Reading Tabs

Way easier than playing them ;)

You thought reading guitar tabs was easy, just wait until you try reading bass tabs. Not to judge but if you can't read bass taps your just thick ;). Tabs generally look like this:

----------------
---2--7-5-------
--------5-------
----------------

Basically the top line represents the highest pitched string and the bottom represents the lowerest. Or to clarify in the simpliest terms possible, the top line of the diagram represents the really thin string and the bottom line of the diagram represents the really fat string.

The numbers then represent where your fingers should be on the fret board. For example a 2 means you should be on fret 2. Open strings where you are not fretting at all are marked with a 0 or sometimes an X (but this can also mean something different).

What tabs mean from here on in is anyones guess, different people use different systems. But some of the most common are:

h: hamer on
p: pull off
b: bend string
r: release bend
/: slide up
-: slide down

That is pretty much the standard. I like to use > for slides though. For instance a slide from 3 down to 4 or from 3 up to 2 would be written 3>4 or 3>2 if I was tabbing. Maybe that's just be though.

Any other special information should be written and explained on the tab itself.

Disclaimer

These tabs are not official nor accurate and may only be used for studying and development of skill. Purchasing official sheet music is always recommended. If you feel some material is in violation of copyright law please email us and it will be removed.