TAB Templates for word processor

[John D. Carter]

Can anyone give me direction on obtaining a program that would accommodate generating TAB in a word processing program? I would imagine it exists, but I have no idea of where to find it. The idea of generating typed tab and the ability to print it off a standard home printer appeals to my needs. My current system is to take printed staff and pencil in the fret numbers, but I would really enjoy doing it all on the printer. Thank you in advance for any help offered!

[David Matzenik]

If by doing TAB in a word processor, you mean like Open Office or MS Word, I don't know, but TuxGuitar works well enough for me, and its free.

[Greg Cutshaw]

I've gotten pretty quick on generating tab using Microsoft Excel or Open Office Spreadsheets. They are world class formatting programs and although it seems tedious at first it soon becomes second nature. I only do the steel tab, not the musical notation. You can also convert the spreadsheet to a pdf file using for example CutePDF Writer of Microsoft Convert to PDF or to a jpg picture using programs like PDFViewer.

You can draw this up with however many strings you want and of course whatever width or size you desire. This is a simple example, much more is possible.

For example:

Tab in pdf format


Spreadsheet source for tab (right click to save)

Tab as a jpg:

[Brad Bechtel]

Moved to Tablature from Steel Without Pedals.

[John D. Carter]

Thank you David and Greg for responding. I tried doing a table in MS Word and then I tried the TUXguitar Program. I have to admit, this program is exactly what I was looking for. It is a gold-mine for guitar tabbing. Love it!! Thank you so much!!!!