Variations
What prints with the starting settings
| Paper | US Letter — 215.9 × 279.4 mm (8.5 × 11 in) |
|---|---|
| Layout | Guitar tab (6) |
| Tab staves on this page | 9 |
| Line gap | 2.97 mm (staff 14.85 mm tall) |
| Margins | 1/2″ |
| Line weight | 0.2 mm (bold 0.35 mm) |
| Print setting | Scale 100% / Actual size |
Writing music by fret number
Tablature describes where to put your fingers rather than which pitch to play, which is why so many guitarists learn from it. Each staff on this sheet has six lines, one per string, with “TAB” printed at the start so the page is clearly tab rather than notation. Write the fret number on the right string, stack numbers vertically for a chord, and add symbols such as h, p, / and b for hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides and bends.
Guitar teachers use blank tab to write exercises tailored to a student, from simple open-string melodies to scale patterns. Players transcribe riffs by ear, record alternate tunings, and keep a notebook of song ideas. Bands jot down parts so the rhythm guitarist and lead player are working from the same voicings.
Layout and string spacing
At the default settings, tab lines are about 2.97 mm apart and nine staves fit on a Letter page with space between them for chord names, strumming arrows or lyrics. If you write with a thick pen or want students to read from a music stand at arm’s length, use the wider spacing variation. To fit more staves, reduce Space between staves in the main controls.
Bass players can switch to four-line tab, and banjo players to five-line tab, from the variations above. If you write in drop D, DADGAD or open G, note the tuning in the page title (under Advanced options) so it is never forgotten.
Building a riff book
Print a stack by setting Pages in the PDF to 20 or more and turning on page numbers, then punch the pages for a binder. Pair tab sheets with chord chart paper for song sheets that show both the chord shapes and the picking pattern. Print at Actual size for consistent spacing from page to page.
When transcribing by ear, write one bar at a time with light pencil and draw a bar line after every measure as you go. Slow the recording down if your player allows it, and note the timestamp in the margin so you can return to a tricky passage. Once a riff is right, ink it in and add the chord name above so you can find it quickly later.
More sheet music & tab sheets
Frequently asked questions
How do you read guitar tab?
Each of the six lines is a string. The bottom line is the low E string and the top line is the high E string in standard tuning. A number on a line tells you which fret to press on that string, and 0 means play it open. Read left to right.
How many tab staves are on one page?
Nine on Letter and ten on A4 with the default settings. Choosing wider string spacing gives bigger staves, so fewer fit, and the generator recalculates automatically.
Why are the tab lines farther apart than on staff paper?
Tab lines hold written fret numbers, including two-digit ones like 12 or 15, so they need more room than noteheads. The generator spaces tab lines 1.35 times the staff line gap, about 2.97 mm at the default setting.
Can I print bass or banjo tab instead?
Yes. The variations above switch to four-line bass tab or five-line banjo tab. Ukulele players often use four-line tab too, with the top line as the A string and the bottom line as the G string in standard tuning.
How do I show rhythm in tab?
Plain tab does not show rhythm. Many players write stems and beams under the numbers, or pair the tab with blank staff paper for the notation. Bar lines drawn across all six lines help keep counts clear.
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