High areal density tape format and head

A magnetic recording tape according to one embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an average height of the bars is less than about 50 microns, wherein about eight to about twenty six data bands are present on the tape. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an angle between at least some of the bars is greater than about 10 degrees, wherein an average height of the bars is less than about 50 microns. A magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes at least about eight data bands, the data bands being defined between servo tracks, wherein about eight to about twenty six data bands are present on the tape.