading text. This indicates the order of notes and chords in a musical phrase. When two or more numbers are vertically aligned that indicates that a chord should be played.

Rhythm

Unfortunately, standard tab does not inherently specify rhythmic durations like quarter notes, eighth notes, or rests. This can be a drawback compared to standard musical notation. However, tab often employs visual cues, such as spacing or additional symbols (discussed later), to give some indication of rhythm. These cues are not standardized so it is better to either learn standard musical notation or find tabs that come with rhythm notation or listen to the song alongside the tab to understand the rhythm. Always prioritize accurate rhythm alongside the accurate notes.

Writing Basic Tab: Step-by-Step

Let’s walk through the process of writing some simple guitar tab.

1. Identify the Notes

First, listen to the musical phrase you want to tab out. Identify the notes being played on the guitar. You may want to play along with the music on your instrument to find the frets and strings used to make those notes. Start slowly, and isolate each note in the phrase.

2. Determine the String and Fret

For each note, determine which string it is played on and which fret is used. There can be multiple ways to play some notes. Choose the one you think is most commonly played.

3. Represent the Note in Tab

Once you know the string and fret, write the corresponding number on the correct line of the tab. If an open string is played, write ‘0’. If a note is repeated then repeat the fret number on the line that matches that string. Repeat this until all notes have been notated.

Let’s take a simple example: The first five notes of ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’ on the high E string, open then 0 2 0 2 0 are notated like this:

E|--0-2-0-2-0-------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

4. Spacing and Rhythm Hints

While standard tab does not indicate rhythm, we can use space to try and give an idea of the duration of notes. For example:

E|--0--2--0-2--0---------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

Here, there is greater space between the first three notes of the melody and the last two, which could indicate these three are slightly longer in duration. Spacing is not standardized so it is important to understand that this is merely a visual hint for the rhythm.

Representing Chords in Tab

Chords, which involve playing multiple notes simultaneously, are represented vertically in tab. Each note of the chord is placed above the others on the appropriate string line.

Example: An E Minor Chord

The E minor chord is played by placing your fingers on the 2nd fret of the A string, the 2nd fret of the D string and leaving the G, B and high E strings open. This is how it would be notated in tab:

E|--0-------------------------|
B|--0-------------------------|
G|--0-------------------------|
D|--2-------------------------|
A|--2-------------------------|
E|--0-------------------------|

All the digits are vertically aligned, indicating that all these notes should be played at the same time.

Advanced Tab Techniques

Once you’re comfortable with basic tab, let’s explore some more advanced techniques and how they are represented:

Hammer-ons (h)

A hammer-on is executed by picking a note and then using a fretting finger to strike down on a string and a higher fret. In tab, it’s shown with an ‘h’ between the notes involved.

E|--3h5-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates picking the third fret on the high E string and then hammer-on to the 5th fret.

Pull-offs (p)

A pull-off is the reverse of a hammer-on. You pick a higher note and then quickly pull your finger off the string, causing the lower note to sound. It’s represented with a ‘p’.

E|--5p3-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates picking the 5th fret on the high E string and then pull-off to the 3rd fret.

Slides (/) and (\)

A slide is where a fretted finger slides along the string to a new fret. Slides up are represented by “/” and slides down are represented by “\”.

E|--3/5-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates sliding from the 3rd fret to the 5th fret on the high E string.

E|--5\3-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates sliding from the 5th fret to the 3rd fret on the high E string.

Bends (b) and Releases (r)

Bends involve pushing a string to raise its pitch, and bends are shown with “b”. Bend releases, where you release the string back to its original pitch, are shown with “r”. Usually bends are indicated by specifying a specific amount of bend such as 1/2 bend or full bend with full bend meaning the note being bent to a semi-tone higher.

E|--3b5-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates bending the 3rd fret up to the pitch of the 5th fret on the high E string.

E|--5b7r5-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates bending the 5th fret up to the pitch of the 7th fret on the high E string and then releasing it.

Vibrato (~)

Vibrato is a rhythmic variation in pitch, which is commonly applied to held notes and is represented by the symbol ‘~’.

E|--5~-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates a vibrato being played on the 5th fret of the high E string.

Palm Muting (pm)

Palm muting involves resting the palm of your picking hand on the strings near the bridge of the guitar to produce a dampened sound. It is represented with ‘pm’.

E|--pm--5-5-5-5----------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates that the 5th fret notes on the high E string are being played with palm muting.

Tapping (t)

Tapping involves fretting a note with your fretting hand and then using the tapping hand to strike a higher fret on that string. it is represented with ‘t’.

E|--5t7-----------------------|
B|----------------------------|
G|----------------------------|
D|----------------------------|
A|----------------------------|
E|----------------------------|

This indicates picking and holding a note on the 5th fret of the high E string and then tapping the 7th fret on the same string with your picking hand.

Tips for Accurate Tab Writing

• Listen Carefully: Always listen to the source material closely and repeatedly, and if you can play along with the song do so.
• Double-Check: After writing the tab, play it back on your guitar to ensure accuracy.
• Use Spacing Wisely: While not perfect, use spacing to try and convey the rhythm.
• Include Symbols: Do not neglect to use the many symbols for guitar playing techniques when applicable.
• Be Consistent: Maintain a consistent style throughout your tabs to avoid confusion.
• Get Feedback: Share your tab with other guitarists to get feedback and identify any mistakes.
• Use Software or Tools: Online tab editors or dedicated software can often assist in creating cleaner and more readable tabs, with rhythm support.
• Practice Regularly: The more you write and read tab, the better you will become at understanding guitar music and rhythm.
• Indicate Tuning: Before writing your tab, always indicate the guitar tuning that you are using. If the tuning is not standard then indicate this using notation such as “E A D G B E” for standard tuning or “D A D G B E” for Drop D tuning.
• Document Tempo: It is also very important to indicate the tempo or BPM at the beginning of the tab.

Conclusion

Writing guitar tablature is a valuable skill that every guitarist should strive to master. It enables you to transcribe, share, and learn music effectively. While it lacks some of the rhythmic precision of standard notation, its simplicity and accessibility make it a favorite among guitarists. By understanding the basic principles and employing the techniques outlined in this guide, you can confidently write accurate and useful guitar tabs. Keep practicing, and you’ll be transcribing your favorite riffs in no time!