I have been working on this song for a while now (like 7 months) and was wondering if somebody could shed some light proper way to play this portion (shown in the attached screenshot). What does it mean in tabs when the are parentheses around a specific note? Thanks in advance!!
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Schism by Tool
- Thread starter LowEndLethe
- Start date
I think it’s just a held (tied) note that slides up to the 10th fret. It’s a couple of years since I last played this so I can’t remember exactly.
Indeed, you just keep the C fretted while you play the G, then you slide both up.
A note in brackets also means optional in some tabs. So you may mute it when you play the G or not.
A note in brackets also means optional in some tabs. So you may mute it when you play the G or not.
Generally it means that it's a held note, so don't pluck it, just let it ring. This notation is sometimes necessary to clarify the timing.
In this case, it tells you that you should play the c on the 4th eighth note, then hold it in until after the fifth eighth note and then slide from c to g.
In this case, it tells you that you should play the c on the 4th eighth note, then hold it in until after the fifth eighth note and then slide from c to g.
I like to use his bass tabs on YouTube as well as he has good songs and a good format. As for the answer to your question, read the post above.
Smooth_bass88
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Tab is so utterly confusing. What does that section sound like on the original recording? Trust your ears first.
I don't know the answer to your question, but I know the pieces fit.
It's for holding the note.
In TAB we communicate by showing a specific fingering on a string, as opposed to the notes on the staff, so it's helpful to denote a held note with the parentheses, otherwise we'd strike the string again.
Especially so with longer held notes (which this song has) since the other symbol for it, the swoopy line gets really long, and the newer TAB writer programs get a little funky with the swoops sometimes if you hold one note while striking another.
In addition, with some of the programs out there (and sites/apps like Songsterr) you've got a player on hand, and it helps with the visual guide. On mobile even more so, since the screen is smaller and the scroll appears faster because of it.
Anyway, long way to say it's to hold that note.
It is of course most important to use your ears first but the tab in question pretty clearly describes what you'd expect it would sound like. The only part that would be confusing is the parentheses for those that are not familiar with tabs. And maybe the slide notation as well if you've never seen that before. Otherwise the timing and notes are all denoted.
