How To Read Guitar Tab Symbol

After post about how to read guitar tab, now is time to learn guitar tab symbol. In a guitar tab, there are several symbol, each symbol have different instruction on play, there are 7 most usage in symbol of tab

h = hammer on
p = pull of
/ = slide up
\ = slide down
b = bending
r = release bend
v = vibrato


1. Hammer on - Hammer on or in tab write in p letter is pick in first not then quickly hammer on second not without picking it.
Example:

E--------------------|
G-------5h7--------|
B--------------------|
D--------------------|
A--------------------|
E--------------------|

In tab above you first pick string G in 5 fret then quickly place your finger in string G in 7 fret without picking.

2. Pull off - Pull off is just like hammer on, but if hammer on play low to high not, pull off is playing high to low not,
Example:

E--------------------|
G-------2p0--------|
B--------------------|
D--------------------|
A--------------------|
E--------------------|

Tab above is play like this, first you pick G string in 2 fret and then quicly release your finger in second string without picking, so simple right

3. Slide up - Slide up in tab write with / symbol, it playing almost like hammer on, but in slide up you just slide your finger from first not to second not without release string, yes just like you slide in snow.
Example:

E-------7/9----------|
G--------------------|
B--------------8/10-|
D--------------------|
A--------------------|
E--------------------|

First you pick E string in fret 7, then slide your finger into fret 9 without picking it, then pick B string in 8 fret, then slide your finger to 10 fret, without picking the string. So the key is just pick the first not.

4. Slide down- Slide down is write with \ symbol, it is reversal of slide up, if slide up play from low to high not, slide down play from high to low.
Example:

E-------9\7----------|
G--------------------|
B--------------10/7-|
D--------------------|
A--------------------|
E--------------------|

Firs you pick E string in 9 fret then slide your finger into 7 fret, then pick 10 fret in B string then slide to 8 fret without picking.

5. Bending- Bending is playing string in first not, then bend it into upside, remember not like slide up but really really upside, unting the sound same as second not. If it write without second not, you only bend into half not.
Example:

E---------------------|
G-------------5b5---|
B------6b6-------------|
D---------------------|
A----------------------|
E--------------------|

in example above is play like this, firs pick B string in 6 fret then bend it until half not of 7 fret, mean until 6 1\2. Then you play string G in 5 fret then bend it until the sound same as 7 fret.

6. release bend/bend down- release bend is after bending just release your bend without picking it and the sound same as first not before bend.
Example:

E-------7b9r----------|
G--------------------|
B----------------------|
D--------------------|
A--------------------|
E--------------------|

in tab above you pick E string in 7 fret then bend until sound same as 9 fret, then release your bend.

6 vibrato- vibrato with v symbol in tab play just like colaboration of bend and release bend, with quickly.
Example:

E---------------------|
G--------7v---------|
B--------------------|
D--------------------|
A--------------------|
E--------------------|

in tab above you play string G in 7 fret, then you play bend up and release bend quickly until the sound fade out.

Last word

That was important symbol that always write in tab, you should practice everyday until you can mastering tab. However i hope this post will help you learn guitar.