How to write guitar tab
Guitar tab is a grid: strings as lines, time as columns, frets as numbers. Make Guitar Tab puts that grid on the homepage so you can write without an install.
Steps
-
Open the blank staff
Go to the Make Guitar Tab homepage. The six-line staff uses standard tuning with high e on top. The blue caret starts in the first cell.
-
Type fret numbers
Focus a cell and type 0–9. Use arrow keys to move. For frets 10–24, type two digits within about 400 ms, or use 10+ on the phone number strip.
-
Add technique marks
Use toolbar or keys for hammer-on (h), pull-off (p), slide up (/), slide down (\), bend (b), and vibrato (~).
-
Play, then export
Press Play or Space to hear a local synth. Adjust tempo or loop a range. Export text or Print / Save as PDF when you are done.
Reading the staff
On guitar, the top line is high e and the bottom is low E. A 0 is an open string. Leave a cell blank for a rest on that beat during playback.
Practice now on the guitar tab maker, switch to bass, or learn PDF export.
FAQ
What do the numbers on guitar tab mean?
Each horizontal line is one string. On standard guitar tab the top line is high e and the bottom is low E. The number is the fret to press; 0 means open string. Columns read left to right in time.
How do I write a hammer-on?
Enter the starting fret, move to the target cell, enter the landing fret, and mark hammer-on with h from the toolbar or keyboard. In ASCII this often looks like 5h7 between related notes. Use p the same way for a pull-off.
How do I show a rest in the tab?
Leave the cell empty on every string in that column. During playback an empty column is treated as a rest for that beat. You do not need a special rest symbol in this editor. Add a blank column if you want space between phrases.
How wide is a printed tab line?
On A4 landscape, about twenty beat columns fit comfortably per system, depending on density and margins. Add or delete bars so a phrase does not wrap awkwardly. Use the browser's Print preview to check width before you save a PDF.