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Step 1
Hold your guitar on a horizontal angle as if playing it. You can see how the strings on the guitar resemble the lines on which the tab symbols are written. That is because those lines do represent the strings on the guitar--the thickest string is the "E" and the smallest string is the "e." These letters are musical notes. The other symbols on that line tell you what to do to that particular string.
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Step 2
Locate the numbers on the string lines. They correspond to the fret where your finger will push down that particular string. For instance, if the "A" tab line has a "3" on it, then you must hold down the second-thickest string in the third fret while strumming.
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Step 3
Play a chord by applying the previous step to multiple tab lines with numbers on them that are lined up horizontally. When playing chords, a "0" represents a string that is strummed rather than held down. The lines without a number are not strummed.
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Step 4
Play the music, reading the vertical positioning and horizontal positioning. Vertical numbers in a line represent a chord, while horizontal numbers represent the next note played. This includes all lines. For example, after playing the third fret on the "b" string, you must play the next note in line position with the "3" on the "b," which may be a "2" on the "G" string. This takes practice, as you must become aware of notes played on all lines.
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Step 5
Practice these basic notations before moving to deciphering other symbols. The next symbols are complex. For example, "h" stands for hammer, which means to pick the first note on the string but hammer the second note on the same string. It looks like this: "4h7". A bend is symbolized by "b" behind the fret position number. It means to "bend" the string while holding it for a "wobbly" effect. See the resources section to find out more tab symbols and their meanings.
