Printable Guitar Tab Symbols Cheat Sheet
Tab is easy to read once you know the symbols: h for hammer-on, p for pull-off, b for bend, / for slide, and so on. This cheat sheet lists every common symbol with a small tab example and a one-line explanation, so you never get stuck halfway through a song.
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What’s inside
- 18 tab symbols with mini examples
- Hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, bends, vibrato, harmonics and more
- How to read the six lines and the numbers
How to use it
- Print it and keep it with your practice notes.
- Read one section at a time and try each idea on the guitar straight away.
- Use it as a quick reference whenever you learn a new song.
Learn it step by step, free
Fretwork turns sheets like this into short daily lessons with audio, a play-along and a quick check for every skill. Stages 0 and 1 are free.
Questions
How do you read guitar tab?
The six lines are the strings, with the high e on top and the low E at the bottom. Numbers are frets: 0 is open, 3 means press the third fret. Read left to right; numbers stacked vertically are played together.
Does tab show rhythm?
Plain tab usually does not. Listen to the song for the rhythm, or use tab that includes rhythm notation above the lines.
Is this printable really free?
Yes. Enter your first name and email once and every Fretwork printable unlocks on your device. There is nothing to pay and no card needed.
Can I share it with students or friends?
Yes, for personal and classroom use. Please share the link to this page rather than the PDF file, so everyone gets the latest version.
Free for classroom use. Linking to this page keeps your students on the latest version.
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