Understanding Guitar Tablature and Sheet Music

By Joshua LeBlanc

Many of my students struggle when it comes to navigating written notation. I completely understand — it can feel like learning a foreign language when you’re first starting out. Fortunately, if we approach it systematically, we can make the process much easier.
(Disclaimer: This article assumes you are already familiar with rhythmic notation.)

Starting with the Basics

In both styles of written music, we essentially have the same concept: a set of horizontal lines stacked on top of each other, with symbols that tell us what notes to play. Here’s an example of both (standard notation is on top, tablature is on the bottom):

Let’s break this down. Both sets of lines are communicating the same information but in different formats. Regardless of which one you’re reading, you will play the notes from left to right.

In standard notation, where the note appears on the staff (the group of lines) tells you the pitch of the note. In tablature, the number you see tells you which fret to play on which string.

In both cases, the lines are organized from the lowest-sounding pitch to the highest. However, in tablature, the lines represent the strings of the guitar — not their physical position when you hold the guitar, but their pitch. The low E string is the bottom line, and the high E string is the top line.

For standard notation, we have to learn a bit more. The “S”-shaped symbol at the far left is called a Treble Clef. This symbol tells us what the names of the notes are. In this case:

Lines (bottom to top): E, G, B, D, F
Spaces (bottom to top): F, A, C, E

There are other types of clefs, but guitar uses the Treble Clef.

Each system has its pros and cons.

Standard notation tells you the exact pitch and rhythm of the note but doesn’t tell you where it’s located on the guitar. You’ll need to know that separately.
Tablature is designed specifically for guitarists, so it shows you exactly which fret and string to play. However, it often includes less musical information and can limit your ability to read music for other instruments.

Try playing the example above, then listen to this audio recording to check if you played it correctly:

Moving Beyond the Basics

As you advance, you’ll encounter examples with multiple notes played together, including chords. At first, this can feel overwhelming — and to be fair, it is a lot of information. However, with some practice and a few shortcuts, it becomes much more manageable.

Let’s look at the first beat in the next example.

In the tablature, you’ll see the 5th fret of the low E string and the 7th fret of the A string.
In the standard notation, you’ll see the notes A and E.
(Quick tip: When notes fall below the staff, we use extra lines called ledger lines to show how low they are.)

This is an example of a dyad (two notes played at once) — in this case, a power chord.

You may also notice there are no fingering suggestions. Often, you’ll have to figure these out yourself. A default fingering here would be fingers 1 (index) and 3 (ring). However, depending on the context of the music, alternative fingerings might be more effective — so stay flexible.

Now look at beat two.
The tablature shows 320003 across the strings from low E to high E.
The standard notation shows G, B, D, G, B, G.

This is a G major chord.
Sometimes, you’ll see just the letter “G” above the music, especially in pieces that focus on strumming patterns. However, you still need to know how to navigate the full chord voicing for times when that shortcut isn’t provided. (This also applies when playing arpeggios — but that’s a topic for another day.)

On beat four, we encounter a trickier chord: a different voicing of an E minor chord.
In the standard notation, you’ll see the following notes: E, E, G, B, E, G.

Identifying chords by their notes is easier when you’re fluent in standard notation — assuming you’ve had some practice.

Final Thoughts:
While learning to read music and tablature can feel intimidating at first, it’s simply a skill like any other. With a systematic approach and regular practice, it becomes second nature. Remember to stay patient with yourself and celebrate small wins along the way!

Joshua LeBlanc is the owner and instructor of Lafayette School of Guitar which specializes in guitar lessons in Lafayette, LA.