Tabs with rhythm

taylew · #1 10-10-2007, 06:19 PM

Are there any sites where the tabs have rhythm notation? Most of the tabs I have seen just point the way to the right fret and string but you would have to hear the song beforehand to know anything of its rhythm. Are there any sites that just print off standard musical notation for bass guitar?

**DeanT** · #2 10-10-2007, 08:16 PM

I think you're asking two questions here.

The answer to both would be yes.

There are some TAB sites that offer songs with notation and TAB, but those TABs are few and far between.

There also are sites that let you buy sheet music to download. Check Sheet Music Direct and MusicNotes.com

brake · #3 10-10-2007, 09:16 PM

Tabs with rhythmic notation? What's the point? Suck it up and learn to read a staff.

funkydanbass · #4 10-10-2007, 09:50 PM

Why not just learn how to read?

Grueber · #5 10-11-2007, 01:42 AM

Powertabs have both musical notation and the TAB printed right below it. I assume GuitarPro has the same thing, but I've never used it before.

DrayMiles · #6 10-11-2007, 03:22 AM

Learn to read.

Christ, for all that effort you might as well.

Ramstien · #7 10-11-2007, 04:48 AM

Guitar Pro has both tab and notation. And you should have heard the song before if you're going to learn it.

bassistjo · #8 10-13-2007, 12:39 AM

to answer your question yes there are some tabs I have seen with rythem but it was on a mandolin website it was possible to play the song just by reading it and yes i do know how to read music

Dave Muscato · #9 10-13-2007, 03:21 AM

There is a legal reason that it's hard to find sheet music (or tab with rhythmic notation) for free online - it's a copyright violation. The only reason tab sites are legal is that they do NOT include rhythmic instructions. By law, you can't copyright chord progressions, but you can copyright written music that's readily identifiable as a specific song (which is copyrighted). The minute that rhythmic AND melodic instructions are given together, it's a copyright violation.

So, to answer your question, unless you find an underground (read: illegal) website, you will not find tabs with rhythm online. There are plenty of sites that offer sheet music online, but all the legal sites will charge you for it, unless the song you're looking for is in the public domain.

Asa Samuel · #10 10-13-2007, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

There is a legal reason that it's hard to find sheet music (or tab with rhythmic notation) for free online - it's a copyright violation. The only reason tab sites are legal is that they do NOT include rhythmic instructions. By law, you can't copyright chord progressions, but you can copyright written music that's readily identifiable as a specific song (which is copyrighted). The minute that rhythmic AND melodic instructions are given together, it's a copyright violation.

So, to answer your question, unless you find an underground (read: illegal) website, you will not find tabs with rhythm online. There are plenty of sites that offer sheet music online, but all the legal sites will charge you for it, unless the song you're looking for is in the public domain.

no need for anything else, may aswell close the thread now.

**DeanT** · #11 10-13-2007, 09:27 AM

Don't you just love when people post stuff like: Just learn to read music instead. Very helpful when you're looking for TABs, isn't it?

Also, if you're looking for TABs with rhythm, I've noticed that Score books have them. Take a look at the Beatles Complete Scores, for instance. They have the fret numbers in place of the "dots" on the notes. I realize these are not web sites and aren't free. But they're completely legal.

Audiophage · #12 10-13-2007, 11:17 AM

Most guitar transcription books have the tabs right under the standard notation, so if you can read rhythms but just not notes that would be a good place to start. You really can't get that stuff for free, unless you know someone who owns it already...

Still, it really wouldn't hurt to just learn to read standard notation.

DrayMiles · #13 10-15-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

Don't you just love when people post stuff like: Just learn to read music instead. Very helpful when you're looking for TABs, isn't it?

Maybe we're trying to stop musical illiteracy...

Or possibly inherent laziness.

Reading isn't hard.. After all, nobody's saying "learn to sight read."

That's a different discussion..

**DeanT** · #14 10-15-2007, 06:35 PM

Some people don't have the time or the inclination to learn to read music. So they turn to TABs to help out. Not everyone wants to be a professional musician. Some of us just want to play to have fun.

funkydanbass · #15 10-15-2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

Some people don't have the time or the inclination to learn to read music. So they turn to TABs to help out. Not everyone wants to be a professional musician. Some of us just want to play to have fun.

What a joke. Reading has nothing to do with being a pro. It has to do with understanding music. If you've got the time to pick up an instrument to have fun, you've got time to learn how to read. It'll save you time in the long run, and you might even understand rhythm a little better.

Tab is a very imperfect system and is only helpful when used in conjunction with standard notation to indicate position. It is a lazy man's convenience. Learning music from tab imparts no connection to the music, no deeper understanding.

DrayMiles · #16 10-15-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

Some people don't have the time or the inclination to learn to read music. So they turn to TABs to help out. Not everyone wants to be a professional musician. Some of us just want to play to have fun.

Then read s-l-o-w-l-y...

Grueber · #17 10-15-2007, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

Don't you just love when people post stuff like: Just learn to read music instead. Very helpful when you're looking for TABs, isn't it?

I completely agree with you Dean. I think its just their way of letting people know that they can read standard notation, and that they're very proud of it. Much of the Tablature section is cluttered with posts like:

Quote:

"Learn to read. Christ, for all that effort you might as well."

"Why not just learn how to read?"

"Tabs with rhythmic notation? What's the point? Suck it up and learn to read a staff."

While these post are just full of wisdom

, they rarely answer the OP's question.

**DeanT** · #18 10-16-2007, 07:11 AM

While I'm certainly not against learning to read music, I'm just pointing out that it's not for everyone. I'd love to take the time to learn to read music, but I just don't have it. I have two young children and almost no time to myself. I barely have time to play the bass, usually at 1 am when everyone is asleep through my Cafe Walter. I haven't heard my bass through my Ashdown amp in ages!

There's more than one way to learn to play. Reading music is one, TAB is another. I agree that they are imperfect. And yes they are a shortcut. But they come in handy as a starting point for learning songs.

There's nothing wrong with reading music. And there's nothing wrong with using TABs. It's like Grueber said, it's just a way for people who read music to feel superior to us that don't.

Everyone has their own way of doing things. One may be more efficient than another, but neither is the wrong way. It's just an alternative.

In case you hadn't noticed, this is a "Tablature" section. If you want to bash TABs, take it to the "I Can Read Music" section. Oh, wait, there isn't one. Better yet, if you want to actually help someone out, post a TAB and point out where there are mistakes. Maybe then those of us that are "musically illiterate" will actually learn something.

Then you really can feel superior.

DrayMiles · #19 10-16-2007, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

There's more than one way to learn to play. Reading music is one, TAB is another. I agree that they are imperfect. And yes they are a shortcut. But they come in handy as a starting point for learning songs.

Wouldn't it be easier to use your ear?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

There's nothing wrong with reading music. And there's nothing wrong with using TABs. It's like Grueber said, it's just a way for people who read music to feel superior to us that don't.

I see your point, and understand some people just want to play without professional aspirations. Fair enough..

Still, there are an extreme amount of people who use tab and aspire to being working musicians. Anyone that has been down that road before will feel an obligation to steer people away from tab.

In the end, if you're happy and tab fits your bill, God Bless ya!

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeanT

Then you really can feel superior.

I don't need to feel superior.. I've been working at this for 30 years and playing with enough names to already know that I am superior to most
players...(On electric anyway

) That's not the point. (and forgive me for how that sounds, no pretense intended!)

**DeanT** · #20 10-16-2007, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrayMiles

Wouldn't it be easier to use your ear?

It certainly would be if you had a good ear. Some people just can't get the hang of learning music by ear.

Quote:

Still, there are an extreme amount of people who use tab and aspire to being working musicians. Anyone that has been down that road before will feel an obligation to steer people away from tab.

Well then, that's a different story. if you aspire to be a professional I agree you shouldn't cut corners. The you should learn to read music. Particularly if you aspire to be a session player, you won't get through the studio door if you can't at least read a chart.

Quote:

In the end, if you're happy and tab fits your bill, God Bless ya!

+1 to that.

Quote:

I don't need to feel superior.. I've been working at this for 30 years and playing with enough names to already know that I am superior to most players...(On electric anyway

) That's not the point. (and forgive me for how that sounds, no pretense intended!)

You obviously have the talent to sustain a career for 30 years. That's great. Some people don't have the talent, or opportunity, or inclination, or all three. That doesn't make them less enthusiastic. It's human nature to want to do things the easy way.