I'm getting that tab itch. Yanno, where you just look up those damn songs in tab form and go from there. It really would make me feel better for now like I'm getting somewhere. I just got discouraged from my regular scale practicing and note memorizing routine because I read they really are only for 'in the 'shed" and don't help much in jamming.. How about for writing your own stuff though? Anyway, I'm looking for some moral support if you've any to spare. Thanks

Go for it. There's no reason not to look up tabs now and then when you want to learn some tunes. It's good to work on your ear, but not everything has to be ear training.

take it slow or take your time, be really analytical like disect things, and challenge your understanding, you dont want to rush it and keep a good study schedule... repeat things.

I am doing the same thing you are doing by the way haha. I found a song i used to learn off tab, but a standard notation version. So Im going through it measure by measure learning the fret board, what note is what. I look at the staff and measure and look at the notes I say out what notes are what... and other possiblities of fingerings. Its painstaking slow process but its getting easier.

i used to play Saxophone for 5 years and it used a trebal clef for its standard notation and actually could sight read... The fact that i already played for 5 years on sax has helped me with rhythmic part of reading music but i dont know about you... My theory however sucked i just was a computer that you would feed sheet music to and played. But just keep hacking at it! and me too hehe..

My suggestion is find some people to play with. In a band setting you are able to be a lot more creative and expand your musical abilities way more then working with tab.

I'm getting that tab itch. Yanno, where you just look up those damn songs in tab form and go from there. It really would make me feel better for now like I'm getting somewhere. I just got discouraged from my regular scale practicing and note memorizing routine because I read they really are only for 'in the 'shed" and don't help much in jamming.. How about for writing your own stuff though? Anyway, I'm looking for some moral support if you've any to spare. Thanks

it could not be further from the truth when u say that knowing scales and notes dont help with jamming.

unless the definition of jamming is, like it is to most people, wrong.
if by jamming you mean playing songs with a band that are based pretty much on root notes, then sure scales and notes will help a bit, but not much really.

but by jamming if you mean improvising in any context be it jazz, blues, funk, or (JAM?!?), then you NEEEEEEED to know the scales and neeeeeed to know where the notes are on your bass...

tab to me really isnt that bad, sure its not as good as sheet music...but sheet music isnt free, so if you wanna learn a song quickly without sitting down to transcribe it or without going out to buy the music, then go for it.

but dont stop with those scales and notes...dont ever stop with those

You can go look at a tab. Then when you realise how ridiculously bad it is. Or where they have left fills and other little bits. You can then use your ear to fix the tab up and change it to what it should be. I think it's a good place to start out. Since you have a general idea of whats being played given by the tab you can then start the ear training by fixing it. Eventually you will be able to do the whole lot without the tab. It' just a matter of pushing yourself a bit.

On the scale side of things knowing them is very useful for figuring stuff out Once you put a few notes together or a lick you can generally see what scale is being used. This will then narrow down the note choices for you. This generally works for a lot of rock music. Especially since they mostly use minor pentatonic and major scales

Keep practicing. the idea is to absorb so much theory that you don't have to think about it. So when you're jamming and hear a guitarist play E minor, you can play something you hear in your head rather than looking at your neck and picking out the notes that could work.

BTW I HATE TAB!:hiding:

You can go look at a tab. Then when you realise how ridiculously bad it is.

This is very true. I recently joined a new band, and had to learn 45 songs in about 5 weeks. Given that I also have a full-time job and other responsibilities, I printed many of the songs from various tab web sites. Of the 30 or so I printed, 75% of those were flat out wrong, and the rest neglected some fairly key fills, passing notes, transitions, etc. It is truly amazing how bad most of these tabs truly are.

If you love tab, but also want to get into notation so you done feel entirely guilty for looking at tab, you can check out Power Tab Editor.

I think the site is Power Tab Editor (http://www.download.com/Power-Tab-Editor/3000-2133-10502034.html?part=dl-PowerTabE&subj=dl&tag=button)

and you can go HERE (http://www.powertabs.net/) to download some powertabs. I use it when I can't find contemporary songs on finale, some people actually transcribe pretty well but others are just horrible however there are ratings to help you find the best song version.

The program playsback powertab files with notation and tab scrolling along with the music simultaneously. The MIDI files aren't horrible either.

Thanks for the support. I guess I'm too trusting with the guys who write the tabs and I think I'M wrong when I pick it out by ear because what the tab has is completely different... and it sounds better... but is a pain in the ass to play sometimes because it's all over the place.

Also, I'm afraid there are rules in music I don't know about and whenever I improvise or try to pick apart a song I feel like I'm breaking them. But without someone who knows music well right there, then I get away with it. Kinda like thinking you can go through red lights your whole life, until you get pulled over.

What I mean in music anyway is playing notes out of context and jumping keys accidentally. Is this possible?