what is a tablature?
TAB or tablature is a method of writing down music played on
guitar or bass. Instead of using symbols like in standard musical notation,
TAB uses common characters and numbers in ASCII, making it ideal for
placed as on the internet where everyone has a computer
can connect directly, create a copy of the TAB file, and read it.
What TAB will tell you?
TAB will tell you what notes to play - TAB will
tell you which string to hit and which columns should be in
fret.
TAB will tell you where hammer-ons, pull-offs, Bends, slides,
harmonics and vibrato are used.
TAB will tell you what tuning the piece is. If not given
explicitly, assume normal tuning should also give you information
use of the capo and more.
TAB will give you an indication of the rhythm of the piece - ie
TAB will tell you which are the long notes and which are short.
However TAB will not tell you exactly how long or
note the rapid.
What TAB will not tell?
TAB will (usually) not tell you the length of these notes - so in
many cases you will * have * to listen to the song yourself, with TAB
in front of you to make the rhythm of the notes.
TAB will not tell which finger you use to press notes.
TAB will (usually) not tell you anything about the shuffle and
excerpt - you will have to decide for themselves when to shake up / down
and so on.
TAB notation - Basic
TAB is simple to read and should be easy to write if you want
send (submit) a song that you have done yourself. The idea
is this:
Start with 6 lines (or four for bass). This relates to the strings
of the instrument. The top line is the highest string. and
line underneath the lower strings. Below is a bit
empty of TAB with the string names at the left.
E----------------------------------------------------------------
B----------------------------------------------------------------
G----------------------------------------------------------------
D----------------------------------------------------------------
A----------------------------------------------------------------
E----------------------------------------------------------------
Numbers written on the line for the show on which fret of the string
with his left hand. If a zero appears, this means play the string
is open. Like standard musical notation, you read from left to right to know
order to play the notes. The following sections of the TAB shall have the meanings
played a series of notes (EFF # GG # A) on the bottom E string with
moving up a fret, starting with an open string.
Lots of important information can be included in the TAB. these include the
hammer-ons (o'clock), pulls offs (off), slides (slide), bends, vibrato and
other.
To do is to write extra letters or symbols between notes
to indicate how to play. Below are the characters / symbols
are often used:
h - hammer on
p - pull off
b - bend string up
r - off bend
/ - sliding up
\ - sliding down
v - vibrato
x - rake
That's all I * think * you need to know about reading and writing TAB.
If there's anything important is missing or any of the FAQ that can not be
understand then let me know.
