Overview

The six-line grid accepts fret numbers from 0 to 24, and notes can be stacked in a column to form chords. That makes the editor a focused place to record a riff, lesson example or musical idea without installing software. It will not turn a recording or prompt into music: users enter every note themselves, and the maker does not generate notes with AI.

Matching standard notation and sound playback make the result more useful than a fret sequence alone. You can paste a standard six-line ASCII tab to continue editing it, then download ASCII text or MIDI, or print a PDF containing both notation and tablature. The key compatibility gap is Guitar Pro: .gp export is not supported.

Key features

Write and shape guitar parts

Tuning presets cover Standard, Drop D, DADGAD, Open G and Eb Standard, and tempo is adjustable in BPM. Notes can be marked with hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, bends or dead notes; columns support whole, half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth note values. Together, these controls let a player capture common techniques and rhythmic distinctions without moving to a broader arrangement tool.

Continue, play back and export

ASCII import is useful when a part already exists in a plain-text tab and needs further editing. Playback gives a way to hear the written part, while MIDI export can carry it into a DAW or notation program. PDF output combines standard notation and tablature for printing, and ASCII remains an uncomplicated text format. There is no audio recording, so this is for writing down a part rather than capturing a performance.

The maker says the tool runs in the browser and tabs are not uploaded to a server, a practical privacy advantage for users keeping unfinished ideas local. Sharing or publishing is supported, although no particular service integrations are identified.

Pricing

The Free plan costs 0.00 USD per free. It requires no account, uses no credits and adds no watermarks, so there is no seat count or quota to manage. There is no free trial because the product is free to use. This is a strong fit for occasional writers and students who need the core editor and exports without a recurring charge.

The trade-off is capability, not a lower paid tier: the maker does not export Guitar Pro files and does not record audio. If either is central to your workflow, a zero-cost plan does not solve that limitation.

Platforms

Guitar Tab Maker runs on the web and is supported on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It works in modern browsers on computers and phones and needs no installation. That broad browser reach is convenient when switching devices, while the editor remains dependent on a browser rather than a dedicated installed application.

Who it's for

This is best for guitarists who already know a riff, lesson passage or other part and want to notate it, hear it back and export it. The tuning presets, technique markings and notation view serve writers who want more than plain fret numbers, without requiring a larger composition environment. It is not the right choice for someone seeking automatic transcription, audio recording or Guitar Pro compatibility.

Pros and cons

Pros: The editor is free to use without an account, credits or watermarks, making it easy to start and keep a small writing workflow cost-free.
Pros: Tab and standard notation, playback, ASCII import, and ASCII, MIDI and PDF output cover several useful stages from drafting to sharing or printing.
Pros: The browser-based workflow works across desktop and phone platforms without installation, and tabs are not uploaded to a server.
Cons: Every note must be entered by the user, so it will not transcribe a recording or generate a part with AI.
Cons: No Guitar Pro export limits compatibility for players whose collaborators or existing workflow depend on .gp files.
Cons: There is no audio recording, so the editor cannot capture a played performance.

Alternatives

See the Guitar Tab Software directory for a broader comparison. Choose Cesure if AI transcriptions matter: its free plan includes five per month and three saved scores, with unlimited version history. TabMaker is another free option across web and mobile, though its free plan uses local browser storage without cloud backup and may limit ads or features.

Guitar Tabs X is worth considering if you want an Android, iOS, macOS or Windows app; its free plan provides basic functionality, with Pro pricing shown in app stores. Pick Soundslice if scan-based work is more relevant: its free plan includes unlimited slices but limits scans to two pages per month, one page and 32 bars per scan.

Guitar2Tabs is the alternative for demo transcription, allowing unlimited demos of up to 20 seconds each and PDF downloads on its free plan. TablEdit is a paid alternative with a free trial and a lifetime registration option. TuxGuitar is a free guitar tablature editor for Android, Linux, macOS and Windows. Noterix is a web and Windows alternative whose Pro plan adds cloud storage, sync, publishing, sharing and collaborators.

Verdict

Choose Guitar Tab Maker if you already know the guitar part and want to write, hear and export it without paying or installing an app. Its combination of tab, standard notation, playback and several export formats is a useful package for a focused editor. Look elsewhere if you need automated transcription, audio recording or Guitar Pro files.

	FretTab	Guitar Tab Maker
Free plan		Yes
Free trial		No
Paid from		Free
Platforms	Windows, macOS	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
Free plan	No	Yes
Supported platforms	windows, macos	web, windows, macos, linux, ios, android
Notation modes	tablature only	tab and standard
Tab playback		Yes
MIDI support		Yes
Audio recording		No
Sharing or publishing		Yes

FretTab vs Guitar Tab Maker

FretTab

Guitar Tab Maker