Lesson 6 – Reading Chord Diagrams & TAB

Understanding Chord Diagrams (Chord Boxes)

A chord diagram is a picture of the guitar neck turned upright.

• Vertical lines = strings (left is low E, right is high E).
• Horizontal lines = frets.
• Dots show where to put your fingers.
• Numbers = which finger to use (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = little finger).
• O above a string = play it open.
• X above a string = do not play that string.

Example – E Minor Chord Diagram

Two dots on the 2nd fret of the A and D strings, all other strings open, no X’s – a very friendly chord.

What Is Guitar TAB?

TAB (“tablature”) is a simple way of showing which string and which fret to play, without using traditional music notation.

• 6 lines = 6 strings of the guitar.
• Bottom line = low E string, top line = high E string.
• Numbers show which fret to press; 0 means play the string open.

Simple TAB Example

E|----------------
B|----------------
G|----------------
D|----------------
A|--0--2--3--2--0-
E|----------------
      

• A string open.
• Then A string 2nd fret.
• Then A string 3rd fret.
• Back to 2nd fret.
• Then open again.

Basic TAB Symbols

• h – hammer-on (e.g., 5h7).
• p – pull-off (e.g., 7p5).
• / – slide up, \ – slide down.
• b – bend.

Suggested Practice

1. Pick 2–3 open chords and draw the chord boxes yourself on paper.
2. Write a simple 1-string riff in TAB and then play it.
3. Find a simple TAB online and try to follow just one or two lines slowly.

Downloadable Reference Sheet

Download Lesson 6 – Chord Diagrams & TAB (PDF)

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