Easy guitar tabs for beginners
Choose a first tab by string count and speed, see how the six lines work, then practise one short phrase at a time.
Quick answer
A good first guitar tab uses one or two strings, a few nearby fret numbers, and a phrase you can loop slowly. The top line is the thinnest string; 0 means play a string without pressing a fret.
- Start with Beethoven or Seven Nation Army
- Read the string first, then the fret number
- Practise two to four notes before the whole tab
Read this tiny tab before choosing a song
The six lines are the six strings. Read left to right. Only the A string is used here, and the numbers tell you which fret to press.
e|----------------| thinnest B|----------------| G|----------------| D|----------------| A|--0--0--3--5----| E|----------------| thickest
Play the open A string twice, then fret 3, then fret 5. Keep the other strings quiet.
Pick the right first tab
Start with a beginner label, one or two strings, and a short repeating phrase. Leave fast slides and wide fret jumps until a simple line feels automatic.
Beethoven - Ode to Joy
beginner, recorded at 100 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
beginner, recorded at 112 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
Ella Langley - Choosin' Texas
intermediate, recorded at 112 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
Green Day - Brain Stew
beginner, recorded at 88 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
Nirvana - Come As You Are
beginner, recorded at 120 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
Tame Impala - Loser
Beginner, recorded at 99 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
Tame Impala - The Boat I Row
intermediate, recorded at 76 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
The Weeknd - The Morning
intermediate, recorded at 60 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
beginner, recorded at 124 BPM. Open the page to see the exact string count, tuning and slow practice target.
A 10-minute tab routine
1. Read without playing
Point to the string line and say each fret number from left to right.
2. Play two to four notes
Make each note clean. Do not continue when one buzzes or another string rings.
3. Loop the small phrase
Repeat the same notes slowly until your picking hand stays relaxed.
4. Add the player
Use playback or a metronome below the recorded speed. Raise it only after three clean loops.
Use the interactive player for timing
The app version adds playback and looping. Slow the phrase down, listen once, then play with it only after you can play the notes without stopping.
Useful next pages
Common questions
What do the numbers in guitar tab mean?
The numbers tell you which fret to press. The line tells you which string to play.
Are tabs easier than chords?
For single-note riffs, yes. Chords are better for full songs. Beginners should learn both slowly.