10 Easy Guitar Tabs for Beginners - Learn to Play an Instrument with Step-by-Step Lessons | Just blog (2023)

This article explains guitar tabs and how to read them, and we serve up a list of fun beginner tabs.

Guitar tab provides guitarists of all skill levels with an intuitive medium for learning and playing the songs they love. Getting started reading tabs and playing cool music starts with knowing how they work. Continue reading!

What is guitar tab?

Guitar tab, or "tabs," is a type of music notation that helps you play songs. They offer beginners an alternative to reading standard notation because they are easier.

Instead of notes on a staff, tabs indicate which notes and chords to play with numbers and six horizontal lines representing the guitar's strings and frets. They are essentially charts that tell you where to place your fingers on the neck.

How do you read guitar tabs?

Guitar tab is much easier (so much easier) to learn than standard notation, but if you've never seen it before it can be difficult to understand what you're seeing.

Before diving into a few tabs, take the time to familiarize yourself with your instrument. Practicing notes, chords, and scales makes playing tabs much more fluid.

If you are unfamiliar with parts like “saddle” or “spindle plate” that make up your instrument, read our blog “Guitar Anatomy: What parts does a guitar consist of?' to learn more about her.

guitar tab bar

With sheet music, the staff is the background that gives context to the notation—they are a series of lines that indicate which string and fret to play.

Tabs look similar, but the lines represent the six strings on your guitar (E-B-G-D-A-E), and the system itself is completely different.

For tabs, the top line represents the thinnest string, the high E. The bottom lines represent the B, G, D, A, and low E strings. And you read guitar tab from left to right.

guitar frets

Frets are the strips of metal that run horizontally down the neck of your guitar. In general, a guitar has 19 to 24 frets.

A note or chord is indicated on the lines with a number. That means expect numbers from 0 to 24 on your tabs.

For example, if you see the number 1 on the top row, place your finger between the nut and the first fret of the high E string (the section closest to the headstock). The number 0 means you are playing the open string.

chords

Identifying chords on tabs is easy. When you see multiple numbers aligned vertically, you see a chord.

Guitar Tabs Icons.

Many guitar techniques can spice up the sound of your instrument. In order to play your songs with greater proficiency and accuracy, you need to know how to identify them in tabs.

Clock	Palm mute
X	Mute specific notes
⤴	To bend
∕	slide up
＼	slide down
H⌒	Hammer-ons
P⌒	deductions
““““	Vibrato
T⌒	Beat
	Dial down
v	Pick up

Guitar tabs for beginners.

With access to the Internet, you can easily find guitar tab for just about any song. Here are a few catchy riffs that you can pick up relatively quickly.

If you want access to the full tabs, check outUltimate Guitar–You have an impressive library.

Sunshine Your Love von Cream

Sunshine is a great tune to start with. It's not too demanding on your fingers, and you only have to play three strings. And it sounds great!

Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison

Another simple but catchy song you can play is Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman."

It's also easy on the fingers and the riff uses three strings.

Pro tip: listen to the song a few times to work on your timing!

I Stand Alone by Godsmack

I Stand Alone is even easier. However, the tempo of the song is much faster. But don't focus too much on the speed. Playing quickly feels more natural by taking your time, assimilating the moves, and gradually making them second nature.

Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry

Play that funky riff! You can play Wild Cherry's song with just two strings in no time. However, in this riff you are dealing with a hammer-on (h) technique. There's no right or wrong way to learn your favorite songs — however, adding new steps can make things smoother.

Down with the sickness of Disturbed

Hit the hammer on with Disturbed's hit "Down With The Sickness." To work on a specific technique, you can find pieces like this that use them frequently. The more you do it, the better you become.

A Passage to Bangkok by Rush

Add some extra techniques to your repertoire with Rush's "A Passage To Bangkok".

The notes are easy and you have to focus on two strings. However, this riff introduces you to some slides, pull-offs and vibratos.

Remember, patience is key!

Paralyzer von Finger Eleven

The riff on "Paralyzer" is fast. This song works on your strumming and concentration. And it requires you to mute certain notes, which can be a challenge for your coordination.

Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple

Playing notes tends to be easier than playing chords. Chords require more precision from your fingers. The slow tempo of "Smoke On The Water" makes it an ideal track to start putting your chords into action.

Symphony of Destruction by Megadeath

Next it's time to up the intensity with "Symphony of Destruction".

As you can see, these tabs toggle between notes and chords, and also require some palm muting.

These aren't too challenging when it comes to chords, but playing and skipping chords is more challenging than sheet music. Exactly what you need.

Shepherd Of Fire von Avenged Sevenfold

Another fun song for beginners to play is Avenged Sevenfold's fiery tune "Shepherd Of Fire". This song contains slides, vibratos, notes and chords.

Guitar tabs for beginners and advanced players.

These tabs are just a few fun songs to get you started, but the sky's the limit. There are tabs for virtually every recorded song ever written.

Learning to play the guitar takes practice. You need to learn to play chords and notes and read sheet music. However, spending the day playing scales can get boring. It's like only going to football practice and never playing a game. Guitar tabs offer beginners easy playing of their favorite songs.

There are many avenues to pursue when taking up a new hobby. You can learn guitar in a band, with a teacher, or on your own.

Whichever path you choose, you must do something yourself.Just guitaris the ultimate app. It comes with bite-sized lessons that teach you everything from playing cool tunes to reading sheet music. Try it today!

Frequently asked Questions.