Transcribing tab vs notation

[ics1974]

Hello

I want to start transcribing songs by ear. I know how to already do this with tab but should I really be doing this with notation? I have no idea how notation works so I would need to learn it first. I don't plan on reading other artists notations just my own as I am a bedroom bass player.

 

[bholder]

Learning standard notation is a good thing, sure, but if it's only for your own personal use and the tab you already know is sufficient, why learn something new?

 

[Malcolm35]

I take another approach and offer it to you.

• I do not use tab except to see how a run, fill or riff is done. never for a full song.
• I'm still studying standard notation. Yes it is the best way as it is the language music is written in. I can not read and play SN bass quick enough to keep the music from going off and leaving me. However being able to read SN does help, even at my slow pace.
• 
  
• I find the chords and then play notes of the chord. I also use Google to find the chord progression and lyrics for me. Why? I came over from rhythm guitar where fake chord sheet music is passed between the band members. So I still use this method.
• 
  
• To do that on bass I first ask Google to find me some fake chord sheet music on the song using these search words; chords, name of the song. Armed with this I find my root note in the first five frets and then if I want to expand my bass line to other things beside roots I mentally change over to chord scale notes, i.e. R-3-5-7, or R-b3-5-b7. What ever the song is asking for. Roots first, then the 5, then the eight R-5-8-5 is an old go to bass line that finds its way into a lot of my bass line. If I want to call attention to the major or minor sound then the 3 and 7 come into play. If minor it's b3 and b7. If major it's just 3's and 7's.

This is explained in this link. How to get started?

Good luck.

 

[TKenrick]

Hello

I want to start transcribing songs by ear. I know how to already do this with tab but should I really be doing this with notation? I have no idea how notation works so I would need to learn it first. I don't plan on reading other artists notations just my own as I am a bedroom bass player.

As someone who grew up on tab, never used their ears and came to notation and transcription late in the game I'd say notation is the best way to do things - learning to read once you can already play is a tedious process, but even 5-10 minutes here and there can make a world of difference.

The main reasons why I advocate notation over tab are:

1) It forces you to understand rhythm more deeply, which will, in turn, develop your sense of time
2) You have to learn your fretboard, which can only be a good thing
3) It opens up a world of music written for other instruments and allows you to communicate better with musicians who don't play fretted string instruments.

 

[mambo4]

1) It forces you to understand rhythm more deeply, which will, in turn, develop your sense of time

yes, yes a thousand times yes.
In all my decades of playing, nothing has had a more revolutionary impact on my awareness of rhythm than pursuing notation.

 

[IamGroot]

What @TKenrick and @mambo4 said.

If you want to be the best possible MUSICIAN, learn to read notation

Otherwise, you will be locked out of heaven.

And now, back to the Gershwin piano score for "Summertime" in Ab

 

[consectaneus]

Learning to read (still learning) was one of the best things I ever did for myself musically. I've only been at it a few years. It's really not that hard, and actually fun if you are the type that likes a challenge. Start slowly with simple exercises and songs so that you build on little successes. It is really cool when you realize you are playing music off the page. Now I see tab as a convenience that is there if I want it, but I prefer standard notation for so many of the reasons stated previously. I just wanted to encourage you.

 

[Les Fret]

The main reasons why I advocate notation over tab are:

1) It forces you to understand rhythm more deeply, which will, in turn, develop your sense of time
.

I agree that standard notation is better. But tab can be useful if you want to write down something fast just for memorization. Or for somethings that to be played on that exact string and position. You can always write the rhythmic notation above the tab. But if you are not in a hurry standard notation is better.

There is nothing wrong with tab and I am not against it but I just don’t like the word tabs without any rhythmic notation that you find on internet so often.

 

[nnnnnn]

The main reasons why I advocate notation over tab are:

1) It forces you to understand rhythm more deeply, which will, in turn, develop your sense of time

Quality tabs do have the rhythm notated using the same stem conventions as standard notation (except for half notes, which in tab can look like quarter notes -though the better tabs at least space them out a bit).

 

[Malcolm35]

……. There is nothing wrong with tab and I am not against it but I just don’t like the word tabs without any rhythmic notation that you find on internet so often.

Coming over from rhythm guitar I, from the get go, have sung the lyrics under my breath. Why? It keeps me with what the other guys are doing. One beat per lyric syllable seems to do the trick.

Hap-py birth-day to you.

Even Nashville numbers will use SN rhythm stems if you need more.

Not saying which is better, it is just something to consider. Mix and match what works for you.

 

[Lownote38]

What about dynamics? Short, or long notes? Accented? Slurred (legato)? Standard notation is the only way to get across exactly what the composer intended.

 

[SteveCS]

Hello

I want to start transcribing songs by ear. I know how to already do this with tab but should I really be doing this with notation? I have no idea how notation works so I would need to learn it first. I don't plan on reading other artists notations just my own as I am a bedroom bass player.

First up I will reiterate what everyone else has said about the advantages of standard notation over TAB, and I would always encourage anyone to learn to use it, for reading, writing or both.

That said, if there is no expectation of anyone else ever having to read or play from what is written and you can record sufficient information to serve your own purposes in the future, then it really doesn't matter how you write stuff out...

 

[ics1974]

thanks guys. I think I will learn notation

 

[nnnnnn]

What about dynamics? Short, or long notes? Accented? Slurred (legato)? Standard notation is the only way to get across exactly what the composer intended.

All of the things you mentioned can be notated in tab. Note that I'm not arguing against standard notation or saying that tab is better, but it's certainly not true to say that only standard notation can convey those dynamic features.

 

[Les Fret]

That said, if there is no expectation of anyone else ever having to read or play from what is written and you can record sufficient information to serve your own purposes in the future, then it really doesn't matter how you write stuff out...

Good point. I can read standard notation very good on bass and guitar but in my daily practice and playing I play for 90% without any notation or tab at all. I use it mostly to trancribe stuff and notate my own stuff.

Also worth mentioning that for guitar tab was there before standard notation. I mean in renaissance and baroque music tab was common ground.

 

[mambo4]

I typed a beautiful dissertation on why notation is better than tab.
but decided to be helpful instead.

thanks guys. I think I will learn notation

It's fantastic Journey -one I am still slowly undertaking.

Mark J Smith is an excellent teacher.
Sight Reading For Bass Guitar - TalkingBass

His advice : "The simplest way to start reading music is to break it into two parts – rhythm and pitch."
I have found very true

I practice rhythm using Cliff Engle's PDF. The best thing about this approach is no instrument is needed to pratcie. I printed this up and took it to the gym, to practice reading while using a treadmill. Feet make a good metronome.

I also always suggest picking up Latin Music because the 8th syncopation is less daunting than, say, jammerson style 16th note off beats, plus the bulk of the pitches are root / 5 / octave, which also can simplify the challenge.

Many also swear by Ed Frieland's Hal Leonard Complete Bass method series.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

What about dynamics? Short, or long notes? Accented? Slurred (legato)? Standard notation is the only way to get across exactly what the composer intended.

You've been lost.
But, now you are back again.
It's nice to see you back.

 

[Basta-bass]

I agree that standard notation is better. But tab can be useful if you want to write down something fast just for memorization.

As a kid, I learned music in the conservatorio. So standard notation is the norm for me, it's just like reading texts.
It's only recently, that I looked at tabs because they're so easiest to find on internet than the scores sheets!
I can assure you, for me it's way faster to write something I want to remember in notation than in tabs!

That said, if there is no expectation of anyone else ever having to read or play from what is written and you can record sufficient information to serve your own purposes in the future, then it really doesn't matter how you write stuff out...

That one is interesting too!
I used to play in a band with a fantastic singer, which in spite of his great singing, could not read music notation. He had is lyrics written on a folder, and started making annotations concerning beginnings, ends, choruses, breaks, bridges and so on. After a few years, he had developed a personal notation he was the only one to understand. It costed him tons of energy of brainstorming and imagination to re-invent (in a poor way) something that was already invented 500 years ago and polished by millions of musicians since: the music notation!!! I mean if he had spent as much time and efforts to learn to read & write music, he would have had all the information he needed to sing his songs, AND all other songs ever composed!

So, IMHO, music notation is one of the tools a musician uses to do his job. Like a wrench is for a plumber. If you don't have the tool you can always find an alternate way to do the job, it just will be longest, hardest and there's a risk it will not be as well done.
So come on, learn it! Don't be afraid, it's the start that's difficult, after that, it's all bonus!

 

[Lownote38]

All of the things you mentioned can be notated in tab. Note that I'm not arguing against standard notation or saying that tab is better, but it's certainly not true to say that only standard notation can convey those dynamic features.

How about in the most effective way?

 

[Lownote38]

You've been lost.
But, now you are back again.
It's nice to see you back.

Been lurking mostly. I still read a lot of stuff on here