Nobody likes the tedious process of researching. Nevertheless, I have concluded that few guitar players understand guitar tabs, or guitar tablatures. Therefore, I made up my mind to do a research for the last couple of days and through this article, I will write an easy guide to assist you to , at long last, understand guitar tabs.
Before we go deeper into this matter, you have to know what "tablature" means. On Wikipedia, it is defined as: Tablature (or tabulature, or tab for short) is a form of musical notation indicating instrument fingering rather than musical pitches. In English, it means tablature is an easier alternative to musical notes.

The fact that 90% of the people think tablatures are made entirely for guitars is a misunderstanding. In fact, many instruments have tabs. As long as it is a fretted instrument, chances are that instrument also have its own tablatures, take for example the violin and banjo.

Ok, enough definitions and whatnots. All guitar tablatures are made up of 6 lines and every one of your guitar string is represented by these lines. the finest string, which is the High E is the 1st line and the thickest string, which is the Low E is the 6th string.

As you can see, numbers are spread across the lines. What chords or notes to play is dependent on these numbers. If the song requires you to strum the G chord at some point, then the numbers would be located on 3 different lines. A 2 on the 5th line coupled with 3s at the 1st and 6th line. Similarly, you have to pick that note if there is only one number at that specific line at that moment..

Below is an example of a guitar tablature(a random set that comprises NO melody).

G....Am..................Scales

--3--------------------------------------0-1-3----------------
-------1--------------------------0-1-3-----------------------
-------2-----------------------0-2----------------------------
-------2-----------------0-2-3-------------------------ETC-
--2----------------0-2-3--------------------------------------
--3---------0-1-3---------------------------------------------

Based on the example tab given, the first 2 chords to play are G and Am. After that, a C major scale follows. Press on the frets numbered and congratulations, you have learnt how to effectively read guitar tabs!

Guitar tabs act as an easy substitute to musical notes. You can easily play any songs almost instantly if you can read guitar tabs, all you have to do is to remember which fret to be press and you're all set! That being said, musical notes will never be replaced by guitar tabs. Refined, more detailed songs require you to understand musical notes. Therefore, do not stop learning even after you have acquired the skill to read guitar tabs.