How to read YouTab's tabs
Our tab notation is similar to the standard one.
Tablature, or tabs for short, is a popular way to notate music without the use of notes, and with no need for knowledge of music theory.
The downside of regular tabs is that they don't hold any information about note timing or duration.
YouTab takes tabs to the next level - with our synced tabs you can learn the timing of the song as you learn how to play it.
Our system for notating tabs is similar to standard text based tabs. Here on the right you can see a section of tabs as notated on YouTab, versus regular text tabs.
Guitar tabs
Bass tabs
Drums tabs
Each tab line represents a guitar string, starting with the high, skinny e string at the top, down to the low, fat E string at the bottom.
Each number on the tab lines represents the fret on which to press the string it’s on.
For example, the number 2 indicated on the A string (second line from the bottom) means press down on the second fret of the A string and strum the A string.
Since tabs are read from left to right, then notes that are one on top of the other indicate notes that should be played together. Chords are often represented this way.
When notes are not in a single vertical line, this means that there should be some space between the strumming of each string. With YouTab you can sync the tabs with the audio track so you know exactly when to play each note.
Common Notations:
Tabs often notate special moves played in the song. YouTab in many ways is like text based ASCII tabs, meaning that you can write whatever text you like to notate special moves. There are some common notations that are widely used in tabs:
h - Hammer On:
The first indicated note is picked, then the second note is pressed with the fretting hand, but doesn't get a pick of it's own with the strumming hand.
p - Pull Off:
The first indicated note is played, then the fretting finger is lifted and lets the second note (which is already pressed when the first finger comes off) play, without being picked.
b - Bend:
The played string is physically bend up or down to change the note's pitch.
br - Bend Release:
Indicates when to release a bend.
/ - Slide Up:
Play the first note indicated, then slide the fretting finger up the string to the second note without lifting the finger from the string.
\ - Slide Down:
Play the first note indicated, then slide the fretting finger down the string to the second note without lifting the finger from the string.
~ - Vibrato:
Bend the string up and down, giving a 'wobble' to the pitch.
PM - Palm Mute:
Lightly press your picking hand on the bridge, giving the chords a muted sound.
t - Tap:
Play the note by tapping the string in the indicated fret using the picking hand.
+ Harmonic:
Pick the string while your fretting finger is lightly pressed against the 5th, 7th, or 12th fret.
# NOTE: You can also use other notations as you like, but make sure to explain what your notations mean. You can do this in the tab themselves, or in the info field.