Bass Tabs That Will Help You Read Music
There are several different types of bass tab systems that will help you read music to varying degrees. Some are rudimentary and require no knowledge of music or the bass. Others demand knowledge of music theory and the ability to navigate the bass with some basic authority. Three main types of bass tab systems are available on the Internet. Each has its own format, and each will suit a performer's needs differently.
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ASCII Bass Tab
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This tab can be created in any basic text editor and is perhaps the most common of all tabs available. It is sometimes difficult to read or to understand due to the size and bare-minimum design. However, many players enjoy it and are able to perform in many genres on their bass, based on the ASCII tab system. The tab is a series of dashes in a line that make up each of the four strings. A number is inserted wherever the pitch needs to be made on the specific string. The number corresponds to counting the number of frets on the neck of the guitar, from the head to the body.
Basic Bass Tab
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This "basic" bass tab, which is more involved than ASCII, has a defined "time" that allows the performer to see how long notes should be played and at what point. ASCII is just a spatial list. Each number marked on the string will have a line, possibly with flags, that signifies the length of the notes as quarter notes, eighth notes and 16th notes. With the numbers being random and the stems and beams being linear, left to right, this system is a bit tough to use practically, unless you're learning the song in a rehearsal context.
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Bass Tab With Notation
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This type of tab has both the bass tab numbers and an additional staff system that will show the exact notes in traditional music theory. Typically, this would be the best type of tab to be used as a steppingstone to reading music. It would be difficult for the bassist to constantly turn the pages of written music while rehearsing or performing. A song can be anywhere from 10 to 30 pages long, since only a handful of measures will fit on each.
Hybrid Bass Notation
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Several music publishers are toying with new types of tabs in an effort to get the first share of a niche bass tab market. These hybrids combine the above three types of tab and give them a new look or feel through different fonts and sizes. Since each publisher has its own style, this becomes a question of personal preference. It is best for a player to try out many different versions to find the best type.
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References
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