F> Ultimate Tab Lesson (Ver. 1.4)
R> ___________________________________________________________________________
.>
T> Below is what a proper 'basic' tab should look like. This is
A> the opening 3 measures of my post ('Da Tickler') of the
B> complete "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.
N>
A> RH 5|G---G---G---G---|F---F---F---F---|e---e---e---e---|
B> RH 5|e---e---e---e---|D---D---D---D---|C---C---C---C---|
B> RH 4|--b---b---b---b-|--b---b---b---b-|--G---G---G---G-|
E> LH 3|----------------|----------C-D-C-|----------D-e---|
R> LH 2|e---------F-G-b-|----------------|--------------a-|
.>
C> The previous tab example is what a proper 'basic' tab should look
O> like. A complete tab should include the timing, lyrics & chords as
M> shown below in an excerpt from my posting of Kiki Dee's hit 'I've
-> Got The Music In Me' (Written by Tobias Boshell). The 'GREATER THAN'
F> symbol is used to indicate a particular note's length of sustain.
R>
.> 4/4
T> I've got the… I've got the… I've got the…
A> G C Bb A
B>
N> R5|----------------|----------------|--------d>c>----|
A> R4|----gg>gg>fg>>g>|----gg>gg>fg>>g>|----gg>g----A>g>|
B> R4|----------------|e>>>------------|f>>>------------|
B> R4|d>>>------------|c>>>------------|d>>>------------|
E> R3|b>>>------------|----------------|----------------|
R> L3|g>>>g>>>g>g>g>g>|c>>>c>>>c>c>c>c>|A>>>A>>>A>A>a>a>|
.> L2|g>>>g>>>g>g>g>g>|c>>>c>>>c>c>c>c>|A>>>A>>>A>A>a>a>|
C>
O> NOTES:
M> ___________________________________________________________________________
->
F> Referring to the left-hand side of both tabs, above, for notes 1 & 2 -
R>
.> 1. 'RH' = Right Hand & 'LH' = Left Hand (Some prefer simply 'R' or
T> 'L' right/left hand designation which is actually more economic,
A> but just make sure you use one or the other for clarity.
B>
N> 2. '5' = 5th octave, '4' = 4th octave, '3', '2', etc., where octaves
A> are referenced to 88-key piano/keyboard from 'C' to 'C' where
B> MIDDLE 'C', or 'c4', is the beginning of the 4th octave.
B>
E> Remaining notes refer to both aforementioned tabs in general -
R>
.> 3. lower case letters = natural notes (a,b,c,d,e,f,g) & UPPER CASE
C> LETTERS = sharps (C,D,F,G,A). Since only sharps are used in
O> keyboard/piano tablature, Eb is represented by a D#, or 'D', Ab
M> is represented by a G#, or 'G', etc. There is no B# ('B'), nor E#
-> ('E'), since there are no sharps between B & C, nor between E & F.
F>
R> *** Below is a complete listing of all piano tablature notes for the entire
.> 88-key piano keyboard. The piano tablature notation is shown with the
T> corresponding classical sheet music notation directly below each note.
A>
B> PIANO TAB LEGEND: Above the lines - Upper note names are BLACK keys
N> ----------------- (Sharps); Lower note names are WHITE keys (Naturals).
A>
B> Within the lines - Actual Piano Tab Notes
B> (UPPER case = Sharps & lower case = Naturals).
E>
R> The 1st line starts at the lower end (left-hand side) of the keyboard.
.> The following lines go up the keyboard towards the right-hand side.
C>
O> PIANO TAB (a0-b1) -
M>
-> A#0 C#1 D#1 F#1 G#1 A#1
F> A0 B0 C1 D1 E1 F1 G1 A1 B1
R> 2|---------------------------------------------|
.> 1|---------c--C--d--D--e--f--F--g--G--a--A--b--|
T> 0|a--A--b--------------------------------------|
A>
B> CLASSICAL SHEET NOTATION - BASS CLEF (A0-B1)
N>
A> |---------------------------------------------|
B> |---------------------------------------------|
B> |---------------------------------------------|
E> |---------------------------------------------|
R> |---------------------------------------------|
.> ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- -----
C> ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- -----
O> o
M> ------------------------------------o--o#----
-> o o#
F> ------------------------o--o#--
R> o
.> ---------------o--o#--
T> o o#
A> ------o---
B> o o#
N>
A>
B> PIANO TAB (c2-b3) -
B>
E> C#2 D#2 F#2 G#2 A#2 C#3 D#3 F#3 G#3 A#3
R> C2 D2 E2 F2 G2 A2 B2 C3 D3 E3 F3 G3 A3 B3
.> 4|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
C> 3|------------------------------------c--C--d--D--e--f--F--g--G--a--A--b--|
O> 2|c--C--d--D--e--f--F--g--G--a--A--b--------------------------------------|
M> 1|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
->
F> CLASSICAL SHEET NOTATION - BASS CLEF (C2-B3)
R> o
.> |---------------------------------------------------------------o--o#----|
T> | o o#
A> |---------------------------------------------------o--o#----------------|
B> | o
N> |------------------------------------------o--o#-------------------------|
A> | o o#
B> |---------------------------------o--------------------------------------|
B> | o o#
E> |---------------------o--o#----------------------------------------------|
R> o o#
.> -------------o---
C> o o#
O> -o--o#--
M>
->
F> PIANO TAB (c4-b5) -
R>
.> C#4 D#4 F#4 G#4 A#4 C#5 D#5 F#5 G#5 A#5
T> C4 D4 E4 F4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F5 G5 A5 B5
A> 6|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B> 5|------------------------------------c--C--d--D--e--f--F--g--G--a--A--b--|
N> 4|c--C--d--D--e--f--F--g--G--a--A--b--------------------------------------|
A> 3|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B>
B> CLASSICAL SHEET NOTATION - TREBLE CLEF (C4-B5)
E> o
R> ---o--o#--
.> o o#
C> |---------------------------------------------------o--o#----------------|
O> | o
M> |------------------------------------------o--o#-------------------------|
-> | o o#
F> |---------------------------------o--------------------------------------|
R> | o o#
.> |---------------------o--o#----------------------------------------------|
T> | o o#
A> |------------o-----------------------------------------------------------|
B> o o#
N> -o--o#--
A>
B>
B> PIANO TAB (c6-c8) -
E>
R> C#6 D#6 F#6 G#6 A#6 C#7 D#7 F#7 G#7 A#7
.> C6 D6 E6 F6 G6 A6 B6 C7 D7 E7 F7 G7 A7 B7 C8
C> 8|----------------------------------------------------------------------c-|
O> 7|------------------------------------c--C--d--D--e--f--F--g--G--a-A-b----|
M> 6|c--C--d--D--e--f--F--g--G--a--A--b--------------------------------------|
-> 5|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
F>
R> CLASSICAL SHEET NOTATION - TREBLE CLEF (C6-C8) ----o--
.> o
T> ---o-o#--
A> o o#
B> ---o--o#-- ---- ---
N> o
A> ---o--o#-- ---- ---- ---
B> o o#
B> ---o--- ---- ---- ---- ---
E> o o#
R> ---o--o#-- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
.> o o#
C> ---o--- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
O> o o#
M> -o--o#-- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
-> --- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
F> |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
R> |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
.> |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
T> |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A> |------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B>
N>
A> 4. TIMING - Typical musical time signatures are as follows:
B>
B> 4/4 (Common Time) - 4 Quarter Notes (1/4) per measure;
E> 3/4 - 3 Quarter Notes (1/4) per measure;
R> 2/4 - 2 Quarter Notes (1/4) per measure;
.> 7/4 - 7 Quarter Notes (1/4) per measure (Pink Floyd's 'Money');
C> 6/8 - 6 Eighth Notes (1/8) per measure;
O> 12/8 - 12 Eighth Notes (1/8) per measure.
M>
-> Each line of the 'staff' for these two tab excerpts is made up of 3
F> measures of 16 increments (inc's.) each (1/16 notes) for proper timing
R> since 1/16 notes are the smallest notes in these songs, and both their
.> time signatures are 4/4. If there are 1/32 notes to be played, you would
T> use 32 increments per measure. So, to make a long story short, what
A> determines how many increments per measure are the shortest note in the
B> song (1/32 = 32 inc's., 1/16 = 16 inc's., 1/8 = 8 inc's., etc.), and the
N> time signature. For example, note in the tabs above (both in 4/4 TIME)
A> how there are 16 inc./meas., so 1/8 notes take up 2 increments (2/16 =
B> 1/8), 1/4 notes take up 4 inc's. (4/16 = 1/4), etc. Typically, if 1/16
B> notes are the shortest notes in the entire song, 4/4 TIME requires a
E> minimum of 16 inc's./meas., 2/4 TIME requires 8 inc's./meas., 3/4 TIME
R> requires 12 inc's./meas., 6/8 TIME requires 12 inc's./meas., & 7/4 TIME
.> requires 28 inc's./meas., etc., etc.
C>
O> To mathematically determine the minimum # of increments
M> required per measure for a given time signature:
->
F> # inc's./meas. = Time Signature / Shortest Note in entire song.
R>
.> Ex. #4a: 3/4 Time with 1/8 note shortest note in entire song.
T>
A> (3/4) / (1/8) = 6 inc's./meas.
B>
N> Ex. #4b: 2/4 Time with 1/16 note shortest note in entire song.
A>
B> (2/4) / (1/16) = 8 inc's./meas.
B>
E> Ex. #4c: 12/8 Time with 1/32 note shortest note in entire song.
R>
.> (12/8) / (1/32) = 48 inc's./meas.
C>
O> Now, to mathematically determine the # of increments required
M> per note for a given # of inc's./meas. & time signature:
->
F> # inc's./note = [(# inc's./meas) * Note Length] / (Time Signature).
R>
.> Ex. #4d: 1/4 Note with 12 inc's./meas. in 3/4 Time Signature.
T>
A> [(12) * (1/4)] / (3/4) = 4 inc's./(1/4 note).
B>
N> Ex. #4e: 1/2 Note with 24 inc's./meas. in 6/8 Time Signature.
A>
B> [(24) * (1/2)] / (6/8) = 16 inc's./(1/2 note).
B>
E> Ex. #4f: 3/8 Note with 16 inc's./meas. in 4/4 Time Signature.
R>
.> [(16) * (3/8)] / (4/4) = 6 inc's./(3/8 note).
C>
O> Further examples showing required # of sustain ('>') symbols:
M>
-> Ex. #4g: 3/4 TIME - 4 Measures with 12 inc's./meas.
F> (1/16 note = shortest note)
R>
.> 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
T> R4|------------|------------|------------|------------|
A>
B> For this configuration typical note lengths are
N> notated as follows (using Middle 'c' as the note):
A>
B> 1/16 -|c-----------|- 1 inc. - 1 note & 0 '>'
B> 1/8 -|c>----------|- 2 inc. - 1 note & 1 '>'
E> 3/16 -|c>>---------|- 3 inc. - 1 note & 2 '>'
R> 1/4 -|c>>>--------|- 4 inc. - 1 note & 3 '>'
.> 3/8 -|c>>>>>------|- 6 inc. - 1 note & 5 '>'
C> 1/2 -|c>>>>>>>----|- 8 inc. - 1 note & 7 '>'
O> 3/4 -|c>>>>>>>>>>>|- 12 inc. - 1 note & 11 '>'
M>
-> Ex. #4h: 3/4 TIME - 4 Measures with 6 inc's./meas.
F> (1/8 note shortest note)
R>
.> 1&2&3& 1&2&3& 1&2&3& 1&2&3&
T> R4|------|------|------|------|
A>
B> 1/8 -|c>----|- 1 inc. - 1 note & 0 '>'
N> 1/4 -|c>>---|- 2 inc. - 1 note & 1 '>'
A> 1/2 -|c>>>--|- 4 inc. - 1 note & 3 '>'
B> 3/4 -|c>>>>>|- 6 inc. - 1 note & 5 '>'
B>
E> Ex. #4i: 4/4 TIME - 4 Measures with 16 inc's./meas.
R> (1/16 note shortest note)
.>
C> 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
O> R4|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
M>
-> 1/16 -|c---------------|- 1 inc. - 1 note & 0 '>'
F> 1/8 -|c>--------------|- 2 inc. - 1 note & 1 '>'
R> 3/16 -|c>>-------------|- 3 inc. - 1 note & 2 '>'
.> 1/4 -|c>>>------------|- 4 inc. - 1 note & 3 '>'
T> 3/8 -|c>>>>>----------|- 6 inc. - 1 note & 5 '>'
A> 1/2 -|c>>>>>>>--------|- 8 inc. - 1 note & 7 '>'
B> 3/4 -|c>>>>>>>>>>>----|- 12 inc. - 1 note & 11 '>'
N> Whole -|c>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>|- 16 inc. - 1 note & 15 '>'
A>
B> Ex. #4j: 6/8 TIME - 2 Measures with 24 inc's./meas.
B> (1/32 note shortest note)
E>
R> 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 &
.> R4|------------------------|------------------------|
C>
O> 1/32 -|c-----------------------|- 1 inc. - 1 note & 0 '>'
M> 1/16 -|c>----------------------|- 2 inc. - 1 note & 1 '>'
-> 3/32 -|c>>---------------------|- 3 inc. - 1 note & 2 '>'
F> 1/8 -|c>>>--------------------|- 4 inc. - 1 note & 3 '>'
R> 1/4 -|c>>>>>------------------|- 6 inc. - 1 note & 5 '>'
.> 1/2 -|c>>>>>>>----------------|- 12 inc. - 1 note & 11 '>'
T> 3/4 -|c>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>|- 24 inc. - 1 note & 23 '>'
A>
B> 5. Each line is made up of measure separators which are 'pipeds' ('|') on your
N> computer keyboard. The space consumed by the piped is ignored and is not
A> part of the count. Blanks, or 'rests' are just 'dashes' ('-'). Tabs can be
B> easily done in 'Notepad' (or any other word processor) as a simple text
B> file, and then copied into the submission window on 'TabNabber'.
E>
R> 6. For a standard 8-1/2"W x 11"H sheet of paper, it's best to keep your TAB
.> WIDTHS to NO MORE than '80' characters across the page at any point.
C> This allows the entire tab to be easily printed within 1/2" left & right
O> margins using the standard 'Lucida Console' FONT common to all tabs on
M> TabNabber at a height of '10'. Also, 1/2" top & bottom margins will
-> allow '70' lines per page to be printed before a page break.
F>
R> The 3 biggest things to remember are to check the form, note accuracy, and
.> timing of the tabs you write to maintain quality promoting easily read &
T> understood tabs. Use the the MIDI player on 'TabNabber' to play your tabs
A> back and verify you have the correct timing for each note, or notes.
B>
N>
A> Happy Tabbing, Da Tickler.
B>
B>
E> _/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/_/_/_/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/
R> _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
.> _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/
C> _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/
O> _/_/_/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/ _/ _/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/ _/
M>
-> _____________________________________________
F> /_ _ ____ ALESIS QS6.1 /|
R> ///// ///// --- -- _______ /777777777777777 / |
.> ///// ///// --- -- /______/ /7777777777777/7 / |
T> / _____________________________________ / /
A> / / // /// // /// // /// // /// // /// / / /
B> /___//////////////////////////////////////___/ /
N> _______| |111111111111111111111111111111111111| | /_________
A> / _ |____________________________________________|/ /|
B> / // - -- /________/(O) --- --- --- KORG / |
B> / // - o o o o -- ---------- - - ---- --- TR88 / |
E> / -- ________________________________________________________ / /
R> / (^) // /// // /// // /// // /// // /// // /// // /// // /// / / /
.> /_____/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////_/ /
C> | |1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111| | /
O> | | /
M> |_________________________DA TICKLER ROCKS!_____________________|/
-> ( )/\ \ \ ( )/ / /
F> \ \ \ \ / / / /
R> \ \ \ \ / / / /
.> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~