Guitar tablature, or “tabs,” is a system of musical notation specifically designed for the guitar. Unlike traditional musical notation, which uses symbols to represent the pitch and rhythm of notes, tabs use numbers to indicate which frets on the guitar neck to play. This makes it a much more accessible form of notation for beginner guitarists, as it does not require the ability to read standard musical notation.
Tabs are typically written on a six-line staff, with each line representing one of the six strings of the guitar. The numbers on the staff indicate which fret to play on that string. For example, a “0” means to play the open string, while a “1” means to play the first fret, and so on. Tabs can also include other symbols to indicate techniques such as bends, slides, and hammer-ons.
