๐ Guitar Scribble Help & Instructions
Complete guide to creating guitar tabs with Guitar Scribble
Last Updated:
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๐ Getting Started
Guitar Scribble is a free, fully-functional guitar tab editor that works entirely in your browser. No downloads, no installations, and no rhythm entry required โ just focus on the notes!
What Makes Guitar Scribble Different?
- No Rhythm Required: Unlike other tab editors, you don't need to specify note durations or time signatures
- Visual Cursor: See exactly where you're typing with a highlighted cursor
- Click to Edit: Click anywhere to position your cursor instantly
- Cloud Saves: Save your work and access it from any device
โ๏ธ Basic Editing
Positioning the Cursor
- Click: Click on any position in the tab to place your cursor there
- Arrow Keys: Use โโ to move horizontally, โโ to move between strings
- Home/End: Jump to start/end of current line
Adding Notes
- Type 0-9: Enter fret numbers directly
- Double Digits: For frets 10+, type both digits (e.g., "12")
- Letters: Type letters for special notation (x for muted strings, etc.)
- Bar Lines: Type | to insert a bar line
- Dashes: Type - to add spacing
Deleting & Editing
- Backspace: Delete the character before cursor
- Delete: Remove character at cursor position
- Ctrl+Backspace: Remove entire last column from all strings
๐ก Tip: Click directly where you want to type โ no need to arrow-key your way there!
Managing Tab Lines
- Add Line: Click the โต New Line button in the toolbar to add a new 6-string staff below your current work
- Remove Line: Click the โ Remove Staff button to delete the current staff at cursor location (including all notes, chords, and picking marks on that line)
- Automatic Line Wrap: When you reach approximately 100 characters, a new staff is automatically created to keep your tab readable
๐ก Tuning Tip: New lines automatically inherit the tuning from your first staff line. If you're writing in an alternate tuning, make sure to set it on the first line โ all new lines added after that will match. Your custom tuning is also preserved in PDF, PNG, and .scrb exports.
๐ธ Alternate Tunings
Guitar Scribble supports any tuning you need!
How to Change Tuning
- Click on any tuning letter (e, B, G, D, A, E) on the left side
- Type the new tuning (up to 2 characters)
- Press Enter or click elsewhere to confirm
Popular Alternate Tunings
| Tuning Name |
Strings (High to Low) |
| Standard |
e B G D A E |
| Drop D |
e B G D A D |
| DADGAD |
d A G D A D |
| Open G |
d B G D G D |
| Half-Step Down |
Eb Bb Gb Db Ab Eb |
๐ก Tip: Use sharps (#) or flats (b) for non-standard tunings. Example: D# or Eb
๐ต Adding Symbols
Symbols add expression and technique notation to your tabs.
How to Add Symbols
- Select notes: Click and drag across the notes you want to mark
- Click symbol button: Choose from the toolbar on the left
- Cycle options: Click the button multiple times to cycle through variations
Available Symbols
โข Hammer-on / Pull-off
Creates a curved line (โข) connecting selected notes. Perfect for legato techniques.
Example: 5h7 (hammer from 5th to 7th fret)
/ Slide
Adds a slide symbol (/) or (\) between notes. Select multiple notes to create consecutive slides under one arc.
Cycles: Slide above โ Slide below โ Remove
Multi-note slides: Select 3+ notes (e.g., 5-7-6) to create slides between each pair under one continuous arc.
โคด Bend
Adds bend notation with different intensities.
Cycles: 1/4 bend โ 1/2 bend โ Full bend โ Arrow only โ Remove
โคต Pre-Bend
Indicates a note bent before striking (release bend).
Cycles: Same as regular bend but with inverted arrow
~ Vibrato
Adds vibrato wave (~) above selected notes.
โ Harmonic
Wraps notes in < > brackets to indicate harmonics.
Example: <12> (harmonic at 12th fret)
๐ธ Picking Marks
Add picking direction and fingerpicking notation to your tabs.
How to Add Picking Marks
- Click on the note where you want to add a picking mark
- Click the picking symbol button in the toolbar
- The symbol appears above the note
Important: Picking symbols are added at the current cursor position. To remove a picking symbol, click the symbol's button at the desired cursor position to cycle it on or off.
Available Picking Symbols
| Symbol |
Meaning |
| โ (n) |
Downstroke |
| V |
Upstroke |
| p |
Thumb (pulgar) |
| i |
Index finger |
| m |
Middle finger |
| a |
Ring finger (anular) |
| c |
Pinky (chiquito) |
| T |
Tap |
๐ผ Chord Names
Add chord names above your tab for reference.
How to Add Chords
- Position your cursor at the column where you want the chord
- Click the โช Chord button in the toolbar
- Type your chord name (e.g., Am, G7, Cmaj7, C#m7)
- Press Enter or click "Add Chord"
How to Remove Chords
- Position your cursor at the same column as the chord
- Click the โช Chord button again
- The chord will be removed
๐ก Tip: You can add any text as a chord name - use it for chord names, section markers (Intro, Verse, Chorus), or any annotations you need!
โจ๏ธ Keyboard Shortcuts
Navigation
| Shortcut |
Action |
| โ โ |
Move cursor left/right |
| โ โ |
Move cursor up/down between strings |
Editing
| Shortcut |
Action |
| 0-9 |
Insert fret number |
| | |
Insert bar line |
| - or _ |
Insert dash/spacing |
| Backspace |
Delete previous character |
| Delete |
Delete character at cursor |
| Ctrl+Backspace |
Remove last column from all strings |
Selection & Clipboard
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Shift+โ Shift+โ |
Extend selection horizontally |
| Shift+โ Shift+โ |
Extend selection across strings |
| Ctrl+C |
Copy selected notes |
| Ctrl+X |
Cut selected notes |
| Ctrl+V |
Paste notes at cursor position |
Undo/Redo
| Shortcut |
Action |
| Ctrl+Z |
Undo last action |
| Ctrl+Y |
Redo last undone action |
๐พ Exporting Tabs
Important: Upon PDF/PNG export, lines will appear solid for quality printing and display.
Export to PDF
Creates a high-quality, multi-page PDF perfect for printing or sharing.
- Song title and artist are required and appear at the top of the first page
- All tab lines render as solid, professional lines
- Longer tabs automatically split across multiple 8.5" ร 11" pages (up to 8 staves per page)
- Page numbers appear at the bottom of each page for multi-page exports
- Staves are sized consistently across all pages for a professional look
- Custom tunings are preserved in the export
- Includes "Created by GuitarScribble.com" watermark
- Clean, readable output suitable for performers
Export to PNG
Creates a PNG image of your tab.
- Song title and artist appear at the top
- Tab lines render as solid for clarity
- High resolution (2x scale)
- Custom tunings are preserved in the export
- Includes watermark at bottom right
- Perfect for social media or embedding in websites
- Sharp, clear output ideal for digital sharing
๐ก Tip: The song title is used for the export filename automatically! Exports use solid lines optimized for readability.
Export to .scrb
Creates a Guitar Scribble project file (.scrb) containing your complete tab data.
- Proprietary format exclusive to Guitar Scribble
- Saves all tab content, tuning, symbols, and zoom level
- Perfect for backup or transferring between devices
- Can be imported back into Guitar Scribble anytime
Import .scrb Files
Load a previously exported Guitar Scribble project file.
- Click the ๐ Import .scrb button
- Select a .scrb file from your computer
- The tab will load with all original content and settings
๐ก Tip: Use .scrb files to backup your work locally or share raw project files with other Guitar Scribble users!
โ๏ธ Saving & Loading Tabs
Saving Your Work
- Log in to your account
- Enter a song title and artist name (both required)
- Click the ๐พ Save Tab button (appears when logged in)
- Verify the title and artist in the save dialog
- Click Save
Loading Saved Tabs
- Go to My Tabs page
- Click Load on any saved tab
- Tab opens in the editor with all your work
What Gets Saved
- Song title and artist (required fields)
- All tab content (notes, symbols, chords)
- Tuning customizations
- Picking marks
- Multiple staves
๐ฑ Mobile Usage
Mobile Compatibility
Limited mobile use is possible, but GuitarScribble.com was intended to be best used on a desktop or laptop computer for the best possible experience and reliability.
Mobile-Specific Features
- Tap to position cursor: Tap any position in the tab
- On-screen keyboard: Appears automatically when you tap a position
- Touch selection: Tap and drag to select notes for symbols
- Hamburger menu (โฐ): Access navigation on mobile
๐ก Recommendation: For the best editing experience, use Guitar Scribble on a desktop or laptop computer with a physical keyboard.
๐ Tips & Best Practices
Tab Organization
- Use bar lines (|) to organize your tab into measures
- Add section markers using the chord button (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Solo), or directly type them on the tab lines
- Use the "โต New Line" button to split long tabs into multiple sections
Readability
- Add spacing between sections with dashes or extra bar lines
- Use chord names to show harmony changes
- Add picking marks for complex patterns
Workflow Tips
- Save frequently! Use Ctrl+S... wait, there is no autosave yet โ just click Save Tab often
- Use copy/paste for repeating sections
- Work on small sections at a time
- Export to PDF before sharing for best quality
Performance
- Very long tabs (50+ staves) may slow down the editor
- Split extremely long tabs into multiple files
- Clear your browser cache if the editor feels sluggish
๐ต Chord Diagram Creator
Guitar Scribble includes a free chord diagram creator for building professional chord charts. You can place fingers on a virtual fretboard, create barre chords, hear audio previews, and export diagrams as PNG or SVG.
Building a Chord Diagram
- Place dots: Click any fret position to place a finger dot. Click again to remove it.
- Open and muted strings: Click the area above the nut to toggle a string between open (O) and muted (X).
- Barre chords: Click and drag horizontally across strings at the same fret to create a barre.
- Finger labels: Click any placed dot to cycle through finger numbers (1โ4) and labels (T, R, etc.).
- Starting fret: Use the start fret control to shift the diagram up the neck for higher-position chords.
Smart Chord Detection
As you build a shape, the tool analyzes the sounding notes and suggests possible chord names. Because many voicings have multiple valid names depending on context (for example, Am7 and C6 share the same notes), all reasonable interpretations are shown. Click any suggestion to set it as the chord title.
Detection covers the most common chord types โ triads, 7ths, extended chords, altered dominants, sus chords, and slash chords โ but it may not identify every possible voicing or uncommon spelling.
Chord Lookup
If you know the chord name but need a fingering, type it into the lookup field. The tool covers nearly 400 voicings from basic open chords to complex jazz voicings. Enharmonic equivalents are handled automatically โ searching "Db" will find C# chords and display them with your preferred spelling.
Lookup voicings are presented in a closed-position style and represent one practical way to play the chord, not necessarily the only or best-sounding voicing for every musical situation.
Audio Preview
Click the play button to hear your chord strummed. This is helpful when experimenting with unusual voicings or alternate tunings to confirm the chord sounds as expected.
Alternate Tunings
The chord diagram creator supports Standard, Drop D, Open G, Open D, Open E, DADGAD, and Half Step Down tunings. Chord detection adjusts automatically so suggested names are always accurate to your chosen tuning.
Exporting Diagrams
- PNG: Export as a high-resolution image with transparent or white background. Great for sharing, printing, or pasting into documents. Includes small watermark in FREE accounts.
- SVG: Export as a scalable vector file that stays crisp at any size. Ideal for print materials or professional layouts. Includes small watermark in FREE accounts.
- Embed Embed the chord chart on a website or blog.
๐ธ Guitar Tuner
Guitar Scribble includes a free online guitar tuner that works directly in your browser. Tune with your device's microphone or play reference tones to tune by ear.
Microphone Tuning
Click the microphone button and grant browser permission when prompted. Play a single string and the tuner will detect the pitch, show the closest note, and display how many cents sharp or flat you are. The visual needle and color indicators make it easy to dial in perfect tuning.
Tune by Ear
Click any string label to hear a reference tone. Match your string to the tone by ear. This mode requires no microphone access.
Alternate Tunings
The tuner supports 15+ tunings including Standard, Drop D, Half Step Down, Open G, Open D, DADGAD, and more. Select a tuning from the dropdown and the target notes update automatically.
Multi-Instrument Support
In addition to 6-string guitar, the tuner supports bass guitar and ukulele. Select your instrument to switch between the appropriate string configurations and tunings.
๐ค Account Management
Changing Your Display Name
Go to My Account, edit the Display Name field, and click Save. Display names must be unique and at least 2 characters.
Changing Your Password
On the My Account page, scroll to Change Password. Enter your current password and your new one (min 8 characters, at least one number).
Forgot Your Password?
On the login page, click "Forgot your password?" and enter your email. You'll receive a reset link valid for 1 hour. Check your spam folder if you don't see it.
Email Verification
When you create an account, we send a verification email. Click the link to activate your account. The link is valid for 24 hours. If you didn't receive it, click "Resend verification email" on the login page. Be sure to check your spam/junk folder.
Changing Your Email Address
On the My Account page, scroll to Change Email, enter your new address and confirm with your password. We'll send a verification link to the new address โ click it to confirm the change.
Profile Avatar
Click your avatar on the My Account page to upload a photo (max 5MB, JPG/PNG/GIF/WebP) or choose from our built-in guitar avatars.
Sign In with Google
You can link a Google account for quick sign-in. Click "Sign in with Google" on the login page or connect it from the My Account page. If you already have an account with the same email, the accounts will link automatically.
Subscription Plans
Guitar Scribble is currently free with up to 10 saved tabs. Pro and Premium plans with expanded features are coming soon.
โน๏ธ Version & Support
Version: v1.0.0
Last Updated:
Browser Support: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest versions)
Report Issues
Found a bug or have a feature request? We'd love to hear from you!
- Use the thumbs down button on any response in the tab editor
- Include details about what happened and what browser you're using
Copyright
Guitar Scribble is ยฉ Rob Andrew. All rights reserved.
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