Which Do You Prefer?

[aquablue]

Comment on your vote (if you wish).

 

[travatron4000]

both have pitch, only one has rhythm, dynamics, and articulation as well as hundred of years of refinement.

trav

 

[DiG]

tablature if rhythm is written

 

[Tash]

Notation because I can't visualize harmonies and chordal stacking with tab.

 

[Agent000]

Tab because I have a hell of time reading notation. Just need practice I guess.

 

[Selta]

Given both in front of me at the same time: notation.
When I need to find something QUICK: tab.
When I can't find the notation: tab and by ear
When I'm in no hurry and just playing: ear.

Ray

 

[tplyons]

I'll take a lead sheet anytime. More freedom.

BUT out of the two notation is much better IMO, as it provides rhythm, pitch, dynamics, etc.

 

[protoz]

tabs for now because I am slow to read notation. I love powertabs because it shows me both tabs and notation with the dynamics so I can learn notation while making sure I am getting it all right

 

[SilverTurtle]

I voted for notation - because I've read it almost my whole life so it's easy for me, and as others mentioned, it includes everything (dynamics, rhythm, etc.).

Tab is good for grabbing something off the 'net when I'm trying to learn by ear and having a hard time with certain parts.

 

[Marcus Willett]

Tab is good in situations when you need exact fingerings and harmonics to play a piece correctly. "Portrait of Tracy" would be difficult in the extreme to read as notation. However, this is pretty friggin' exceptional and 99% of the time, notation is a far better choice. It also has the benefit of enabling you to communicate with other musicians besides bass/guitar players.

 

[burntgorilla]

I prefer tab, but I'm wanting to change over to notation. Actually getting the stuff without buying books is hard though (and books usually include tablature, which I always end up glancing at).

While notation does have extra details on it, it doesn't tell you where to play notes, which can be tricky at times, though I guess that comes with practise. Also, harmonics are weird with notation, I need to work out how to find their note value. Either that, or Victor Wooten wrote his stuff out wrong.

 

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

Tabs are practically useless to me. Rhythm is as important as pitches and you can't find rhytmic info on tabs. I only use them when I want a "second opinion" on fingerings.