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Tabs=Bad. & No, This 'Isn't' in the Wrong Category

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by far, music notation is the absolute most complete way of putting musical ideas down in printed form for any instrument, and tab is a joke by comparison.

In college I used to love going using the music lab's computer and music software to practice super complex anticipation syncopation rhythm patterns and after a bit of practice contiuing speeding them up to really challenging speeds. Can you do that with tabs. Also. I've incorporated a lot of the patterns I used to practice on into my solos (instead of just copying someone else's licks over and over).
 
There's a John Paul Jones video on youtube where he's talking about playing. He mentions mixing the songs up and never playing them the same. Tab is a frame. He demonstrates the correct way to play Whole Lotta Love. There isn't a tab, score or play-along that has it correct. He jokes about it.
 
i consider that more a failing of whoever wrote the chart if anything. bowing and phrasing can be easily written out. however, i have left stuff up to interpretation when i've written string charts because i figure they can figure it out. but again, that's not because i can't write bowing notation...it's because i really don't know what's good for bowing since i don't bow.

And usually, by this point, the guy you're giving it to has the taste and experience to apply a suitable method and feel to the chart...
 
I use a combination of "by ear" aided by spending the time to learn music notation basics and in particular scales and their related chord notations.

From the MP3 I get the key center, the chords, the song structure (intros, verses, choruses, bridges, outros), consider the "suggested" play by the MP3's bassist and somehow come out with "mine".
 
I use a combination of "by ear" aided by spending the time to learn music notation basics and in particular scales and their related chord notations.

From the MP3 I get the key center, the chords, the song structure (intros, verses, choruses, bridges, outros), consider the "suggested" play by the MP3's bassist and somehow come out with "mine".:bassist:
 
I like using a mix of tab and proper notation. I think it's also very important to know how to figure things out by ear. When I'm trying to write out something from a recording, I write in notation just because it's the system I know best and am most comfortable with. When I'm learning something new from a book or, say, Bass Player magazine though, I really like that there's also the tablature underneath, so I know where on the fretboard to play.

Absolutely. Saying "all tabs suck" is as moronic as saying "you don't need to sight read to be a rounded musician". BOTH methods have their failings and strengths. But if you are relying on internet tabs to teach you a song, you need more help than others posting "correct" tabs. Listen with the "wrong" tab, correct the mistakes, and resubmit. You will actually learn the song and not just put your fingers where the little numbers tell you to.

Oh, and I have never found a 100% tab that was someones "attempt", but there are many tabs out there that are transpositions of the sheet music and ARE 100% correct. You just have to not be lazy and look at the many different versions of each song on many sites. If you want it right without having to put out the effort to find it, then just buy the damn sheet music and quit whining. Guaranteed you won't find sheets for Howlin Wolf's "Built For Comfort", but you can scan a tab and get the general idea...
 
Saying "all tabs suck" is as moronic as saying "you don't need to sight read to be a rounded musician". You just have to not be lazy and look at the many different versions of each song on many sites. If you want it right without having to put out the effort to find it, then just buy the damn sheet music and quit whining

Tabs ARE bad if you use only them to show up to a gig or to practice without listening to the song first and making notes on dynamics, etc. and checking for accuracy.
Also, why waste your time looking at many different websites at different Tab versions of the song and if you do this without first sitting down and learning the song how would you know which were correct? I admit I don't and never will use tabs because it seems like a wasted step because you do have to see if it's right by listening to the song.
 
I have 20 students, and for those age 16 or younger, learning sight reading skills in standard notation is mandatory. However, when my students want to play something that is far beyond their ability to sight read, TAB is a great tool. It helps them with position and fingering. You can even notate note value using TAB, denoting half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes. etc. It forces them to listen to the song carefully and develop their ear. No, TAB is not nearly as complete as standard notation, but it does help the beginning reader play a more complex piece that would otherwise be well within their ability, develop their ear and boost their confidence, self-esteem, and intuitive knowledge of the fingerboard, and that is the usefulness of TAB.

Extreme viewpoints aren't realistic or practical in this discussion. All forms of written notation are useful, and over time different players develop different needs and preferences. As long as the song gets played well, isn't that the main thing?
 
I have 20 students, and for those age 16 or younger, learning sight reading skills in standard notation is mandatory

However, when my students want to play something that is far beyond their ability to sight read, TAB is a great tool. It helps them with position and fingering.You can even notate note value using TAB, denoting half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes. etc.

Both these statements totally befuddle me and if I had a child taking Bass lessons and he told me this is what his teacher told him I probably would be talking to the teacher.

1st, Explain why is 16 or younger the cutoff date to have to learn to read music? I see no reason for that statement.

2nd, why would reading tabs be the tool to help with hand postition? One of the 1st things a teacher teaching someone to play Bass (after having them learn the notes for each string) is to teach 1st postition and give exercises to practice playing notes on it, then 2nd Position and so on.

3rd) Notation is so much precise and easier to denote time signitures and rhythym patterns. Statement seems reversed to me.
 
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