Every song site shows you two kinds of writing: little grids, and lines full of numbers. Nobody's born knowing either one. Here's the fast version.
The question you're really asking is probably 'which one should I learn first?' Fair, and there's a clear answer. But it only makes sense once you've seen what each one actually is, so here's each of them, in about sixty seconds.
So that's the split. A diagram answers 'what shape do I hold.' A tab answers 'which notes do I play, and in what order.' And when numbers stack into one column, like that G at the end, you're seeing a whole chord written in tab. Same guitar, two languages, two different jobs.
🔑 KEY IDEA
Tab reads upside down, and it's silent
Start with chords. A chord shape works in hundreds of songs, so every shape you learn compounds; a tab line belongs to one song. Once you know a handful of shapes you can play a chord sheet on sight. Then bring in tabs for the riffs and intros you're dying to steal. You'll end up reading both.
🔥 PRO TIP
Tabs are not cheating
So grab three chords and a song you love, and let tabs teach you the riffs later. The gatekeepers can argue; you'll be busy playing.
Your turn ⭐
Two languages
Question 1 of 3
In a tab, a 3 is sitting on one of the lines. What does it mean?
The cheat sheet
- A chord diagram holds one shape. A tab lists notes in order, left to right.
- Tab numbers are frets. Chord-diagram numbers are fingers.
- The top line of a tab is your thinnest string, and tab carries no rhythm.
- Start with chords because shapes compound across songs. Add tabs for riffs. You'll use both.
Common questions
Are tabs cheating?
No. Tabs are how a huge share of the world's guitarists learned, and using them costs you nothing. Ear skills are worth building later on top, but 'real players don't use tabs' is folklore.
Do I need to read sheet music for any of this?
No. Chord diagrams and tabs both skip standard notation entirely. They tell you where on the guitar rather than what note, which is exactly why you can read them on day one.
Which should I learn first?
Chords. A few open shapes unlock hundreds of songs, and a chord sheet becomes sight-readable once the shapes are muscle memory. Bring tabs in the moment there's a riff you want. Chords first is a head start, not a life choice.