The first step to learning to read tablature is understanding the lines on which it is written. The basic layout is six lines. Each of these lines corresponds to a specific string on a guitar. The top line represents the high "E" string and the bottom line represents the low "E" string. In other words, it is set up just like an upside down guitar. It takes a little while to get used to it, but it is a fairly simple concept.
The next step is learning what the numbers on the lines mean. The numbers correspond to the frets of a guitar. The number two refers to the second fret of the guitar, while the number three refers to the third fret of the guitar and so on. If a two is on the highest line, therefore, the correct note to play is located on the second fret of the high "E" string. If a zero is on the bottom line, the correct note is on the low "E" string played open, which means without pushing the string onto any fret.
The third step involves learning how the notes represented in the tablature interact with each other. When notes are placed horizontally from each other, it indicates that they are played at different times. If a sequence is three, two, then four, the notes should be played: three, then two, then four. If numbers are stacked on top of each other, the notes are played at the same time. This is how chords are represented. For example, if a "G" chord was being noted, it would be shown as (3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 3) from top to bottom and stacked vertically. Unfortunately, tablature does not have a system for showing exactly how long a note or chord is played. This is one of the major differences between tablature and traditional notation. To find the right timing, one almost always has to listen to the song that is being attempted.
The final step is just to practice. Tablature may seem a bit confusing at first, but given the proper amount of time and practice, almost anyone can learn it.