About Guitar Tabs
Most experienced guitar players are familiar with tablature, the unique music system that remains a standard for their instrument alone. What is tablature, how did it develop, and how is it different from standard notation? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using it?
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Types
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There have been many types of notation created and used during the history of western music, most of which have either been dropped or had a part in evolving into today's standard notation. This standard type of notation is called staff notation and is a system whereby a system of lines and symbols indicates to the player which pitches in the 12-note scale should be played. Staff notation, therefore, is not specific to the instrument being played. Tablature notation is one of the few alternate music writing forms which is still commonly used today. Tablature notation is different from staff notation because rather than indicating pitches to be played, this system indicates to the player where he should place fingers upon the instrument. Because of this, tablature, or tabs, are specific to certain instruments.
History
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Tablature is primarily used for the guitar and other similar fretted, stringed instruments. However, this notation system has also historically been used for a number of woodwind instruments, non-fretted strings and for the organ. The European tradition of tablature originated in the early 1300s with several different systems emerging in different countries. The three most common forms were French, Italian and German. Eventually, French tablature became the most widely used and evolved into the system we know today.
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Features
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Like staff notation, modern guitar tablature is written using evenly spaced horizontal lines. However, whereas those lines (and the spaces between them) represent chromatic pitches in staff notation, in tablature they are a visual representation of the strings themselves. Beyond this, there is much variation in systems, and different publishers will print different keys in indicate what symbols will be used to show which fingers play which notes and how rhythms will be notated. These systems may use numbers or borrow symbols from standard notation.
Benefits
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Tablature is a more informal notation than staff notation, so it is often considered to be an easier form of notation to read. It has long been the preferred system for amateurs and folk and pop artists. Tablature also has an advantage for guitarists because, unlike staff notation, it notates finger positions in addition to notes.
Considerations
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Since tablature generally does not provide detailed rhythmic representations of music, there is much controversy over whether or not the reproduction of copyrighted songs in tab format constitutes copyright infringement. Many websites distributing free tablature versions of popular songs have been threatened with legal action and fought legal battles for their right to publish with varying results.
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