tabs bass ackwards

[helterschecter]

Am I the only one that think tabs would be 1000% easier if the E was on top line instead of bottom. Since my E string is on top on my bass only seems logical that it would be the same on a tab aswell.

[WilliamSandoval]

Negatory.

[Waterpilot]

Nope.

[WilliamSandoval]

That would just be weird. The top string is G, so it's on the top of the tabs. Don't ask me why, but that's how it is.

[helterschecter]

In music the top string would be the g but physically the top string is E. And I thought tabs were for people that didn't read music or that had little understanding of music. To me it would only make sence to make it physically than musically since they are basically telling you physically where to put your fingers. And if you say its because when you look down you see the g on top for some weird reason that would be like if someone asked you to draw a picture of yourself without a mirror and you drew your feet on top because that's the way you seen it...I guess I won't ever get it...lol

[Manndreas]

Tabs is a representation of how the bass neck looks when you're looking down on the bass (E = 1st string). It made total sense to me from the very first day I got my first bass.

I've seen tabs that reverses the strings and I find it awkward as all h***

[skwee]

Originally Posted by helterschecter

In music the top string would be the g but physically the top string is E. And I thought tabs were for people that didn't read music or that had little understanding of music.

Tabs are simply another form of notation. They have been with us for longer than standard music notation, and were common for lutenists. Guitar is actually a relatively new instrument. However, since it does show you a physical way to play, it is easier to pick up than standard.

[Bassamatic]

As previously mentioned - this is how you see the fingerboard while you are holding the bass. Wear the bass, tilt it up and look at the finger board, - this is how tabs look.

[MrGotBass]

^^ That

Plus, imagine listening to music, and there is an ascending or descending line, but on the tabs that was reversed. It would be really hard to wrap your head around.

[musomark]

If you look at the history of tablature - the lute use 2 main systems.

The French system had the strings the same way up as we do but used letters to represent the frets.

The Italian system had the strings the other way up but used numbers.

These 2 systems existing side by side for a couple centuries with many books published in both.

Introduction to reading lute tablature</a>

We now arrived at our current system of using numbers with the highest pitched strings at the top - but it's only a convention!