Tablature Symbols

The numbers don’t really describe the subtle techniques that a guitarist can execute, these are the tablature symbols that represent various techniques.

h – hammer on<br />

p – pull off<br />

b – bend string up<br />

r – release bend<br />

/ – slide up<br />

\ – slide down<br />

v – vibrato (sometimes written as ~)<br />

t – right hand tap<br />

s – legato slide<br />

S – shift slide<br />

- natural harmonic<br />

[n] – artificial harmonic<br />

n(n) – tapped harmonic<br />

tr – trill<br />

T – tap<br />

TP – trem. picking

PM – palm muting

\n/ – tremolo bar dip; n = amount to dip

\n – tremolo bar down

n/ – tremolo bar up

/n\ – tremolo bar inverted dip

= – hold bend; also acts as connecting device for hammers/pulls

<> – volume swell (louder/softer)

x – on rhythm slash represents muted slash

o – on rhythm slash represents single note slash