Internet tablature is limited to the symbols found on the computer keyboard. Therefore some of the more graphic symbols found in published tabs are not available. This is also where individual transcribers will have their own way of doing things. But here are some basic symbols used.
h = hammer-on
p = pull-off
/ = slide up
\ = slide down
s = slide
<5> = harmonic
Hammer-ons
Hammer-ons are represented by an "h" placed between 2 different notes. The 1st note is plucked, then you will "hammer" another finger onto the string at the fret indicated by the 2nd number. The force of your finger "hammering" will cause the next note to sound without picking the string again. Another way that you may see a hammer-on represented in Internet tablature, is this symbol between 2 different notes ^. This is similar to the graphic arc used in published tablature. If the second of the 2 notes is higher, the ^ represents a hammer-on. Sometimes the addition of an h above the ^ symbol helps clarify things.
E:--------------------------------
B:--------------------------------
G:-----------or-------or----------
D:--------------------------h-----
A:-----5h7-------5^7-------5^7----
E:--------------------------------
Pull-offs are represented by a "p" placed between 2 different notes. For a pull-off, you will need to have both fingers placed on the notes before you start. The 1st note is plucked, then the next note is sounded by "pulling off" the finger on the higher fret. You can not just lift up your finger to get the 2nd note to sound. You will need to "pluck" the string with your left hand finger. Pull out away from the guitar, and towards the floor. Like the hammer-on, you may see this symbol between 2 notes ^. The way you can tell pull-off apart from a hammer-on, is that the second note is lower than the first for a pull-off. Sometimes the addition of a "p" above the ^ symbol helps to clarify things.
E:--------------------------------
B:--------------------------------
G:-----------or-------or----------
D:--------------------------p-----
A:-----7p5-------7^5-------7^5----
E:--------------------------------
For a slide, the forward slash (/) is used to indicate an upward slide, and the backward slash (\) is used to represent a downward slide.
E:--------------------
B:--------------------
G:-----5/7-----7\5----
D:--------------------
A:--------------------
E:--------------------
You may see a slide symbol that does not have a note designated as the starting point. In that case, just start your slide from a few frets above or below depending on the direction you are headed. This is more than likely just a decoration or an ornamentation of the note, rather than a transition between 2 notes like above.
E:------------------
B:------------------
G:-----/7--or--\7---
D:------------------
A:------------------
E:------------------
One other symbol commonly used for slides, is an "s".
E:----------------
B:----------------
G:---5s7---7s5----
D:----------------
A:----------------
E:----------------
Natural harmonics are notes that produce a bell like sound when you touch a string over a particular fret bar. The notation that is most commonly used is the fret that you will touch, surrounded by the less than and greater than symbols "<12>".
E:-----------
B:-----------
G:----<12>---
D:-----------
A:-----------
E:-----------
This is taken from Reading Internet Guitar Tablature by Shawn Bradshaw. I just included the tablature symbols that are used on the tabs found here on my site. For the rest of tab symbols click here.
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