question on tabs

[Hounddog409]

this might be a dumb question, but its been bothering me for awhile.

why are tabs upside down? I wind up re-writing them before I play them. It makes 100 times more sense to have the E string on top not the bottom, like they are on the bass.

I have a hard time reading "top" string and actually play the "bottom" string.

Who came up with this and why in the hell wasn't it corrected way back when?

Makes no sense to me.

 

[Thuddy Waters]

Looking at tabs is like looking down at your own fretboard while you're playing. The nut is on the left and the E string is at the bottom of your field of view. Just picture the tabs that way.

 

[Hounddog409]

Looking at tabs is like looking down at your own fretboard while you're playing. The nut is on the left and the E string is at the bottom of your field of view. Just picture the tabs that way.

I must be dyslectic.......

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

this might be a dumb question, but its been bothering me for awhile.

why are tabs upside down? I wind up re-writing them before I play them. It makes 100 times more sense to have the E string on top not the bottom, like they are on the bass.

I have a hard time reading "top" string and actually play the "bottom" string.

Who came up with this and why in the hell wasn't it corrected way back when?

Makes no sense to me.

The E string is the bottom string. If you ever study music instead of tabs it makes sense why the low string is on the bottom. Everything comes back to the music and tones, not your position in relation to the floor.

I hope that clarifies it somewhat.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Don't fight it. No point in re-inventing the wheel. I see no point in having to transpose every piece of music you will be using. Accept it as the way it is and move on.

 

[Hounddog409]

The E string is the bottom string. If you ever study music instead of tabs it makes sense why the low string is on the bottom. Everything comes back to the music and tones, not your position in relation to the floor.

I hope that clarifies it somewhat.

I have studied music. With the sax, it makes senses. The higher notes are played with higher keys on the instrument. Notes are "higher" on paper and on the sax.

Might be my issue. Too many years on sax, not enough on bass.

Or maybe the bass is upside down.......

 

[Lobster11]

How would you want tab to be written if you played with your bass in a vertical orientation, like a double bass or electric upright?