Best Apps and Websites for Making Guitar Tabs in 2025

1. Ultimate Guitar Tabs

Best for: Finding tabs fast and practicing with an enormous community-driven catalog.

Why it stands out: One of the largest tab archives online, plus “Official Tabs” and Pro tools (autoscroll, tuners, chord library, etc.).

Notable features

• Massive tab and chord catalog with ratings to surface accuracy.
• “Official Tabs” prepared by in-house transcribers for reliable arrangements.
• Practice helpers: metronome, tuners, chord progressions, and smart autoscroll.
• Apps for on-the-go learning.

Pricing varies by country and plan; check their subscription page for current details.

Quick start

1. Search a song, filter for Tabs or Pro.
2. Use Space to start/stop, enable autoscroll, and practice along.
3. Save favorites for offline access in the app.

2. Songsterr

Best for: Learning with a clean, focused tab player.

Why it stands out: Intuitive playback controls—tempo, loop, track view/solo—and automatic scrolling with synced audio.

Notable features

• Tempo control without pitch change, plus looping specific bars.
• Track list to focus on guitar/bass/drums individually.
• Mobile apps with cross-platform subscription access.

Paid plan unlocks advanced player features; see Songsterr Plus for the current set.

Quick start

1. Open a tab, press S to adjust speed; L to loop.
2. Use arrow keys to navigate beats/bars and isolate tricky phrases.

3. Guitar Pro

Best for: Detailed composition, multi-track arrangements, and precise notation playback.

Why it stands out: Deep editing, articulations, realistic soundbanks, mySongBook integration, and robust export options.

Notable features

• Write in tab and/or standard notation with extensive techniques (bends, slides, palm mutes, harmonics, etc.).
• Practice tools: looper, metronome, scale and chord libraries, fretboard views.
• Import/export GP files, MusicXML, MIDI; print professional-looking scores.

Perpetual license with optional add-ons; occasional promos are common.

Quick start

1. Create a new score, add tracks (rhythm, lead, bass, drums).
2. Enter notes via keyboard/mouse or a MIDI controller; audition with the Real Sound Engine.
3. Export to PDF or share GP files with collaborators.

4. Chordly

Best for: Fast, visual chord sheets with lyrics, plus lightweight tab creation in a modern, customizable editor.

Why it stands out: Drag-and-drop chords directly onto lyrics, fine-tune layout (fonts, sizes, colors), share or export clean PDFs.

Notable features

• Drag a chord to the exact character it should float over.
• Search or create chords quickly; duplicate/move chords across lines for speed.
• Fully customizable formatting and easy PDF export.
• Real-time collaboration options and AI helpers (where available).

Quick start

1. Paste lyrics, open the chord palette, then drag chords onto the line.
2. Click a chord → pencil icon → adjust size/color to taste.
3. Export to PDF for print-ready charts.

5. Guitar Tab Creator

Best for: Quick tab sketches without installing anything.

Why it stands out: Free, straightforward browser editor with fretboard helpers, custom tunings, and scale tools.

Notable features

• Write tabs directly in the browser; add diagrams and alternate tunings.
• Utilities for scales, chords, and timing.

Quick start

1. Open the editor, set tuning and tempo.
2. Enter notes bar by bar; use the fretboard view as a guide.

6. Soundslice

Best for: Transcribing from recordings and practicing with synced video or audio.

Why it stands out: A web-based editor that aligns your tab/notation to YouTube or MP3s, with granular practice tools.

Notable features

• Syncpoint editor to align barlines to real recordings.
• Import MusicXML or Guitar Pro files; edit anywhere—desktop or mobile.
• Simple sharing via link; plans for learners and teachers.

Free tier available; Plus plan adds advanced practice/transcription features.

Quick start

1. Create a slice, paste a YouTube link or upload audio.
2. Add measures, tap in syncpoints on downbeats, and start looping tough licks.

7. Acousterr

Best for: Writing and sharing straightforward tabs (multiple instruments supported).

Why it stands out: Clean interface, playback to verify ideas, tuners/ear-training tools, and options to publish or monetize approved “premium” tabs.

Quick start

1. Open the tab maker, choose instrument/tuning.
2. Enter notes, then play back to validate timing and fingerings.

8. Gootar

Best for: Minimalists who prefer classic, text-based tabs with basic playback.

Why it stands out: Lightweight generators and players for standard text tabs, plus simple chord/scale tools.

Quick start

1. Open a tab generator, paste or type your tab.
2. Use the built-in player to hear the line and make quick fixes.

9. Flat.io

Best for: Real-time, Google-Docs-style collaboration on tabs/notation.

Why it stands out: Multi-user editing, comments, version history, and a big creative community—plus export/print options.

Notable features

• Invite collaborators with read/write/admin roles; see who’s online and follow edits live.
• Compose offline, connect MIDI devices, and print clean scores.

Free plan available; “Power” plan unlocks advanced capabilities.