Free Online Tool
Guitar Tab Player
Play, learn, and create 6-string guitar tabs in your browser — no install, no account. Insert chords with one click, set a capo, and hear your tab in real time.
How to read a guitar tab
A guitar tab uses six horizontal lines — one for each string. The top line is the high e string (thinnest), and the bottom line is the low E string (thickest). Numbers tell you which fret to press. 0 means open string.
Smoke on the Water — Deep Purple
Opening riff · Electric guitar
Find your strings
Six lines = six strings. Top = high e (thinnest). Bottom = low E (thickest). Same physical order as on your guitar, from top to bottom.
Read the fret numbers
0 means open — just pluck without pressing. Any other number means press that fret. Read left to right.
Vertical notes = chord
Numbers stacked on the same column are played at the same time — that's a chord. Use the Chord Helper to insert common shapes instantly.
Everything you need to learn guitar
Built for guitarists of all levels — from beginners inserting their first chord to players transcribing their own lines.
Real-time playback
Hit play and hear your guitar line instantly. Adjust BPM on the fly without stopping.
6-string standard tuning
All six strings from high e to low E, with color-coded rows so you always know where you are.
Drag & resize notes
Draw notes with a click, drag to move across strings or beats, resize to change duration.
Chord Helper
Insert full guitar chords (Em, C, G, D, Am and more) in one click at the cursor position.
Multiple sounds
Acoustic, Nylon, Clean Electric, Synth — choose the tone that fits your song.
Capo support
Set a capo from 0 to 7 and the player transposes all pitches automatically during playback.
Export
Copy as ASCII tab for sharing, or export to MIDI for use in your DAW.
Keyboard-friendly
Ctrl+C/V to copy-paste notes, Shift+drag for rubber-band selection, Ctrl+Z to undo.
Frequently asked questions
What is a guitar tab?
A guitar tab (tablature) shows you exactly which string and fret to play, using six horizontal lines (one per string) with numbers indicating the fret. Zero means open string — no fret pressed. It's the fastest way to learn songs without reading sheet music.
How do I read a guitar tab?
The six lines represent the six strings. The top line is the high e string (thinnest), the bottom line is the low E string (thickest). Numbers show which fret to press. Read left to right — numbers stacked vertically are played simultaneously (a chord).
What is the Chord Helper?
The Chord Helper panel shows common guitar chords (Em, Am, C, G, D, F, and more). Click any chord button and all the notes for that chord are inserted at the current cursor position in the grid. Perfect for building chord-based arrangements quickly.
What does the capo setting do?
Setting a capo shifts the pitch of every note during playback, as if you had placed a physical capo on that fret. The fret numbers in the grid stay the same (relative to the capo), but the sound is higher. Capo 2 means every note sounds two semitones higher.
Is this guitar tab player free?
Yes, completely free. No account required. Open it in any modern browser on desktop or mobile.
Can I export my tab?
Yes. Use the Export button to copy your tab as ASCII text (the classic tabbing format), or export to MIDI for use in a DAW like GarageBand, Logic, or Ableton.
Curious how this compares to Guitar Pro, Songsterr, and other tab tools? See the full guitar tab software comparison →
Ready to play?
Open the editor and start learning guitar tabs today. Free, no account needed.
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