Reading Tablature & Standard Notation
Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 19:24:18 EST
Subject: Buying a classical guitar?
Hello,
I was looking at your website to learn about the lute or mandolin. What I would really like is to buy a 6 or 7 course renaissance lute and learn to play this for my own enjoyment and relaxation. BUT: I am a early childhood teacher and pretty low on time and energy, and I want to be able to enjoy this and not be overwhelmed and then give it up. However, I can't afford even a rotten used lute (which doesn't really exist anyway). And it doesn't appear that the mandolin and especially the lute is something taken up lightly. So I was thinking about a guitar. But the more I read, the more confused I get.
I have a couple of questions I hope you can answer for me:
Greetings,
Glad to assist if I can:
1. Would I eventually be able to play early music written for the lute on a guitar? Would the transposition be horribly difficult?
I suppose it would be somewhat the same discipline as taking up most any other instrument...
Difficult to master...yet, relatively easy to learn fundamentals...such as single note melodies.
2. Would a classical guitar be the best choice for someone like me, who is a true beginner to all types of stringed instruments?
Since Classical Guitar is more readily available, both instrument and written music, it might be a better starting point...additionally, the technique gained should eventually assist you in furthering your lute technique...
3. Would I eventually be able to learn the mandolin if I know how to play the guitar?
The fundamentals of music are static no matter which instrument you take up...therefore, the principles and theory you gain in learning to play guitar will transpose to mandolin. The mind to hand coordination will also be more fluid after accomplishing the guitar...however, the mandolin is an entirely different instrument...and does require a completely different approach: chording, single note melodies, the size of the neck, etc.
4. Must I learn tablature? I can read music and want to learn to play this way.
Both mandolin and guitar have plenty of standard notation manuscripts available...surprisingly, the first written notation for lute was in tablature form...it can be helpful to learn both forms of written music...There are times when tablature can be far superior to standard notation; for instance, many patterns up the neck, in chordal forms, are far easier to interpret with tablature...since the inversions are to the point: a number designates the frets used...as opposed to a note in standard notation which can occur many places on a fingerboard...
Hope this helps...Mickey
Thank you,
Laura
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 10:23:42 -0700
Subject: Re: Fwd: Mandolin Tabs
Hello,
Translating Standard Notation to Tablature: This can be a complicated process due to positioning. Standard notation leaves an allowance for what is called inversions. Tablature denotes exact finger positions; whereas, standard notation leaves a lot for interpretation on were to place your finger.Hence, translating standard notation to tablature can be subjective at best. My suggestion would be to consider a software notation program. Such as Sibelius.
This program translates standard notation to tablature and visa versa.
Good luck with your research.
Mickey
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002 20:58:15 -0500
Can't read music. What do the numbers on the lines mean. Is that relating to the left hand? Lorane
The numbers are part of the tablature system and represent which fret to place your fretting finger on...or your left hand if you're right handed.
We have a complete description of our tablature system on the following URL:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3.htm
Just click on your instrument of choice and following the next link "How to Read Tablature"...
Mickey
Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2002 12:34:33 EST
Subject: Banjo tabs
Hello Mickey, I have been learning the banjo for about a year now- I can understand the tabs, especially where the notes are shown across the bar lines However where the notes are shown above the bar lines, quite often a X is shown on the first string (D)
. I can understand if a zero is played as an open string, but what does the X mean. Please can you help Many thanks Graham duHeaume
London England
Greetings Graham...
There are many varieties of published tablature...therefore, some symbols are the creation of the tab engraver, whomever that may be.
Now, from my personal experience, when I see an "X" in tab, I interpret it as a rest. A rest in standard notation means that the instrument takes a pause for the same count as the rest determines...such as a half note rest would be a pause for two beats and a whole note rest would be a pause for four beats in a 4/4 metered arrangement. In your case, you're probably seeing a quarter note rest in banjo tab that denotes that you're to pause for one beat for each "X" you see.
Hope this helps in some way...shoot me more questions if you encounter any other hurdles...Mickey
Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 01:45:27 -0600
To: "Dave Klein"
Subject: Crosspicking Questions
Dear Folkwooders:
I really enjoy your site! I am an orchestra director/bass player in Nebraska and have just started playing the banjo and mandolin last year. I was having so much fun playing I started a Irish band in November and it has become quite popular in the area. I would like to learn more from your video on cross picking but being a paper trained classical musician, the tablature drives me nuts. I would rather spend the time practicing than learning lines and fingers. Have you ever written down any of this with real notes or is there any good method books available with notes? Any info would be helpful. I am also looking at the KM 630. Any discount for public school teachers in Nebraska? The past two summers we have had a Fiddle camp with David Seay and Deborah Greenblat (from Avoca, NE) here in Kearney. This year we taught a mandolin class that went over big time. I play a Fender accoustic/electric on gigs and an Austin (that the school owns) for accoustic performances. They both are fair to poor in the tone area. I am looking at an Alvarez Banjo on ebay. Are they any good? My bid is $204. so far.
Thanks again for your site it have been very helpful. I found this site through one of my students from an assignment on the internet.
Dave Klein
Kearney, Ne
Greetings Dave,
Thanks for your interest in working with us...
Regarding tablature:
I love standard notation myself...and it works great for all styles of mandolin playing...except crosspicking. The reason is, most all styles of mandolin playing is performed in a linear fashion, scales and melody format.
Now, crosspicking is an arpeggiated approach to the mando...this poses problems for standard notation due to the fact that the chord inversions are constantly changing. Therefore, to determine where the notes fall becomes problematic. In tablature, you're seeing the numbers exactly placed on each string which gives you the exact position of the chord without having to go through 3 or 4 inversions as would be the case with standard notation.
In my future works, I'll be sure to include the standard notation above the tab to assist those such as yourself who are dedicated to this written form. Mickey
Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 14:45:48 EDT
Subject: Banjitars & Sheet Music
Mickey
Just ran across your website today. WOW! The things I've learned. I am an
acoustic guitar player (12-String) who has had only 6 or 7 lessons (30 years
ago), but with a better than average ear I can readily play a song after
listening to it for a very few times. However, in my guitar playing, I've
longed for a fuller, more complete sound, so I've "filled-in" the gaps in the
melody with what I've now learned are slide notes, hammer-on notes, pull
offs, and bass runs as well as background riffs filled in.
I now am wanting to learn to read and understand staff-scale music and
tablature for guitar to progress my ability. I want to play in front of
crowds...maybe even for some pay. I read about the crosspicking technique and
the forthcoming manual from Mel Bay on you site and wonder when it will be
available. I believe that this method will work quite nicely with a Custom
12-string Gold Tone Banjitar (I really don't want to learn another instument)
for bluegrass. I'm now working through a couple of introductory manuals to
bluegrass guitar playing (one is the Mel Bay beginner bluegrass guitar book)
and need your recommendations for printed resources on:
1. Learning to read staff-scale and tablature.
Any traditional music fundamental book will work well for learning to read staff-scale (standard notation). I once studied music theory on a college level and still have the original text books that went with the courses. I've learned many aspects of music theory such as parallel notes, cadences, chord structure, harmony, and so on...all of these facets are contributory to becoming a well-rounded musician no matter what style of music you're interested in. So, you're most definitely on the right track in wanting to learn to read standard notation and the theory it encompasses.
Now, for tablature, it's a different story. Although tablature is one of the oldest forms of written music (originally written for lute and piano), today it's considered more contemporary than standard notation. Because of this, it's a little more difficult to find any theory books that dedicate themselves to learning how to read tablature...and, there's more liberty for the writer to create original symbols that may only relate to an individual book of tab. This means there currently is not a universal standard for tablature as there is for standard notation. Both the "Guitar Crosspicking Technique" and "Mandolin Crosspicking Technique" books cover how to read tablature extensively. These are available on the Folk of the Wood website. I believe tablature is a more efficient form of writing music for string instruments. Mainly, because there are many points on a fretboard where the same note can occur; this leaves you with a guessing game when reading standard notation, whereas, when reading tablature, you know the exact fingering position with a one-time read.
2. Other beginner resources for bluegrass guitar styles.
Following is a great resource: http://www.bluegrassguitar.com/learning.htm
3. When is the Mel Bay crosspicking technique manual available.
It's scheduled to print this month and should be distributed by July sometime. You can order the book now for delivery as soon as it's released.
Here's the exact page where you can place your order:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page645.htm
4. Where can I find a good selection of bluegrass music with both the
staff-scale and tablature with all lyrics (most I've seen are only one or two
verses - seldom complete).
There are two writers that come to mind:
Steve Kaufman & Peter Wernick...both have written books on traditional bluegrass which included lyrics, tab, etc. Try melbay.com for further potential titles. If you find a book of interest, you mail order through Folk of the Wood for an added 20% discount.
Thanks for your help in this matter...it is appreciated more than you realize.
Big John
You're most welcome...Mickey
Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2001 02:46:46 -0600
Is there anyway that these exercises are available in "note form" (What's the word for that anyway) rather than tab?
Thanks
ch
Greetings,
Sorry, these exercises are currently only available in tablature. Due to the nature of crosspicking, tablature lends itself to this style. The reason, it's a chordal form of playing and tablature better describes where to place the fretting hand. The "note form" you're referring to above, is called standard notation. With standard notation, a note can translate to a variety of places on the mando neck; whereas, tab can only designate one place on the fingerboard of the mandolin.
Hope this helps...
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