Why are Notation and Tab always together?!

[nonohmic]

Why do folks write books and put Notation and Tab above each other? Forcing me to go through with white-out or a marker to delete the tab. Is it to teach people how to read?

Why can't there be separate volumes; one notation only and the other tab only.

Frustrating.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Why do folks write books and put Notation and Tab above each other? Forcing me to go through with white-out or a marker to delete the tab. Is it to teach people how to read?

Why can't there be separate volumes; one notation only and the other tab only.

Frustrating.

No one is forcing you to do anything.

 

[nonohmic]

No one is forcing you to do anything.

What am I supposed to say to that?

I try to initiate a conversation on something, and a Staff Member shoots me down. Sweet.

 

[Gorn]

What am I supposed to say to that?

I try to initiate a conversation on something, and a Staff Member shoots me down. Sweet.

You said you're being forced to white out the tab. No one is forcing you to do that.

 

[SteveCS]

Why do folks write books and put Notation and Tab above each other? Forcing me to go through with white-out or a marker to delete the tab. Is it to teach people how to read?

Why can't there be separate volumes; one notation only and the other tab only.

Frustrating.

I used to think the same way, but over the years, and moreso recently, I've started to put my prejudices aside, for the following reasons.

1: Tablature for stringed instruments has been in use since long before standard notation as we know it;
2: Whilst standard notation does have conventions for indicating string and position, it is a little clumsy, IMO. Compared to TAB, which is wholly unambiguous and has all the information presented in one place, those little italic roman numerals and numbers in circles here, there and everywhere can soon clutter a score;
3: A book or score with TAB alongside standard notation will reach a larger user-base, which means ongoing publication of new material at a reasonable price remains viable.

I much prefer standard notation as I can hear it in my head as I read it, but TAB has a legitimate place for all string players going back to medieval times, and there is little in standard notation that full TAB, as opposed to the simplified TAB we see more commonly, can't represent.

YMMV, but like others have said, if I decided I didn't want TAB and that I wanted to redact it, that would be my decision, not something I did under duress.

 

[buldog5151bass]

1. Because they can sell the same amount of books without having to make up two separate books.
2. Some people use both.
3. It helps people transition from tab to reading music.

 

[beaglesandbass]

What am I supposed to say to that?

I try to initiate a conversation on something, and a Staff Member shoots me down. Sweet.

You said you're being forced to white out the tab. No one is forcing you to do that.

That. I wasn’t “shooting you down”.

 

[Mata Leao]

Do like I do, ignore the notation (or look at it and learn), or in your case, ignore the tabs. It's not that complicated.

 

[nonohmic]

Do like I do, ignore the notation (or look at it and learn), or in your case, ignore the tabs. It's not that complicated.

I find that tough. But perhaps, like everything, it's all down to practice.

 

[nonohmic]

Maybe if I had a Fodera it would be easier.

 

[SunByrne]

Maybe if I had a Fodera it would be easier.

Almost certainly. Get yourself a Fodera and report back!

 

[gln1955]

What's the deal with all that piano music with guitar chords along the top of each line?

 

[nonohmic]

Almost certainly. Get yourself a Fodera and report back!

Just put one on 24 years free interest with sweetwater. Will report back!

 

[DeepFriedBass]

Because they're writing books to make money, and they want to double their target audience. But you knew that.

 

[MVE]

I find that tough. But perhaps, like everything, it's all down to practice.

I’m with you.
I would greatly prefer if it were printed separately, like so many piano pieces have both an “original” and simplified arrangement or novice arrangement in the same sheet music, just at the back.
I have nothing against tab, but it does visually get in my way, take up space and confuse me a bit.

Edit: I didn’t mean to sound like tab is simplified or novice, I was just referring to the way they often put them both together just on separate pages, which is how I would prefer the tab.

 

[WashburnAB95]

Tab is for fingering, notation is for rhythm.

Both are useful, and a good player will be proficient with both.

 

[Koshchei]

Why do folks write books and put Notation and Tab above each other? Forcing me to go through with white-out or a marker to delete the tab. Is it to teach people how to read?

Why can't there be separate volumes; one notation only and the other tab only.

Frustrating.

Tab can be a useful reference for explaining tricky fingerings. Here's an example of an arrangement I did where both are useful.

 

[juggahnaught]

If you can only find music with tab below, then maybe you're buying books in the wrong genre of music.

Consider moving to jazz and classical books. Pop, rock, and country songs will probably always have tab included.

Edit: Also...instead of whiteout or a marker, why not just use white gaffer tape? (I get wanting to remove the unwanted content - like removing subtitles in a second-language video when you're trying to focus on listening practice.) I dunno, seems like you're making things unnecessarily difficult.

 

[nonohmic]

What's the deal with all that piano music with guitar chords along the top of each line?

If you can only find music with tab below, then maybe you're buying books in the wrong genre of music.

Consider moving to jazz and classical books. Pop, rock, and country songs will probably always have tab included.

Edit: Also...instead of whiteout or a marker, why not just use white gaffer tape? (I get wanting to remove the unwanted content - like removing subtitles in a second-language video when you're trying to focus on listening practice.) I dunno, seems like you're making things unnecessarily difficult.

Thanks, these are great suggestions

 

[Max Bogosity]

I hear you. I’m trying to get better at reading standard notation, but my eyes keep drifting back to the tab if it’s there.

I see they make Post-It notes in tape form. Haven’t tried it yet, but it seems like it might be a good solution for hiding the tab without permanently defacing the book.