What Do All the Markings in Guitar Tab Mean? – 5-Minute Fix

Guitar tabs are packed with confusing symbols like slides, bends, and hammer-ons—so in this quick fix, I’ll show you exactly what they mean and how to play them with confidence!

The Question

What do all the markings in guitar tab mean?
Aaron’s back with another great question for the 5-Minute Fix series, and this one’s all about understanding tab notation so you can use it with confidence.

Let’s break down the most common symbols and how to play each one.

1. Hammer-Ons (H)

What it looks like:

Two notes connected by a curved line with an "H"
Example: 5h8

How to play it:

Pick the first note
Use another finger to hammer-on the second note without picking again
Smooth and fluid — no second pick needed

Pro tip: Great for warming up and scale sequences!

2. Pull-Offs (P)

What it looks like:

Two notes connected by a curved line with a "P"
Example: 8p5

How to play it:

Pick the first (higher) note
“Pull” your finger off the string, slightly downward, to sound the lower note
Your second finger should already be in place

Pull-offs give you a smooth descending sound and work perfectly with hammer-ons.

3. Bends (B)

What it looks like:

A note with an arrow going up and a label like “full”
Example: 7b9

How to play it:

Push the string across the fretboard (not downward)
Use support fingers and thumb for leverage
Match pitch with a reference note to stay in tune

Variants:

Bend and release: Arrow goes up and then down
Pre-bend and release: Arrow starts at the top and drops — bend first, then strike the note

4. Slides (SL)

What it looks like:

A diagonal line between notes (e.g., 5/7 or 7\5)
Often with "SL" (as noted above)

How to play it:

Pick the first note, then slide to the next while maintaining pressure
Forward slides: pick low, slide high
Reverse slides: pick high, slide low
Smooth transitions, perfect for lead phrasing

5. Vibrato (~)

What it looks like:

A wavy squiggly line above or near a note
Example: 7~

How to play it:

Shake the note slightly by wiggling the string up and down
Don’t press harder — just move side to side gently
Try different speeds and widths for expression

Vibrato adds emotion and keeps your playing from sounding flat or mechanical.

Summary: The Core Markings in Tab

Symbol	Name	What It Does
H	Hammer-on	Ascending note with one pick
P	Pull-off	Descending note with one pick
B	Bend	Raise pitch by pushing string
/ or \	Slide	Move smoothly between two notes
~	Vibrato	Add expressive movement to a note

These symbols bring tab to life — they turn static notes into expressive, dynamic phrases!

Want to Actually Use These in Solos?

I teach how to apply all of these in my free course:

Blues Solo Breakthrough: 6 Steps to Confident, Killer Solos
Learn how to build expressive solos with techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, slides, and vibrato.

Final Thoughts

Tab symbols are more than just instructions — they’re part of your sound. Master these, and your solos will start to feel more alive.

This has been your 5-Minute Fix! I’m Lee from Play Guitar Podcast.
Thanks for reading — now go play something that moves you!

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