WHy is so much tab wrong?

[JLY]

Those that use tabs exclusively may have a bad ear
But to say anyone who uses tabs occasionally is not fair
Many times the bass is hurried in the mix and notes can be very hard to distinguish
And in some cases the bass lines and very fast and complex where tabs can assist in nailing down the lines
Nothing wrong with a little help!

Just my opinion

 

[lilcrate]

You haven't seen much TAB have you?

I swore it off. Its actually faster to figure something by ear then it is to try to repair some of the abortions that are out there.

If you are in a real hurry, surf YT for a lesson or a bass "playalong". The content is building

Well I have seen some, but like I said I'm still a newb. What would that have to do with my post?

My point was, you are saying your ear is better than their (and implied by you, their would mean A LOT of people, considering tabs are created by many different people) ear.

 

[elgecko]

Well I have seen some, but like I said I'm still a newb. What would that have to do with my post?

My point was, you are saying your ear is better than their (and implied by you, their would mean A LOT of people, considering tabs are created by many different people) ear.

When you develop your ear and gain more experience, it becomes painfully obvious when something is just plain wrong.

 

[brianrost]

You get what you pay for

 

[avvie]

Those that use tabs exclusively may have a bad ear
But to say anyone who uses tabs occasionally is not fair
Many times the bass is hurried in the mix and notes can be very hard to distinguish
And in some cases the bass lines and very fast and complex where tabs can assist in nailing down the lines
Nothing wrong with a little help!

Just my opinion

Most tikes you don't need note-for-note. If its an impotant riff, you will hear it..otherwise pick up the chord structure and extrapolate. If you can't hear the notes neither can anyone else.

 

[lilcrate]

When you develop your ear and gain more experience, it becomes painfully obvious when something is just plain wrong.

Hmm, so I guess what is being said here is people that have under-developed ears contribute tablature, and people with well-developed ears sit back and criticize instead of contributing.

 

[elgecko]

Hmm, so I guess what is being said here is people that have under-developed ears contribute tablature, and people with well-developed ears sit back and criticize instead of contributing.

People with well developed ears typically don't need tab.

 

[lilcrate]

People with well developed ears typically don't need tab.

Right, so they choose not to contribute and help people that do is what you are saying.

 

[lowfreq33]

Right, so they choose not to contribute and help people that do is what you are saying.

Why is it their job to help people who are too lazy to put the work in themselves?

 

[elgecko]

Right, so they choose not to contribute and help people that do is what you are saying.

Correct, they have no obligation to help people that do either.

 

[lilcrate]

Why is it their job to help people who are too lazy to put the work in themselves?

Correct, they have no obligation to help people that do either.

I never said it was their job or obligation. I'm just trying to understand what is being said here. I like to help others even when I'm not obligated, but that is just my personality.

I would imagine many of the people who don't need them anymore, at one time used them when they were starting out, but that is just an assumption. If they never used them and don't use them now, how would they know they are off?

What I do think is wrong is to criticize them but not help make them right. That is just my opinion.

 

[Chainsaw Willie]

people who are qualified to transcribe things correctly are too busy teaching and performing to post things on the internet for free.

Best answer I have seen on this subject ever.

 

[elgecko]

...I would imagine many of the people who don't need them anymore, at one time used them when they were starting out, but that is just an assumption...

An incorrect one at that.

...If they never used them and don't use them now, how would they know they are off?...

Because reading tab in not rocket science. With experience and a developed ear, it's obvious when one isn't right.

...What I do think is wrong is to criticize them but not help make them right. That is just my opinion.

If one were so inclined to help, they probably wouldn't do it via tab.

 

[lilcrate]

An incorrect one at that.

Possibly. Most guitar/bass players I know have used it at some point, but that is just people I know.

Because reading tab in not rocket science. With experience and a developed ear, it's obvious when one isn't right.

You are missing the point here. How would it be obvious it is off if they aren't looking at it? For them to judge it, they must have seen/attempted to use it.

If one we so inclined to help, they probably wouldn't do it via tab.

I guess this is what is happening, or maybe not helping at all.

 

[Shardik]

Interesting thread. I guess bassists are less community oriented than computer scientists...

 

[Handyman]

You get what you pay for. Complaining that transcriptions from a free website has error is like complaining that Harry Potter fan fiction has grammatical errors.

High quality transcriptions can be had, but not for free.

 

[Flashback Bass]

The thing that made me chuckle was I was looking up the chords for a song that somebody in the band suggested. I only found one site that even had them posted. In playing along, I found they had one chord totally wrong. I then went to YouTube to see if I could find anybody playing the song. I found like three videos and they all played the wrong chord that was on the chord site!

 

[SturmUndDrang]

I'd like to think my ear is decent and I enjoy sharing my work with others. I prefer writing in notation (handwritten as well) but if someone asks for tab I'll do that too.
My reasons are that I'm proud of my work, it makes me happy to think someone out there is getting enjoyment from playing a line I transcribed that they otherwise would have never figure out and I hope to get constructive feedback on my work. I transcribe when I have the time and feel in the mood for it. Not getting monetary compensation means there is no pressure. I was doing more transcribing before I started getting more gigs too.

 

[phoenixjmw]

yeah, but the thing is Im not talking about licks that are tabbed out that are a little off from the original...

I am finding things are are not even in the correct key for the song.... and no, there is not another version of that song in other keys out there..

Yeah this boggles my mind too. I can understand tabs being off as no one is really perfect and there are a lot of notes in a song. However the wrong key? How does that happen? Especially when there is only one version of the song? How do you not know its the wrong key?

I may have found an answer in jamming with a buddy not long ago. He is horible at getting the right key and even worse at keeping any timing. He doesn't sound bad though if he is just jamming an accoustic alone, no one notices it isnt right. But if he plays with other people the error comes out. Here is the thing though, he never listens to the song he is playing. If it sounds right he plays it but never listens to the original version.

My guess is somebody will play a song to themselves and think it is right and then post the tab. The step of checking their work just doesn't happen.

 

[avvie]

You are missing the point here. How would it be obvious it is off if they aren't looking at it? For them to judge it, they must have seen/attempted to use it.

Easy: play in a band or jam where someone in there learned via tabs. They stick out like a sore thumb.

Tabs are like paint-by-numbers kits...when the project is finished and suitable for framing, the painter still doesn't know how to paint.