Why don't musicians post their own tabs?

[THE SAW]

Ok, good question.

I've got about 100 songs of bass parts written out (not tabs) that I've done through the years. Most of them took me hours to listen to, then transcribe. While I'm always happy to see other's transcriptions, I often favor my own, as perceptions of what was played often differ, however minor.

I've always wondered why there isn't a market for actual bass parts, painstakingly taken from the original recordings. BTW, not to belittle ANYONE, I'm not a big fan of tablature. Everyone can learn to read, and while a great ear is not possible for everyone, we can all always be better.

Best,
S.A.W.

[Sigying]

I actually have a really great bass teacher, he's really good at picking up the bass in songs.

I'm the one having the problem picking it up exact bass lines because I can't use good headphones that allow you to hear the bass really well at the moment, because I had surgery and can't use big, expensive headphones til it's completely healed.
I am competent enough to hear the bass, I just find that reading tabs helps me pick up easier since I've been playing less than a year. I'm still learning so I do still have trouble with pin pointing exact notes and intervals in songs.

[Sigying]

Wait, just found a way to boost the bass on my computer and ipod without needing special headphones.

But I'd still like to learn how to pick it up by myself. Does anyone have any good ear training techniques?

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by THE SAW

I've always wondered why there isn't a market for actual bass parts, painstakingly taken from the original recordings.

Jammit is doing this today.

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by Sigying

Wait, just found a way to boost the bass on my computer and ipod without needing special headphones.

But I'd still like to learn how to pick it up by myself. Does anyone have any good ear training techniques?

The best ear training technique - is simply to put the work in transcribing yourself. It's hard in the beginning, but it gets easier over time. It's a very important part of growing on the bass.

[Sigying]

Jammit seems really good.

Do you recommend any songs to try transcribing?

[Jhengsman]

Originally Posted by Sigying

Why don't musicians post their own tabs? It's friggin annoying, you never find the right one but instead you find 50,000 wrong tabs and in the end playing a complete different song.

Because the owner makes money by publishing and selling the charts. It is not in tab because tab is not standard and a piano player won't buy it

[Thecomedian]

Originally Posted by Sigying

Wait, just found a way to boost the bass on my computer and ipod without needing special headphones.

But I'd still like to learn how to pick it up by myself. Does anyone have any good ear training techniques?

listening to different music in movies, radio, games, etc. and then trying to find that note on your frets (or open string) by ear? Then you should be able to gauge the hand movement distance to get to the next note.


You could use this to become even better, and your playing will get better too. I learned the rhythm for "caveman"s main music piece, which wasn't too hard. Start with simple things like that, where chords are absent due to being pieces of music from single note instruments, like bass guitar, flute, sax, horn, etc.

You obviously want it to go like this -> simpler notes, longer notes, slower tempo songs.

That's the most effective way for me personally to train my ear.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqpygx9BRYE spit to 2:30 if you just wanna see how they use the blind guy and fire to fill in the music. :P

[guitardefector]

Originally Posted by jeffbonny

Because most musicians don't use tab.

+1. And most pros don't even remember what exact notes they played on that session when they play it on tour and ten to fifteen years elapse.

[oniman7]

Symphony X posts theirs, although I think they're fan made and approved by the band.

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by guitardefector

+1. And most pros don't even remember what exact notes they played on that session when they play it on tour and ten to fifteen years elapse.

Amen to that. Amazing how you think you're playing something perfectly until you go back and hear the original after a long time. Seems like songs sneak around and evolve on their own, right under yer fingers, lol.

[viper4000]

Originally Posted by Russell L

Amen to that. Amazing how you think you're playing something perfectly until you go back and hear the original after a long time. Seems like songs sneak around and evolve on their own, right under yer fingers, lol.

This is my #1 issue with cover bands that say every note of every song must be played like the original. My response is always: Which original version? The one they played for 3 years before the album was released? The one where they over produced it on the album? The version they play now that they have played the song for 20 years and have a 17 person band backing them up on the reunion tour?

The tabs online just exacerbate this problem.

[guitardefector]

Originally Posted by Russell L

Amen to that. Amazing how you think you're playing something perfectly until you go back and hear the original after a long time. Seems like songs sneak around and evolve on their own, right under yer fingers, lol.

Very true. Original bass lines are a good "intellectual exercise" and help you develop great listening skills, but basing your performance on them sets you back. I mean, can you imagine the group leader stopping the drummer in the middle of a show and saying, "Dude, that's not the original drum roll or high hat sequence that we originally recorded."

[Clef_de_fa]

It depends on the style of music ... in jazz I know it will always be different but in metal and classical ... what you hear on the disc is what you will hear during the show.

Just listen to Dream Theater on a disc and it will be exacly the same thing live. So they obviously write their stuff down, it would be impossible to remember all those song with complex line and play them exacly without a way to remember them.

[MrLenny1]

You need to develop big ears.
Tascam Bass trainer MP3 is a wonderful tool.

[guitardefector]

Originally Posted by Clef_de_fa

It depends on the style of music ... in jazz I know it will always be different but in metal and classical ... what you hear on the disc is what you will hear during the show.

Just listen to Dream Theater on a disc and it will be exacly the same thing live. So they obviously write their stuff down, it would be impossible to remember all those song with complex line and play them exacly without a way to remember them.

No reflection on Dream Theater but I've always held fast to the idea that if you're going to hear the "exact, same, identical, note-for-note" thing on stage, you might as well save your money, stay home and just spin the original studio recording. You'll also have a comfortable seat. Your opinion may vary?

[Clef_de_fa]

Originally Posted by guitardefector

No reflection on Dream Theater but I've always held fast to the idea that if you're going to hear the "exact, same, identical, note-for-note" thing on stage, you might as well save your money, stay home and just spin the original studio recording. You'll also have a comfortable seat. Your opinion may vary?

I understand that, I only saw them once during their tour for Systematic Chaos.

For me it is a feat they can play the exact same thing live with their complex harmony where you can't put the wrong note otherwise you destroy the harmony...

Sometime when the bass line or any other part of the song isn't the same live... or they always play it differently, it sometimes comes of as ... "what we recorded isn't important at all ..." it could be any bass line it doesn't matter as long as you follow the right chords ... so why botter recording it ???

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by jeffbonny

Because most musicians don't use tab.

Bingo.