| Author |
Topic: How to convert guitar tab to dobro/lap tab? |
John Broughten
From:
Minnesota, USA
|
Posted 31 Jan 2013 12:42 pm |
|
| I'm trying to convert a standard guitar tab into D tuning dobro/lap tab. Is there an easy way to do this or is there a program available online? I've done a search and really can't find something that will work. My background in music is somewhat limited and any pointers would help. Thanks. |
|
|
|
Robert Allen
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 31 Jan 2013 1:51 pm
|
|
| It may be difficult with inexpensive software. I use both Guitar Pro and Tab|Edit and simply transposing from one key to another doesn't usually put the notes where I want to play them. In musical notation, the notes will be correct but then I must manually edit the transposed tab. When going from one tuning to another, I can print the notes and then manually enter the notes into the new instrument tuning, then click the button to show the tab, but it always requires editing to get the notes onto the proper strings where they can be played easily. Guitar Pro and Tab|Edit are cheap programs. Maybe an expensive program will do it but I couldn't afford to mortgage the farm. |
|
|
|
David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
|
Posted 31 Jan 2013 2:05 pm
|
|
Tab editing programs like Guitar Pro and others have the ability to convert a tabbed score from one tuning to another, but I think the original guitar tab would have to already exist in that program. On the other hand, you have a great opportunity to stretch your ear and your scale knowledge.
Find a piece of blank tab paper and start converting it yourself a note or phrase at a time. It's a real learning experience, both in seeing where the scales sit in each tuning and in improving your tab writing. Keep in mind that most guitar riffs "fit" under the fingers in standard tuning, so you may be bouncing around a lot in open D, but that's good practice too.
Have fun. |
|
|
|
Robert Allen
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 31 Jan 2013 2:19 pm
|
|
| David, In Guitar Pro Version 6, when I click on Tools>Transpose it only brings up a window to transpose keys, not tunings. What am I not seeing? |
|
|
|
David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
|
Posted 31 Jan 2013 4:41 pm
|
|
| Robert, I am using GP5, but it's likely the same. Once a score is open, go to TRACK in the top menu - then choose PROPERTIES. There you can choose a new tuning and it will ask if you want to transpose. It's sort of amusing the choices the program makes for where to place some notes, but you can edit that. If you save it with a new name you'll end up with both versions. |
|
|
|
Robert Allen
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 31 Jan 2013 6:07 pm
|
|
| I'm using GP6 which is completely different software. Guitar Pro went out of business. Then someone else bought the name and wrote new software. The new version isn't anywhere close to the old versions but it will convert old files. I tried to reinstall the old version but it requires logging onto a non-existent web site for validation. Also the terms with the old software said 50% off for life for any upgrade. The new company isn't honoring the 50% agreement but they'll give 1/3 off to owners of older versions who want to upgrade. GP6 doesn't seem to have the feature you describe. |
|
|
|
David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
|
Posted 31 Jan 2013 6:55 pm
|
|
| Robert, I didn't know all that. What a drag. I stuck with GP5 just because I have an older computer. What the PROPERTIES window in mine does is give a selection of numbers of strings, tunings for various 4, 5, 6 string instruments, and other stuff. If you can find anything like that in any of your menus, you may stumble across a conversion tool of some sort. Hope it works for you. |
|
|
|
Rockne Riddlebarger
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
|
Posted 1 Feb 2013 10:42 am
|
|
Converting guitar tab to dobro (G tuning) tab is not very hard and you do not need any kind of software.
1st string: any fret # on the guitar tab, add 2.
2nd string: same
3rd string: same
4th string: same
5th string: subtract 2
6th string: subtract 3
_________________
www.facebook.com/speedingwest
www.facebook.com/rockneriddlebarger |
|
|
|
John Broughten
From:
Minnesota, USA
|
Posted 1 Feb 2013 1:14 pm
|
|
| Thanks Rockne.....That's exactly what I was looking for. |
|
|
|
