Guitar Tab Symbols, Notations and Abbreviations

On this page I have published the ultimate table of guitar tab notation and symbols for both graphic tablatures that are most commonly used in guitar magazines, books, software editors, as well as the ASCII (plain text) tabs that can often be found on web pages.

It is one of the most complete references out there, so you might consider bookmarking this page for future use. The rarer notation symbols I've put closer to the bottom.

You'll see that in the ASCII column there are a lot of blank cells; this is because ASCII tabs do not have some equivalent notation and symbols. This assumes that you know the song and can figure out additional playing techniques on your own.

Graphic tablatures often include lines of staff notation along with tab lines; that's why I have created diverse examples in order to help you get used to different tab formats.

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Symbols, Notations and Abbreviations Used in Guitar Tablatures
Magazine/software guitar tab examples ASCII tab examples Abbreviations and extra information Full name
Downstroke Symbol   Downstroke Notation Symbols

Downstroke

(down picking)

Upstroke Symbols   Upstroke Notation Symbol

Upstroke

(up picking)

Finger numbering notation for the fretting hand  

Finger Numbering

for the fretting hand

Palm Mute Notation Character “x” before notes: 
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|--x5-x5-x5-x5---
6|----------------
and sometimes as PM: 
	
PM - - - - - -|
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|---5--5--5--5---
6|----------------
P.M.

Palm Mute
Rake Notation  

Rake
Arpeggiated Chord Notation   Symbols for Arpeggiated Chord

Arpeggiated Chord

Playing across the strings in succession, following the direction of the arrow.

P I M A fingering for fingerstyle guitar 
	
   p i m i a i m i
1|---------0-------
2|-----1-------1---
3|---0---0---0---0-
4|-----------------
5|-3---------------
6|-----------------
p i m a

Fingerstyle Guitar

Fingering system for the plucking hand:

  • p - thumb
  • i - index finger
  • m - middle finger
  • a - ring finger
Artificial Harmonic Notation 
	
    A.H. or Harm.
1|---3------------
2|----------------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
A.H.

Artificial Harmonics
Natural Harmonic Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|-----<12>-------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
N.H.

Natural Harmonics

In ASCII tabs, natural harmonics can also be marked as N.H. or sometimes indicated with a '+' symbol above the tab.

Tapped Harmonic Notation 
	
        TH
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|------12--------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
T.H.

Tapped Harmonics
Pinched harmonic Notation 
1|----------------
2|--<8>-----------
3|--------<7>-----
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
When using graphic tabs, fret numbers are usually indicated inside triangles.

Pinched Harmonics
Touch Harmonic Notation   TCH

Touch Harmonics

A ringing string is touched above the fret while it is sounding, indicated by the TCH abbreviation.
String Bend Notation (Bend Up) 
	
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|-----7b9--------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
BU or b

Bend Up
String Bend Down Notation (Bend Down) 
	
1|------r2--------
2|----------------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
BD or r

Bend Down

or

Release
Pre-Bend Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|------pb7-------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
PB

Pre-bend
Vibrato Notation 
	
           ~~~
1|--7v--or-7------
2|----------------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
v or ~~~

Vibrato
Hammer-On Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|-5h7--rarely-5^7
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
H.O.

Hammer On

(legato Legato Notation)

Pull-Off Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|-7p5--rarely-7^5
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
P.O.

Pull Off

(legato Legato Notation)

A symbol for indicating the guitar sliding technique, also known as glissando 
	
1|-10s12--or-10/12
2|----------------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
s

Sliding

(glissando)
  • "/" - sliding up
  • "\" - sliding down
Tapping Notation 
	
  T
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|-12---or--12t---
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
T, + or ○

Tapping
Fret-hand Muting Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-x
4|-2-x-x-2-x-x-2-x
5|-0-x-x-0-x-x-0-x
6|----------------
x

Fret-Hand Muting
Tremolo Picking Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|-TP10- or 10tr -
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
The tr may be mistakenly taken for a trill, located in the next row of the table. 		TP and sometimes tr

Tremolo Picking
Trill Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|-----7tr8-------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
tr

Trill

Rapidly alternating between two adjacent notes.

Grace Note tab symbol   A smaller digit or a tiny note with a line across

Grace Note

(Acciaccatura)

A very brief note, as if brushed on the way to the main note.

A grace note takes a small amount of the duration from the main note it precedes.

Whammy Bar Dip Notation 
	
1|----------------
2|----------------
3|-----\1/--------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------

Dip

Slightly pressing down and releasing the whammy bar.

The number next to the symbol indicates by how much to lower the pitch.

Whammy Bar Inverted Dip Notation  

Inverted Dip

The number indicates the amount of pitch to raise.
Whammy Bar Dive Notation  

Dive

Diving the whammy bar.

Whammy Bar Dive and Return tab notation  

Dive and Return

Diving and returning the whammy bar.
Scoop (vibrato arm trick) symbol  

Scoop

Depressing the bar before picking the string, and releasing it as you play.
Whammy Bar Bends Notation  

Whammy Bar Bends

Bending the strings using the whammy bar.
Whammy Bar Gargle Notation  

Gargle

Gargle effect using a whammy bar.
Capo Notation  

Capo

Fret numbering begins from the capo (not the nut).
Pick Scrape Notation  

Pick Scrape

Scraping the pick across the lower strings.
Tupleto Notations  




3






5





6

Tupleto:



triplet






fiveplet





sixplet
Accented Note Symbol 
	
         >
1|----------------
2|-------12-------
3|----------------
4|----------------
5|----------------
6|----------------
>

Accented note
Fermata Symbol   Fermata Symbol

Fermata

Freely increase note duration.
Dotted Note Notation  

Dotted Note

Dot placed to the right of the corresponding note lengthens the note by one-half its value.

examples:

Dotted Note Explanation
Repeat Sign Tab Symbols  

Repeat Signs

Beginning of Repetition - tab notation Ending of Repetition - tab notation Notes between these symbols are played repeatedly.
Staccato tab notation  

Staccato

Dot over or under the note.

Staccato means playing notes sharply by means of shortening ringing duration of a marked note and leaving a silent gap before the next note,
Staccato Notation
so the rhythm remains unchanged.

Ottava alta tablature symbol   8va

Ottava Alta

Notes on the staff along the dashed line are played one octave higher.

The reason to use 8va is to avoid the staff to look too complex with a lot of highly located notes.

NOTE
This is related only to the staff, the numbers in the tablature remain unchanged and show genuine location on the fingerboard.

Original and containing 8va notation.
Ottava alta tablature symbol
Ottava bassa tablature symbol   8rb

Ottava Bassa

Notes on the staff along the dashed line are played one octave lower than notated.

The tab numbers remain unchanged as with 8va next above.

Original and containing 8rb notation.
Ottava alta tablature symbol

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This article was last updated on September 26, 2025