Guitar Tab Symbols

There are alot of techniques in guitar playing such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, bending, vibrato, ect. All of these techniques have their own individual way of been represented in a guitar tab. A good guitar tab should include a reference list of those symbols used in that particular guitar tab and also identify what those symbols mean. Of course not every guitar tab is a good guitar tab. A guitar tab might include some of these techniques in a reference list that may look like this.

Lets start with hammer-ons and pull-offs. A hammer-on is identified by placing a 'h' between the note that you first play and the second note that you hammer-on to. A pull-off would be same with the h replaced with a p. For example.

The same system is used for bends and release bends. Place the 'b' between the number that you first play and the second number that you bend too. Remember the second number is the pitch your trying to match in the bend. Do not move to the new fret, stay at the original fret. Just bend the string so it matches the pitch as if you did fret it. For a release bend, your first match the pitch your bending too and then release back the origional note. For example.

Once again, the same system is used for slides. A slide up is designated with a '/' and a slide down with a '\'. For example. For right hand taps, a 't' is usually indicate before the note that you are to tap.

Vibrato and Palm Mutes are usually displayed under the tabs with a 'v' or 'x' respectively. A vibrato can also displayed in the tab with a v or sometimes a '~'. Harmonics are displayed with a '< >' between the fret number.