Guitar tablature (sometimes referred to as "Tab") generally uses a staff of 6 lines, each line representing a guitar string. Small numbers printed on the lines indicate which fret? should be held down. Guitar tablature has specific advantages over traditional notation: it is often easier to interpret, and it can outline specific fingers than might be ambiguously described with traditional notation. Its instrument-specific nature limits its usefulness for other instruments.
Similar forms of tablature exist for other stringed instruments, such as the Bass guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, and Ukelele?. Generally the only difference for these instruments is in the number of staff lines, which varies according to the number of strings.