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Any freeware to convert tab to bass clef?

How would it know note length? In other words, how would it know if it needed to convert to a whole note, half note, dotted eight note, etc? How would it know when to put rests? There's all kinds of things involved in notation that's not necessarily "notes".

I don't see how it would work at all.
 
How would it know note length? In other words, how would it know if it needed to convert to a whole note, half note, dotted eight note, etc? How would it know when to put rests as opposed to Staccato notes?

It has a note selector bar (including rests, dots, etc). So, for example, say you wanted to insert an A dotted quarter note you would select the quarter note icon and then the dot icon. Then on the Tab Staff you type a 5 on the E string and presto, you get the dotted A quarter note on the bass clef. Afterwards, if you didn't want the Tab Staff to show up on the final print, you can deselect it and end up with a final standard notation sheet. It can be a fairly time consuming process for those new to the program. But, once you get use to the program and learn the keyboard shortcuts it really is quite efficient.
 
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It has a note selector bar (including rests, dots, etc). So, for example, say you wanted to insert an A dotted quarter note you would select the quarter note icon and then the dot icon. Then on the Tab Staff you type a 5 on the E string and presto, you get the dotted A quarter note on the bass clef. Afterwards, if you didn't want the Tab Staff to show up on the final print, you can deselect it and end up with a final standard notation sheet. It can be a fairly time consuming process for those new to the program. But, once you get use to the program and learn the keyboard shortcuts it really is quite efficient.


I'll take your word for it. :D

Seems easier to simply write in notation.
 
A side note about Guitar Pro : it's a great notation tool but it's more than that. It's a composition tool. You can end up with both a PDF tab and sheet beautifully formatted, share an MP3 draft with drums, guitars, keys mixed in, etc. It's easier and more efficient than any DAW for the creation process.
 
Guitar Pro for the win. Not free, but so versatile and well done it’s worth a look (and the cost, IMHO), and there may be a slight discount near the holidays, sign up for their notifications.

Tried Tux, and it is not nearly as smooth or well done... went to GP.

As a longtime Sonar user, I can say that although it does display tab from MIDI, it didn’t come to mind as the answer to your question—but try it out
 
How would it know note length? In other words, how would it know if it needed to convert to a whole note, half note, dotted eight note, etc? How would it know when to put rests? There's all kinds of things involved in notation that's not necessarily "notes".

I don't see how it would work at all.

They do make tab that has all the rhythm notated as well. If you pick up a copy of Bass Player mag (or if you have old copies of Bass Guitar kicking around), they often have a couple song transcriptions in tab with rhythms. It's a decent hybrid between plain ol' tab and traditional notation.
 
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Interesting, I'll check out Guitar Pro. I write free hand on treble clef and whenever the heck I get around to it I move the bass lines to bass clef, sometimes never. In my rattling brain an A is an A, I'll transpose properly if it turns into something that I would share with other musicians. I've always written with pencil on 5 bar out of habit and backfilled the 4 bar in proper octave as an afterthought. My 2nd grade violin teacher would be proud. Don't tell my bass teachers.
 
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