Mac,

Quote:

Problem with tab is that it ignores rhythm figures.

This means that you would have to also be able to HEAR a performance of the song, typically through use of a recording, to obtain that necessary information.

For example, if I were to mail you a Tab of a newly written piece with no accompanying recording from which to get and understand WHEN and HOW LONG to play each of the events along the tab timeline, you might not be able to decipher that information.



It depends on the TAB program. I mostly use GuitarPro 4. The TAB notes have stems and values just like standard notation. Also available are all of the musical symbols used in standard notation. Any info about the piece that can be put in standard notation can be used, so it isn’t necessary to hear the piece any more than it would be for std. notation.

By default, it creates stanard notation as you enter your tab, just enter your key signature so the notes are properly shown as sharps or flats. Shucks, you can even turn off the TAB and have just std. notation and print that off to give to your “non-fretted” friends for their instruments. Or turn off the std. notation.

You can also set the number of lines to fit your fretted instrument of choice, (guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, etc.) You can even use custom tunings and it will properly take that into account when it converts these tabbed notes to std, notation and when naming chords. It will also identify the note name of each string at the beginning of the piece if it’s anything other than std. tuning. Capos can also be taken into account.

It also includes chord diagrams above the tab whenever you want so those note stacks don’t look so confusing. And you can enter custom chords and it will give you several suggestions for a correct name for the chord, or you can enter your own.

Even a much simpler program like TablEdit has many of these same features.

Old TAB programs were archaic and limited, but the new ones have all of the features of std. notation with the added benefit of showing exactly which note to play. Because of the nature of fretted instruments, any note can be played in numerous positions on the neck, all in the same octave. The note looks same in std. notation, but TAB tells you exactly which one to use.

If you are using the above programs instead of a printed copy, you also have the option of MIDI playback of the piece and you can import and export MIDI. GP4 will import MIDI from BIAB and enter 5 or 6 different tracks, one for each instrument. Multiple tracks is a feature I forgot to mention.

While I wish my sight reading skills were up to par with yours and most of the others on here, … they aren’t. But with a good TAB program, they don’t have to be.

Bob
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