How 'bout this tab style

Written music for steel guitar

Moderator: Ricky Davis

Post Reply

How 'bout this tab style?

Love It!
0
No votes
It's OK, I could go for it
2
12%
Come see, come saw
1
6%
Not bad, but I still prefer the traditional tab
6
35%
No way!
8
47%
 
Total votes: 17

User avatar
Dave Little
Posts: 287
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Atlanta

How 'bout this tab style

Post by Dave Little »

Since I really don't care for Tabedit all that much, I've been using Finale and typing in the fret/string information where the lyrics would normally go.
Works well for me. Saves space, time and aggravation.
It contains all the information that Tabedit does and I think it encourages the learning of note locations on the steel neck.
However, I need folks that use tab more often than me to weigh in on this style. Let me know what you think.
'prechate your time.
Dave Little
BTW, In case you're interested. Here's the pdf:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2ofocaiymzjxg ... e.pdf?dl=0



Image

OR THIS?:


Image

I think I'll go with this:

Image
Last edited by Dave Little on 10 Aug 2019 2:00 pm, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
Fred Treece
Posts: 3920
Joined: 29 Dec 2015 3:15 pm
Location: California, USA

Post by Fred Treece »

I think if it floats your boat, go for it. Yours is very similar to a book I have that shows the string and fret below the staff like this: 6/5 (string 6 / fret 5). I think it’s fine for single note lines, but to me, it gets kinda wonky looking at multiple strings and all those numbers. I think you could omit all the text repeats, and only show string and fret changes as they come along since the notation provides all that information.

I like TabEdit a lot, for the little tabbing I do.
User avatar
Dave Little
Posts: 287
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Atlanta

Post by Dave Little »

Fred,
I think you’re right about the repeating numbers for strings. I did what you suggest with the frets. Started to with the strings but backed off. I figured I’d get some flack if there was a note with no direction directly beneath. I’m gonna go all the way with your suggestion.
Thanks
User avatar
Pete Bailey
Posts: 141
Joined: 26 Jul 2017 8:09 am
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by Pete Bailey »

I've also experimented with psg tab in notation software. I've used boxes to isolate fret numbers from string numbers for clarity.

Fret numbers (left hand) should go beneath string numbers (right hand) IMHO.

Here's a sample:

Image
User avatar
Dave Little
Posts: 287
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Atlanta

Post by Dave Little »

OK, I implemented Fred's suggestion. Does that look any better?
Pete, I like what you did. I'll give the box thing a whirl.
Dave
User avatar
Dave Little
Posts: 287
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Atlanta

Post by Dave Little »

I added a 2nd jpeg with Pete's boxes. Looks pretty good to me. A lot cleaner looking. Whadaya think?
Pete,
Since I'm using the lyrics system for the string numbers in Finale, I don't think I can get them above the staff without manually typing them in like regular text. They would have to be individually manually lined up every time the staves were respaced or any notes added or other edited. Seems like too much trouble when everything works like lyrics do now.

Dave
User avatar
Alan Bidmade
Posts: 458
Joined: 8 Nov 2011 12:53 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne UK

Post by Alan Bidmade »

Utterly baffling.
Fret 4, strings 6.7.& 8 (Or something like it.) :roll:
Doh.
Ben-Rom #017 'Lorelei', Guild D25, Epiphone 'Joe Pass', Roland 40XL, Hilton VP

First name Alan, but known as Nick
User avatar
Dave Little
Posts: 287
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Atlanta

Post by Dave Little »

OK, I've tweeked and tweeked.
(It's the bottom jpg in the origional post)
1. Fret numbers below the staff.
2. String numbers above.
3. Big enough for the elderly to see
4. My twinkie is now creamed.

Whatcha think?
Thanks

Dave Little

BTW. Do the exercise (above) with your eyes closed. Here's the pdf:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/svmdzjq5tmt7i ... 6.pdf?dl=0
Post Reply