Tablature
![Example of numeric vihuela tablature from the book](/Images/godic/202502/14/Vihuela-Tab_Fuenllana_15541343.jpg")
![Diatonic scale on C, guitar tablature. Play](/Images/godic/202502/14/Diatonic_scale_on_C_tablature_clef1343.png")
![French Renaissance style lute tablature, with corresponding notation for guitar: a simple Renaissance dance, printed by Pierre Attaingnant.](/Images/godic/202502/14/Attaingnant--branle-de-poictou1343.png")
![Types of lute tablatures](/Images/godic/202502/14/Tabulaturtypen1344.png")
Tablature (or tabulature, or tab for short) is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches.
Tablature is common for fretted stringed instruments such as the lute, vihuela, or guitar, as well as many free reed aerophones such as the harmonica. Tablature was common during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and is commonly used in notating rock, pop, folk, ragtime, bluegrass, and blues music.