How to read guitar tablature(tabs)

A guitar Tab (Tablature) is a system of music notation involving symbols and letters to show how series of letter is to be played.

Here's how to read it.

The Lines:

The tab lines correspond to the guitar string as follows:
E|---------------------------- 6th String 
B|---------------------------- 5th string 
G|---------------------------- 4th string 
D|---------------------------- 3rd String 
A|---------------------------- 2nd String
E|---------------------------- 1st String 

The 1st (thinnest) string on top, to the 6th (thickest) string, at the bottom.

The Numbers:

The numbers tell you what frets you have to place your finger on. 1 means you have to put your finger on the first fret of the appropriate string, 2 means the second fret, 3 the third one, ... A 0 on a guitar tab means and open string.
Ex:-


e --------2-----------------
B ------3---3---------------
G ----2-------2-------------
D --0-----------------------
A --------------------------
E --------------------------


The tab is read from left to right. So, this tab means, first you play D string at open fret, then G string at 2nd Fret, then B string and 3rd fret and so on. If you know your chord, then you would notice that this tab plays the notes of D-major chord.

Chord:

e --0--0--0--2--2--------------
B --0--0--2--3--3--------------
G --1--1--2--2--2--------------
D --2--2--2--0--0--------------
A --2--2--0--x--x--------------
E --0--0--x--x--x--------------

Multiple strings are hit at the same time, so this indicates strumming. At first you hold down and A and D string and 2nd fret and G string at 1st fret and play all 6 strings. If you know chords, then you would notice that this is E-major chord. According to the tab, E-major chord is strummed twice. The next chord is A-major which is strummed once and then D-major is strummed twice.

The x indicates that that string is not played. Meaning you don't hit that string with your strumming hand.

Timings:

This is where online tabs fails.There is no indication of timing here. Just play the song you are playing and match notes to the timings in the song.

Special symbols used in tabs:

p = pull off
h = hammer on
s = slide
b = string bend
~ = string vibrato

Slide :

E|-----------|
B|--5-s-7----|
G|-----------|
D|-----------|
A|-----------|
E|-----------|

Play the slide:
1. Place your 3rd finger 5th fret of the 2nd string.
2. Pick (pluck) the string, keep your third finger pressed down and slide it up to the 7th fret.

Pull off :

|-------------|   1st String
|---7-p-5-----|   2nd String
|-------------|   3rd String
|-------------|   4th String
|-------------|   5th String
|-------------|   6th String
1. Place your 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd sting.
2. Place your 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd sting.
3. Pick the 2nd string.
4. Pull your 3rd finger down (not bending the string) so it essentially plays the 2nd string again.
5. Your 3rd finger should be lifted up and the 5th fret note should now be playing.

Hammer on:

|-------------|   1st String
|---5-h-7-----|   2nd String
|-------------|   3rd String
|-------------|   4th String
|-------------|   5th String
|-------------|   6th String

1. Place your first finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string.
2. Pick the second string.
3. Continue to hold down the 5th fret; slam your 3rd finger on to the 7th fret.

String bend :

E|-------------|
B|--7b(8)------|
G|-------------|
D|-------------|
A|-------------|
E|-------------|

1. Place your 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string.
2. Place your 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 2nd string.
3. Pick the string.
4. Immediately after picking the string push (bend) the string upwarded keeping your 3rd finger pressing down. The second finger helps out by pushing upward too.
5. Once you bend to the note you want to achieve, bend the string back down to it's normal position.

String vibrato :

(Image by Fretjam )

Place your index finger in that same spot (G string, 5th fret),
and slowly bend and relax the string - bend it down towards the floor.