Help Needed

[bosoxs_77]

Hi

anyone got any advice suggestions on the best way to learn tabs

[frankus]

yeah, take it all with a pinch of salt (especially if it's off the net). Even Wolf Marshall makes mistakes his version of White Cliffs of Dover is waaaay off.

Trust your ears and don't be afraid to pencil in your own corrections.

[wilber]

remember the rhythm of the song in your head, rhythms are very hard to read from tabs

[Trelloskilos]

Most important lesson in learning tabs is to ALSO learn a little standard notation too. (and seriously, it is only just a little. We're not talking sight reading here!)

Here's a list of the info conveyed in standard notation that ISN'T covered by tabs:
Key,
chords,
tempo,
note duration,
rests,
time signature,
volume,
pauses.....

Here's a list of what tabs show that isn't covered by standard notation
Finger positionings,
guitar-related techniques (hammer-ons, pull-offs, taps, palm mutes etc.)....

Here's a list of what your ears do that isn't covered by standard notation or tab
Lets you hear what the music should sound like

Of the three, your ears do the best job of conveying the info. Tabs & standard notation do everything else.

Final point of note (pun not intended) for tabs. They are not a 'place finger here, place finger here' shortcut. (Try learning a Steve Vai piece from tab alone, and you'll see what I mean.) Tabs are great for the proverbial crossing the t's and dotting the i's of a piece of musical notation, and for providing more detail into a song, but the techniques, chord & scale knowledge, and a bit of common sense still need to be applied....

...and like Frankus said, treat a lot of internet tabs with a pinch of salt. some are wildly inaccurate. others make a potentially simple piece into a difficult one because of poor finger positionings.

[sfocata]

Originally Posted by bosoxs_77

anyone got any advice suggestions on the best way to learn tabs

Don't learn the tabs, learn the *music*. Tab is just a recipe card; the music is the food.


adrian

[frankus]

Originally Posted by sfocata

Don't learn the tabs, learn the *music*. Tab is just a recipe card; the music is the food.


adrian

You stopped that online business transcribing tunes for people ?

[Trelloskilos]

Originally Posted by frankus

You stopped that online business transcribing tunes for people ?

From the sound of it, he did, and opened up a cake shop instead.

[sfocata]

That's how I see it, though... the Tab is simply a way of getting the notes into your brain as quickly as possible. Making the music comes a bit later, when your brain has had a chance to process and digest the information. Of course, you can bypass the analytical part of your brain by simply sight-reading the Tab, but it'll sound a bit hesitant for most people (myself included).


adrian