How to Read Frets on a Guitar Tab

Guitar frets determine the pitch a string will produce when you pluck it. A plucked string will produce a different pitch depending on which fret you push it onto. As you move up the fretboard, each fret will produce a 1/2 step higher pitch than the last. On a guitar tab staff, the six horizontal lines represent a guitar's strings. The numbers noted over these lines represent frets.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Identify a fret notation by looking for a number over one of the six strings of the tab staff.

2. Find the noted fret on the tab staff. If a "4" is noted over of the E string line, you will push the E string onto the fourth fret down from the headstock of the guitar.

3. Follow the tab from left to right. The tab staff is arranged horizontally so that it can be read like a book.

4. Play the notes that are aligned vertically on the tab at the same time. Each vertical alignment of notes is one strum or pluck of the guitar.

Tips & Warnings

• Moving "up" on the fret board means moving your fingers closer to the body of the guitar.
• A string on the tab staff noted with "0" means that the string should be played open, or without any fret.