TAB/Tablature
Last updated
Last updated
Tab (short for tablature) is a form of musical notation used to transcribe the instrumental sections of a song. It consists of lines representing the strings of a string instrument and numbers to indicate the fretboard positions of melodies and chords.
The note numbers range from 0 (an open string) to 24 (the highest fret position). Chord symbols displayed above the tabs (see Em and A7 above) are not played but merely serve as references. Tabs do not include rhythmic information nor the duration of individual notes. Their main purpose is to assist you in learning songs that you are familiar with.
The playing style is indicated by the vertical alignment of the notes (fret numbers).
Notes that are positioned underneath each other are played simultaneously.
Notes that are slightly offset in their vertical positions are strummed with a short delay:
Notes with a larger vertical offset indicate an arpeggio in which the notes ring out together after being picked separately:
An even larger space between notes indicates a pause or a ringing out of the previously played notes:
See Playing Techniques for addional information on this subject.
Tabs consist of a combination of hyphens ('-') and numbers (0-24), which are entered into the song editor in plain text. They are auto-formatted as soon as you add a 'Tab' section label/tag. (See Section Labels/Tags to learn more.)
Identified tabs are automatically transposed when you change the key of a song.
To create a new tab place the cursor at the desired position in the song editor and select 'Tab' in the section label/tag pop-up menu. (Alternatively you may type 'ta+' in the song editor.)
It is common practice to add the string tuning at the beginning of each string line. Song One expects the strings to be descending in pitch with the highest pitch at the top and the lowest pitch at the bottom. The highest pitch is usually indicated by a lower-case letter.
Place the 'tab' section label on a line without text or chord symbols to automatically add the strings and their tunings.
Alternatively you may add up to 8 string lines by...
entering the pitch,
adding a vertical line ('|') representing the first bar
followed by one or more hyphens ('-') for each line.
To complete the tab add hyphens and numbers (0-24) in the same way you edit a standard text document.
If preferred you may remove the 'Tag' section label/tag in the song editor and edit the tab in the plain text format by...
placing the cursor anywhere on the line with the 'Tab' section label/tag icon
and selecting 'Remove' from the tag pop-up menu.
Note: To enable auto-transposition you have to re-add the 'Tap' section label/tag.
Identified 'Tab' sections are auto-transposed when the key of the song changes. (See Transposing Songs to learn more.)
Song One adjusts the fretboard positions based on the interval value and string tuning (the notes that you have added to the left of the tab).
An 'open string' note (with the value of 0) cannot be lowered any further on the same string.
When smart-transpose is enabled in Song One's app settings the 'open string' notes will be moved to lower pitched adjacent strings. Song One determines the correct fret positions by examining the string tuning (the notes that you have added to the left of the tab).
When transposing a song temporarily you may wish to avoid changing the fingering of the chords/melody to be able to return to the original key with the original tabs preserved. You have two options to do so:
Option 1: Disable smart-transpose in the app settings.
When smart-transpose is not enabled transposed 'open string' notes that can no longer be displayed on the fretboard are moved two octaves higher on the same string:
This allows Song One to move the entire fretboard pattern horizontally without changing the fingering patterns. However, the chords/melody might not be playable.
If you wish to be able to play the chords/melody do the following instead:
Option 2: Leave smart-transpose enabled and create a clone of the song prior to transposing it to keep a copy of the original tab. (See Cloning Songs & Sections to learn more).
Chord symbols may be added above the top line (string) of a tab. A chord symbol will adjust its position automatically when you add or remove hyphens in the top line.
Song One uses the 'Tab' section label/tag icon to identify the top line (string), which allows you to add chord symbols.
To add a chord symbol make sure that...
the cursor is positioned in the top line (string)
and the 'Tab' section label/tag icon is positioned to the left of the line.
There are four options to add a chord symbol to a tab:
Option 1:
Place the cursor on the top line (string) at the desired position of the chord symbol.
Add a space, enter the chord symbol and another space.
(See Adding Chords to learn more.)
Option 2:
Create the chord with the chord matrix, the virtual keyboard or virtual fretboard.
Place the cursor on the top line (string) at the desired position of the chord symbol.
Tap/Click on the guitar pick icon of the main toolbar.
(See Chord Matrix, Virtual Keyboard or Virtual Fretboard to learn more.)
Option 3:
Tap/Click on the cursor icon of the main toolbar to display the cursor toolbar.
Place the cursor on the top line (string) at the desired position of the chord symbol.
Tap/Click on the chord in the cursor toolbar.
(See Cursor Toolbar to learn more.)
Option 4:
Tap on/swipe a chord symbol in the lyrics to select it.
Place the cursor on the top line (string) at the desired position of the chord symbol.
Tap/Click on the guitar pick icon of the main toolbar.
Advanced tabs include a set of characters that are placed immediately next to a note number. These characters stand for the techniques that are to be used when playing the notes.
Song One recognizes the following characters:
/
Slide up - A sound that is produced by picking a string while the finger is moving upwards towards the fret position of a note.
\
Slide down - A sound that is produced by picking a string while the finger is moving downwards towards the fret position of a note.
h
Hammer-on - A sound that is produced by playing a note on a string and then using a different finger to hold down the same string at a higher fret position.
p
Pull off - A sound that is produced by pulling/plucking a finger off a string after performing a 'hammer on'.
b
Bend up - A variation in the pitch that is produced by picking a string and bending it upwards.
r
Release bend - A variation in the pitch that is produced by bringing a string back down after bending it up.
v
~
Vibrato - A periodic variation in the pitch of a sustained note.
x
()
Mute/Ghost Note - A muted string that is picked/strummed to produce a percussive sound.
s
Slide - A sound that is produced by plucking a string while holding it down with a hard object and slowly sliding towards the fret position of a note.
t
Tap - A note that is produced by tapping on a string with the finger instead of plucking it.
+
*
Harmonic - A sound that is produced by picking a string while touching it with the fingertip above a fret (without pressing the string down).
Additional characters may be added to a tab. But only the above listed characters (and their note numbers) are automatically repositioned to adjacent lines (strings) when the tab is transposed.
Add additional playing style instructions below or above the tabs (e.g. a bass player may wish to mark a certain note with a 'P' for 'pop' or an 'S' for 'slap').
