Guitar tab editor and player features
Tab, notation and a fretboard in step with the music, from the first note you type to the bar you loop. Most features link to the free browser demo, so you can try them before you buy.
Tab and standard notation together
The staff shows rhythm and pitch; the tab shows which string and fret. guitarnotation draws both from the same notes and keeps them aligned beat for beat, so every note on the staff sits directly above its fret number. That makes it a practical way to learn to read: start from the fingering you know and see where it lands on the staff.
When you only need one, switch to tab only or notation only; the song doesn't change, only the view. Chord names sit above the bars, with the tempo and tuning at the top of the score.
A fretboard that follows the music
During playback each note lights up on a full-width fretboard, in its string's colour, at the fret where your finger goes. The current chord's shape stays faintly visible underneath, so you can see where the melody sits inside the chord you're holding.
In the editor the fretboard follows your selection instead: click a note on the tab and it appears on the neck, which helps while you work out a fingering. The neck is drawn with real fret spacing up to the 15th fret, with the usual position markers.
Chord diagrams
Every chord the song uses is drawn as a diagram at the top of the score, in the order it first appears, with open and muted strings marked. While the song plays, the diagram for the current chord is highlighted, so you can glance up and check the shape before the change.
Chord names are also written above each bar, for anyone strumming along rather than reading every note.
Slow down and loop
Set the speed anywhere from 25% to 150% of the written tempo, in 5% steps, or jump straight to 50%, 75% or 100%. Slowing down doesn't change the pitch, so a hard passage played at half speed still sounds right.
Loop a single bar to repeat it until it feels easy, then raise the speed a step at a time. The transport shows the bar and chord you're on, the tempo and the speed, and the fretboard keeps showing each note as it loops.
Write tab from the keyboard
Click a string on any beat, or move there with the arrow keys, and type the fret number. The note appears on the tab and the staff at once, and you hear it. Two digits typed quickly make a fret from 10 to 24; Backspace clears a note, and undo and redo work as you'd expect.
Then mark how it's played: hammer-on, pull-off, slide, vibrato, palm mute or let ring. Each technique is written above the tab, and playback lets you check the result before you share it.
| 0โ9 | Set the fret. Type two digits quickly for frets 10 to 24. |
|---|---|
| โ โ | Previous or next beat |
| โ โ | Up or down a string |
| Backspace | Clear the note |
| Space | Play or pause |
| Ctrl+Z or โZ | Undo |
| Shift+Ctrl+Z or Shift+โZ | Redo |
Opens Guitar Pro, MusicXML and MIDI
Open .gp files from Guitar Pro 7 and 8, .gpx files from Guitar Pro 6, and .gp5, .gp4 and .gp3 files from Guitar Pro 5, 4 and 3, as well as MusicXML and MIDI. Guitar Pro files carry the string and fret of every note, and so does MusicXML when the program that wrote it includes them, as the files in our free tab library do. MIDI files carry only the notes and rhythm.
Files are opened by the desktop app; the browser demo can't open or save them. If a file won't open or looks wrong, email it to info@guitarnotation.com and say which program made it.
- .gp
- .gpx
- .gp5
- .gp4
- .gp3
- MusicXML
- MIDI
- .gp
- MusicXML
- MIDI
- WAV
- SVG
- Text tab
Exports PDF, Guitar Pro, MusicXML, MIDI and WAV
Export a PDF to print or to share. Export a .gp file for Guitar Pro 7 and 8, or MusicXML for MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius and Dorico; both keep the string and fret of every note and the techniques you wrote. Export MIDI to take the notes into a DAW; MIDI keeps the notes and rhythm, but not the strings and frets.
Export WAV for a recording of the song played with the instrument sounds from your General MIDI SoundFont, to play along with anywhere. There's also an SVG image of the score for web pages, and plain-text tab for forums and email.
- .gp
- .gpx
- .gp5
- .gp4
- .gp3
- MusicXML
- MIDI
- .gp
- MusicXML
- MIDI
- WAV
- SVG
- Text tab
What you can try in the browser
The player and editor demo is the desktop app's score, fretboard and controls, free in your browser. Files and your own songs need the app.
| Browser demo | Desktop app | |
|---|---|---|
| Tab, notation, chord diagrams and a fretboard that follows the music | Yes | Yes |
| Slow down from 25% to 150% and loop a bar | Yes | Yes |
| Enter notes and techniques from the keyboard, with undo | Yes | Yes |
| Songs | Three examples and the free tabs | Your own songs and files |
| Open and save files | No | Yes |
| Import Guitar Pro, MusicXML and MIDI | No | Yes |
| Export PDF, Guitar Pro, MusicXML, MIDI and WAV | No | Yes |
| Instrument sound | Simple synthesized tones | A General MIDI SoundFont |
| Price | Free, no sign-up | $25 once |
Questions about the features
All questions on the support page โDoes slowing down change the pitch?
No. Playback runs anywhere from 25% to 150% of the written tempo and every note keeps its pitch, so a fast passage played slowly still sounds in tune. Loop a single bar to repeat it while you work on it.
Can I show only the tab, or only the notation?
Yes. Switch between tab and notation together, tab only and notation only at any time. Only the view changes, not the song.
Which playing techniques can I write?
Hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, vibrato, palm mutes and let ring. Select a note, choose the technique, and it's written above the tab. Try it in the editor demo.
Can it open Guitar Pro 8 .gp files?
Yes. It opens .gp files from Guitar Pro 7 and 8, .gpx files from Guitar Pro 6, and .gp5, .gp4 and .gp3 files from Guitar Pro 5, 4 and 3, along with MusicXML and MIDI. See supported formats. If a file won't open or looks wrong, email it to info@guitarnotation.com and say which program made it.
Can I export to Guitar Pro?
Yes. Export a .gp file and Guitar Pro 7 or 8 opens it with the strings, frets and techniques you wrote. MusicXML export keeps them too, for Guitar Pro, MuseScore, Finale, Sibelius or Dorico.
Can I print my tabs?
Yes. Export the song to PDF from the desktop app, then print the PDF.
Why doesn't the demo keep my edits?
The demo runs entirely in your browser and stores nothing, so edits last until you reload or leave the page. Switching between Edit and Play keeps them. Opening, saving, importing and exporting files need the desktop app.