Alternative Tab Systems?

[wulf]

I've recently joined a Soul / R&B band and have been getting my listening skills sharpened up with a lot of song learning (although it's much easier than it used to be thanks to having a computer and a handy little program called Transcribe! to hand).

Once I've got a part worked out, I want to scribble it down for future reference. I'm storing my records electronically so that I don't end up toting round grubby bits of paper or loosing them in my paper filing system. Tab seemed like an ideal way to go - just the thing for a text editor and monospaced font.

However, not only is it awkward to convey the rhythmic feel of the pieces, but it's also not incredibly helpful to the rest of the band to have bass tab.

Are there any systems that combine the computer friendly properties of tab with aspects of standard notation? I'm aware of ABC, but, AFAIK that focuses on single line melodies - no good for chording. I've also played around with an ASCII rendering of standard notation, but it's pretty bulky.

For example, my C major arpeggio came out as:

Bass Clef:
        &n bsp;      -e-

------------------------------------|-
        &n bsp;   e    &nb sp;  e     &nbs p;          |
------------------------------------|-
 4      e          &n bsp;     e  &nb sp;       &nbsp ;|
------------------------------------|-
 4  e              &n bsp;       &nbs p; q      &nbsp ;|
------------------------------------|-
        &n bsp;       &nbs p;                 &n bsp;  |
------------------------------------|-

I know this is the tablature forum but I presume that there are at least a few other people here who are primarily interested in electronic formats for exchanging notation rather than just wanting to see which fret somebody else thinks a given note should be played at (nowt wrong with that but it's not what I'm after).

Wulf

[stroggnoy]

Wow, that's actually a great idea IMO. I had always tried to think of a way to combine the two forms, and I think that's the best way to do it.

[wulf]

The problem is that it's about 40 characters wide and 12 characters high, just to represent one bar of relatively simple music. The same thing in tab is only:

G-+-------5---------|-
D-+---2-5---5-2-----|-
A-+-3-----------3---|-
    1 & 2 &&nbs p;3 & 4 &
    e e e e&nbs p;e e q

-> 22 columns, 5 rows

I know I could print the ASCII standard notation in a smaller font but I'm interested in storing it in text files where there isn't any formatting information... or maybe I'll have to mark it up anyhow.

Wulf

[whozat92]

I always get lost when reading tabliture, SO i created something that has probably already been created before.
but I find that the learning cure is much lower and it even it's radically easier to find the fingering than normal tabs and it feels more natural to read and write it

heres a little riff You can use it if you like it's not very good and it is for guitar, sorry guys.
---5----7--------9----10
(3,9)(4,5,8,10)...(7)....(6)

---5-----7
...(1)....(2)

so the numbers that are not bracketed are the frets to hold down and the numbers that are bracketed represent the sequence, it is to play the frets in the order given in the bracketed numbers

you can do so much with this by making footnotes where as in tabliture you have to scribble all over page
it is also very simple to write these

[projectMalamute]

That example looks like this in Lilypond:

\score{
\new Staff{
\clef bass
c8[ e g c'] e[ g] c4
}}

Exactly 50 characters.

I'm guessing on the rhythmic values, because tab doesn't convey that information.

As a bonus it can be converted in to beautifully formatted notation.

Lilypond is free and open source software that will run on pretty much anything.

[DeanT]

In my opinion, TAB is only really useful when it combines the notes and the TAB–either on separate staffs or as a combined Note-TAB form. This way you get the fingerings and the rhythm together.

[Von Felgenhauer]

My band uses a program called tabit. It works wonderfully

[SteveC]

I store mine as pdf's and use my iPad at gigs. The best thing I have done.

[jeepin_jer1]

I use MusEdit
Check my tabs here: jeepin_jer1's Country Tab Collection

I have tried Sibelius & Finale, too complicated (As I was already somewhat proficient with MusEdit).
There are some glitches with the windows 7 version, but I still prefer to use it.
It does make life easier!

[JTE]

First, all I'm seeing is " " in the first and third posts so I don't see anything.

Second, I'm finding the stuff in the 4th post to be really confusing- Playing is sequential and that has your eyes jumping all over the place to find the next note.

Third, I've looked at a lot of jeepin-jer1's transcriptions, and they're easy to read and have rhythm indications too. Almost as good as reading standard notation.

John

[BassNoob1]

http://tuxguitar.herac.com.ar/

[KenHR]

Originally Posted by BassNoob1

http://tuxguitar.herac.com.ar/

This would be my suggestion, too.

[PopaWoody]

I suggest Guitar Pro. It covers every instrument imaginable, bass clef, treble clef, drum notation. Tab or sheet music views of each bar.

It can also be layered to produce decent midi files for import into soft synth programs like cakewalk or fruity.