Tab Notation

Riff outputs your solo in standard guitar tablature (tab) format. Tab is a number-based notation system that tells you exactly which fret to play on which string.

Reading Tab

Tab uses six horizontal lines, each representing a guitar string. The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (low E in standard tuning) and the top line is the highest (high E).

e|---5---7---8---|
B|---5---7---8---|
G|---5---7---9---|
D|---7---9---10--|
A|---7---9---10--|
E|---5---7---8---|

Numbers on each line indicate the fret to press. 0 means play the open string. Higher numbers mean higher frets (closer to the body of the guitar).

String Labels

String labels change based on your selected tuning:

| Tuning | Labels (high → low) | |--------|---------------------| | Standard | e B G D A E | | Drop D | e B G D A D | | Drop C | d A F C G C | | Open G | d B G D G D | | DADGAD | d A G D A D |

Measures and Bars

Notes are grouped into measures separated by bar lines (|). Each measure corresponds to a bar of music in the selected time signature.

Articulation Symbols

Riff's tab may include articulation markings that indicate playing techniques:

  • h — Hammer-on (play the note by hammering a fretting finger down)
  • p — Pull-off (play the note by pulling a finger off the string)
  • / — Slide up to the note
  • b — Bend the string up to the target pitch
  • ~ — Vibrato (oscillate the pitch slightly)

Tips for Practicing

  1. Start slow — Set a low BPM (60-80) and play along with the metronome
  2. Break it into phrases — Don't try to learn the whole solo at once. Focus on one measure at a time.
  3. Watch the fretboard — Use the interactive fretboard alongside the tab to see the finger positions visually
  4. Export to PDF — Print the tab for offline practice (Pro feature)