Tablature (Tab)
Anatomy & Gear
A notation system that shows which frets to play on which strings, without requiring music reading.
Tablature (tab) is a simplified notation system that tells you exactly which fret to press on which string. Four horizontal lines represent the four ukulele strings (A on top, G on bottom), and numbers on the lines indicate fret positions. 0 means open string.
Tab is easier to learn than standard music notation because you don't need to know note names or read music. However, basic tab doesn't show rhythm — you need to listen to the song to know the timing. Some tabs add rhythmic notation above or below the lines.
Reading tab: look at the numbers from left to right. Numbers stacked vertically are played simultaneously (a chord). Numbers in sequence are played one at a time (a melody). Letters like h, p, s, and / indicate hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and bends.
Put this into practice with Pocket Uke's free tools