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