Numbers in a tab are the bit everyone gets instantly: a number tells you which fret, on which line, on which string. The part that turns a tab into modern hieroglyphics is the little garnish around the numbers — a lonely h, a slash pointing somewhere, a squiggle that looks like a caffeinated worm. This is your ultimate 2026 decoder ring for those symbols.
If you're brand new to the whole idea of six lines and fret numbers, start with the full walkthrough in How do I read guitar tabs? → and then come back here to memorise the shorthand.
The Guitar Tab Symbol Cheat Sheet
Here's the whole gang in one place. Bookmark it, screenshot it, tape it to your amp:
| Symbol | Means | What you do | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
h | hammer-on | Sound the higher note with a fretting finger only — you don’t pick it. | 5h7 |
p | pull-off | The reverse: flick a fretting finger off to sound the lower note. | 7p5 |
/ | slide up | Play the first fret number, then slide up to the next without releasing. | 5/7 |
\ | slide down | Same idea, going the other way. | 7 |
b | bend | Push the string to raise the pitch. | 7b9 |
r | release | Let a bent note return to its original pitch. | 7b9r7 |
~ or v | vibrato | Wiggle the note for expression. | 7~ |
x | dead note | A percussive click; mute the string with the fretting hand. | x |
PM | palm mute | The chugging, muffled sound (usually with a dashed line). | PM- - - |
t | tapping | Tap the fret with a finger on your picking hand. | t12 |
1. Hammer-ons (h) and Pull-offs (p)
These two are the bread and butter of legato playing. An h between two numbers (like 5h7) means you pick the 5th fret, then forcefully hammer another finger onto the 7th fret without picking the string again. A p (like 7p5) is the exact opposite: you pluck the string while holding both the 7th and 5th frets, then pull your higher finger off the string slightly sideways to sound the lower note. When strung together, these create incredibly smooth, fast runs.
2. Slides (/ and \)
Slides are written with forward slashes / (sliding up to a higher pitch) and backward slashes \ (sliding down). A slide isn't just decoration — it means the second note is not re-picked. You pick the first note, maintain the pressure, and drag your finger to the target fret. It sounds gloriously smooth compared to picking every single note.
3. Bends (b) and Releases (r)
The bend symbol b is where the emotion happens. The number after the b tells you how far to bend. For example, 7b9 means you fret the 7th fret, pick it, and physically push the string until it sounds like the 9th fret (a whole tone). You might also see an r, which means "release" (e.g., 7b9r7). This tells you to bend up to the target pitch and then let the string back down to the original note without re-picking.
4. Muted and Dead Notes (x and PM)
Not every symbol in a tab represents a clear pitch.
- The X (Dead Note): An
xon a line means you rest your fretting hand lightly across the string and pick it to create a percussive "chack" sound. Think of the intro to Smells Like Teen Spirit. - PM (Palm Mute):
PMaccompanied by a dashed line above or below the tab tells you to rest the side of your picking hand on the bridge, lightly touching the strings to create a chunky, muffled metal sound. Read more on how to play palm mutes here.
5. Vibrato (~ or v)
The squiggle ~ (or sometimes a v) means vibrato: wiggling the string to make the note sing. A tab symbol can tell you when to use vibrato, but it can never teach you how. Don't learn this from a symbol — steal it by ear from B.B. King, David Gilmour, or Yngwie Malmsteen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does h mean in guitar tabs?
The letter h stands for hammer-on. It means you play the first note by picking it, and then "hammer" a finger of your fretting hand onto the fretboard for the second note without picking the string a second time. (e.g., 5h7).
What does p mean in guitar tabs?
The letter p stands for pull-off. You pick the first, higher note, and then literally pull your finger off the string slightly downwards to snap it and sound a lower note that is already fretted by another finger (e.g., 7p5).
What does the x mean in a tab?
An x represents a dead note (or muted strum). Instead of pressing the string down to the fretboard, you just touch it lightly with your fretting hand so it doesn't ring out, creating a percussive scratching sound when picked.
What does the squiggly line (~) mean?
The squiggly line ~ indicates vibrato. You fret the note normally, but rapidly bend the string slightly up and down to make the pitch waver, adding expression and sustain.
If this guide saved you from squinting at a mystery squiggle at 1am, you can throw a coffee my way on Patreon — no pressure, purely for the riffs. Now go decode something loud!