The first string at the top is the G string (no, not underwear), followed by the D string, followed by the A string. The last string E is the strongest of all bass strings. These character strings are represented by four horizontal lines. The number below the line is the character of the played note. You will observe frequent occurrences of "O", which indicates that the guitar strings should not be knotted or pressed against the strings. If there is a number above the character number, you must play the note on the character.

If a number appears above the number at the top of the character, you should play the string at the same time, which is like a chord. Most bass guitar tabs carry legends to help players understand some unfamiliar terms. Generally, bass guitar scores are easier to learn than formal guitar scores.