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Why are Notation and Tab always together?!
- Thread starter nonohmic
- Start date
You are the exception rather than the rule. The VAST majority of people who play the kinds of music put to TAB know mostly zero about notation. Guitarists and bassists who can read music aren't "rare", per say. But they aren't NEARLY as common as those who can't.
So, in actuality, I'm surprised they even still include notation in those kinds of books.
For the record, I started on low brass, and can read just fine.
So, in actuality, I'm surprised they even still include notation in those kinds of books.
For the record, I started on low brass, and can read just fine.
In the past, I physically cut out the standard notation and glued it to another sheet of paper. Ordinary white glue will cause the paper to crinkle up. Rubber cement works well.
I finally figured out an easier way to eliminate tab using a flat bed scanner, Adobe Acrobat, and WordPerfect:
1. If the transcription is not already in pdf, I scan the document to pdf. Be careful to scan plumb and level.
2. Using Adobe Acrobat- go to the "Edit" menu and select "take a snap shot" If you failed to scan the document perfectly horizontal, the staff will be skewed across the page and your snap shot will also be a tilted image.
3. Copy each line of standard notation, one by one, and paste it to another document. I paste each line and build the transcription on WordPerfect. Use "reveal codes" to make sure snap shots are pasted in proper sequence. Use a "hard page return" at the bottom of each page as each page gets filled. A "soft page return" seems to let the images get out of order when there is more than one page.
I am sharing what I do- and it works for me. Please be advised that I am technologically an idiot and will likely be unable to provide any assistance beyond these instructions.
I finally figured out an easier way to eliminate tab using a flat bed scanner, Adobe Acrobat, and WordPerfect:
1. If the transcription is not already in pdf, I scan the document to pdf. Be careful to scan plumb and level.
2. Using Adobe Acrobat- go to the "Edit" menu and select "take a snap shot" If you failed to scan the document perfectly horizontal, the staff will be skewed across the page and your snap shot will also be a tilted image.
3. Copy each line of standard notation, one by one, and paste it to another document. I paste each line and build the transcription on WordPerfect. Use "reveal codes" to make sure snap shots are pasted in proper sequence. Use a "hard page return" at the bottom of each page as each page gets filled. A "soft page return" seems to let the images get out of order when there is more than one page.
I am sharing what I do- and it works for me. Please be advised that I am technologically an idiot and will likely be unable to provide any assistance beyond these instructions.
The only reason I can think of to white out the TAB is OCD. I am not competent reading TAB as I rarely see it. But when TAB is presented in addition to notation, I typically just ignore it.
In certain circumstances there is benefit to having both. The notation shows the notes and syncopation, and the tab shows where the notes are played.
Perhaps this should be defined as a first world problem. My recommendation is to stop getting worked up over trivial nonsense.
Meh, back in the early 80's if there was a song I wanted the notation to, I'd usually have to order the piano arrangement score.
Adapt. Overcome. You can do this!
Adapt. Overcome. You can do this!
The real question is why do they include sheet music without all of the annotations? How do you use sheet music without left and right hand fingerings and positions?
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
Why are notation and Tab almost always wrong?
Because I can figure out where to put my hands myself. I don't need to be told.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
You learn to read music. One of my issues with tab is I might not want to play everything in the same position as notated.
Roy Vogt once said that he wanted to put out a book with notation only, and his publisher said that books with tab included outsell books without it 2:1. That's why.
BTW, I have been reading ever since I started playing, and started getting charts for shows a lot over the past 20 years, and not one single sheet of music I ever got was tab.
BTW, I have been reading ever since I started playing, and started getting charts for shows a lot over the past 20 years, and not one single sheet of music I ever got was tab.
I used white gaffer tape, as previously suggested, when it bothered me. It simply doesn't bother me any more. I ignore it.
PS I've never seen a Cuban(salsa) bass book with tab, and Latin music is excellent practice. Check out Oscar Stangoro's book.
PS I've never seen a Cuban(salsa) bass book with tab, and Latin music is excellent practice. Check out Oscar Stangoro's book.
I started out reading by playing classical guitar. Without some knowledge of tablature, where lute music was initially transcribed, it would have been very difficult to know exactly what positions to perform certain phrases in. In fact if you look at classical guitar transcriptions, you will find a lot of "tab-like" side notations to help you ascertain where to place certain notes.
Therefore, I welcome bass transcriptions that show both methods.
Therefore, I welcome bass transcriptions that show both methods.
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Gotta say I really don't mind having the modern standard English translation alongside when I'm reading Chaucer. If you can read tab well enough to figure out where to put your fingers, you can figure out other spots to play the same notes if they make more sense to you. It's not hard. Tab isn't so much for fingering per se as it is for particulars of chord shapes and open strings. This is more useful for guitar than it is most of the time for bass, but it's not just meaningless. Especially handy when you're playing two of the same note in unison, but great in other situations as well. And who's saying it can't have full rhythm notation?
I feel your pain. If you’re trying to learn to read notation having the tab right under is extremely distracting because if that’s what you’re used to it’s so much easier.
I remember wishing for the books I wanted without tabs. It would also make everything more condensed.
I think as you get better at reading music it gets easier to ignore the tab because the notation is giving you more information. Until then, tape is the way to go.
I remember wishing for the books I wanted without tabs. It would also make everything more condensed.
I think as you get better at reading music it gets easier to ignore the tab because the notation is giving you more information. Until then, tape is the way to go.
What if the tab is written for a 5 string bass, but I only have a 4?
Why are there words on my tab? How do I play those?
Why does it put guitar chord shapes on piano music?
Why is there a recipe clipping for tuna noodle casserole in my tab book? Who put that there?
It's just a mystery I guess.
Why are there words on my tab? How do I play those?
Why does it put guitar chord shapes on piano music?
Why is there a recipe clipping for tuna noodle casserole in my tab book? Who put that there?
It's just a mystery I guess.
Do you like to have pictures in cookbooks, or do you prefer them to be sold separately?
When I started playing in the early 80's (violin, then french horn, and finally bass in the late 80's) TABs where not a subject at all. I learned to play notation, and working around chords. this is still my favoured method, making my own lines.
However i have never experienced tabs "getting in my way of reading the notation". i think one explanation for this is that I have also been siinging in a choir for the last 30 years. When you are accustomed to look at 4, 8, or even 12 lines of notes, wit a piano score at the bottom, you get quite good at holding on to the one that's yours. Even if the number of voices vary during a song. A small pencil-mark, or a yellow marker dot at the beginning of each line of music is of course good to have every once in a while.
Here is a cuick snap of a typical choir part. nothing complicated.
However i have never experienced tabs "getting in my way of reading the notation". i think one explanation for this is that I have also been siinging in a choir for the last 30 years. When you are accustomed to look at 4, 8, or even 12 lines of notes, wit a piano score at the bottom, you get quite good at holding on to the one that's yours. Even if the number of voices vary during a song. A small pencil-mark, or a yellow marker dot at the beginning of each line of music is of course good to have every once in a while.Here is a cuick snap of a typical choir part. nothing complicated.
