215: Guitar tab - how to create

To write guitar tab in Sibelius, choose Layout > Instruments and Staves (Create > Instruments in versions of Sibelius earlier than Sibelius 3) and add an instrument from the Guitars family, such as Guitar (tab).

Input notes into the tab staff in the same way as you would input notes into any other staff. To change the string a note is on, use the up and down arrow keys. To change the fret of a note:

• In Sibelius 3, 4 and 5: see the Guitar tab input topic in your documentation
• In Sibelius 2: hold down Shift-Option or Shift+Alt and type the required number using the numbers on the main keyboard (not the numeric keypad)
• In Sibelius 1.x: hold Shift and use the up and down arrow keys

Sibelius 2 and later also includes comprehensive support for tab notations such as bends, slides, pull-offs, hammer-ons, vibrato lines, and so on. See Guitar notation in your Sibelius 3 User Guide (or Guitar tab in your Sibelius 2 User Guide) for detailed instructions.

If you haven't yet upgraded to the latest version of Sibelius, click here for details.