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Topic: Reading tablature |
Jeffrey McFadden
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 29 Mar 2018 1:40 pm |
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Are those of you who read tablature well able to read it in "real time," that is, can you read it at the same rate you would play the song? Can you stick it up on a music stand and play from it as if it were sheet music?
_________________
Well up into mediocrity
I don't play what I'm supposed to.
Home made guitars |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 29 Mar 2018 3:13 pm
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Not a chance, unless I have worked it out ahead of time.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Jeff Garden
From:
Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, USA
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Posted 29 Mar 2018 4:02 pm
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| I agree with Richard. Tablature is a great tool for learning a new tune or difficult section of a tune but ultimately you'll need to learn things by memory without a cheatsheet. Chord charts are very usable in a live band situation but when every note is tabbed out, all you have to do is miss a few notes and if you're not careful you can find yourself hopelessly lost. |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 29 Mar 2018 4:25 pm Tab
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| I have been studying some in depth C6 tab. Been playing E9th for 35 years and very little C6. I have been using the C6 tab. I study the tab then I go onto YouTube and look for rhythm tracks at slow to moderate tempos. I start at slow tempo to faster tempos. I am currently using Paul Franklins new courses. He provides the tempo to play along with him. I use the slower tempos on YouTube until I can keep up with Paul. His Modern Music Masters is a great tool or tutorial. Highly recommend. Works for me. |
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Jeffrey McFadden
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 29 Mar 2018 5:41 pm
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| Jeff Garden wrote: |
| I agree with Richard. Tablature is a great tool for learning a new tune or difficult section of a tune but ultimately you'll need to learn things by memory without a cheatsheet. Chord charts are very usable in a live band situation but when every note is tabbed out, all you have to do is miss a few notes and if you're not careful you can find yourself hopelessly lost. |
Oh,believe me, I understand the "playing by knowing the song" theory. That's how my band works, pretty much exclusively. But I'm learning tab and I wondered how far I should expect to get. These replies are comforting.
_________________
Well up into mediocrity
I don't play what I'm supposed to.
Home made guitars |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 8:29 am
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Jeffrey,
I play off of tab all the time.
There is NO way I could memorize all the different types of music I play. Also, it's nice to have it there if I have a memory lapse!
Also, it has the chords on it for my guitar slinging buddy. 
Erv |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 8:33 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
Jeffrey,
I play off of tab all the time.
There is NO way I could memorize all the different types of music I play. Also, it's nice to have it there if I have a memory lapse!
Also, it has the chords on it for my guitar slinging buddy.
Erv |
You can read tab as the band is playing at full speed?
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 8:36 am
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You've got it.
I can also walk and chew gum at the same time! 
Erv |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 8:51 am
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The problem is that tab often doesn't include the timing of notes. I can read and play standard music notation after I have marked it up with fret numbers and pedal letters. I can't read anything up to speed the first time. Sometimes I can hear it in my head, but it takes a few times through to get it from paper to my hands.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 8:55 am
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b0b,
All my tab contains the musical notation complete with chords and lyrics in addition to the tab.
I am disappointed in a lot of tab for the very thing you mentioned.
Erv
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Dave Little
From:
Atlanta
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 9:35 am
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You could learn to read regular notation. Not that hard. Just sayin.
Dave |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 12:08 pm
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Right. The other problem with tab is that it's so big. Lots of page turning. Add a staff above like Erv does and you only get 3 lines of music per page.
Tab is good for learning to play, before you know the string intervals. But once you've learned the instrument, standard notation with fret number hints is all you really need. Like Dave Little said, it's not that hard. Kids learn it in school.
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 12:45 pm
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b0b,
I use one of those music stands that extends across the front of my guitar. I'm not sure if I got it from Tom Bradshaw or Scotty.
I tab out a lot of my songs using legal sized paper so I can get 4 lines of music per page. |
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Jeffrey McFadden
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 1:21 pm
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I grew up reading music, single note melody, as a flute player. By high school I could read music like I could read a book, just put it in the stand and play the piece whether I'd ever seen it before or not. I grew up in a classical music environment, playing in orchestras, and playing by memory was not a realistic option.
I can read music for my harp, which is up to 3 note chords - harpers / harpists aren't supposed to use the ring finger, although I do. I'm not too good with bass clef because flute ends at middle C. However I can't sight read on the fly like I could as a flautist.
When I picked up the guitar at 21 I never read for that, learning instead by rote and chord position. Today on lap or ultra-simplified psg (2 pedals only, comping / supporting) I can play a 4 hour gig with the band by a combination of memory and ear. I could pretty well read music for lap steel because I had chosen to learn the fretboard by note. With lap steel the different choices aren't as clearly audible as with PSG, it's just a matter of where you can get your desired note most efficiently.
Obviously, the PSG has such wide variability and choice that tab is at least part of what one must have to comprehend the information, so I'm in this interesting new spot trying to learn something I never needed before. I find hearing other people's experience and viewpoint useful.
_________________
Well up into mediocrity
I don't play what I'm supposed to.
Home made guitars |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 2:09 pm
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| b0b wrote: |
| The problem is that tab often doesn't include the timing of notes. I can read and play standard music notation after I have marked it up with fret numbers and pedal letters. |
That's what I do too. Tab does not replace musical notation - all it can do is suggest how to play something you're already familiar with. So Jeffrey, you'll be relieved to learn that no-one's expecting you to sight-read tab as you might sight-read flute music.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Jeffrey McFadden
From:
Missouri, USA
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Posted 30 Mar 2018 3:11 pm
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| Ian Rae wrote: |
| b0b wrote: |
| The problem is that tab often doesn't include the timing of notes. I can read and play standard music notation after I have marked it up with fret numbers and pedal letters. |
That's what I do too. Tab does not replace musical notation - all it can do is suggest how to play something you're already familiar with. So Jeffrey, you'll be relieved to learn that no-one's expecting you to sight-read tab as you might sight-read flute music. |
Exactly. And yes,that was what I wondered. 'Cos if that was the objective I was in *serious* trouble. 
_________________
Well up into mediocrity
I don't play what I'm supposed to.
Home made guitars |
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