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Thread: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

  1. #1
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    I was wondering, beyond “sounding/counting “ it out, is there a digital way to convert tab?
    I was looking for standard notation of Cruisin’ Timber…
    Thanks
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  2. #2
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    That TAB is mainly for OldTime music where they sometimes use strings in different tunings.
    Good for info but I’ll bet the TAB was written when DOS computers and floppy discs were pretty cool.

    Here’s a different .abc file in the same key:

    X:1
    T: Kate and Rose's
    C: Maire Bhreathnach
    S: Bernie Waugh
    R: Reel
    M: 4/4
    L: 1/8
    K: D minor
    |:E|\
    "Dm"FDD/D/D ADD/D/D|dd2~d- dcAG|"Bb7"FDD/D/D ADFD|"C"EDCD
    EFGE|
    "Dm"FDD/D/D ADD/D/D|dd2~d- dcAG|"F"F2cF dFcF|"C"^DE2~E-
    E=DC:|
    K: D
    |:e|\
    "D"fdd/d/d fdad|^ef2~f- f=ede|fdd/d/d fdaB|"C"=cBAB cBA2|
    "D"fdd/d/d fdad|^ef2~f- f=edB|"C"=c2gc acgc|"G"AB2~B- BAG:|


    You basically delete everything after ‘K:D minor’ and write in the notes from that Cruising Timber TAB you have.
    Then go to mandolintab.net with the .abc file to convert to notation.


    Or search abcnotation.com or thesession.org

    The easy way is to post a vid -someone’s bound to remember it and be honour-bound to share the .abc file...

  3. #3
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?


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  5. #4
    Orrig Onion HonketyHank's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Actually, Tabledit can import an ASCII tab file like the one linked in Matt's post. It is pretty persnickety and awfully frustrating if you don't do it often enough to know all the tricks and traps. I have done it a couple of times and I now avoid doing it if at all possible. But if you do it enough, I presume that you will know how to make the structure of your ASCII file fit the format expected by the author of the Tabledit Import routine. And then it will be easy.

    For short tunes, I feel like I have saved time and effort if I just read the ASCII file with my eyes and transcribe it into a blank Tabledit file manually.
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  7. #5

    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Here’s a version by Radio Ramblers
    https://youtu.be/j11SYrqaodw
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  8. #6

    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    TAB is still used all over the place in guitar circles. Why would it be considered so last century for the mandolin?

    Guitar Pro does it:

    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	197820

  9. #7
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Hi,

    For 65 notes and given the somewhat special ASCII file format used, I think it's quicker to enter the notes directly into TablEdit.

    https://groups.io/g/tabledit/files/E...G%20TIMBER.tef

    Then you can display the corresponding staff or export an ABC file. https://groups.io/g/tabledit/files/E...G%20TIMBER.abc

    Having said that, while entering the file, I thought that I had neglected the mandolin and its tremolo a bit in the last few years. You can only adjust the frequency and amplitude of the tremolo, but you can't extend a tremolo over several bars.

    I will correct this.

    Matthieu

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  11. #8
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    a great tune, indeed. A hipper version is found on this

    apols for the funky orientation.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	197821  

  12. #9
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    As a progressing musician one of the many things to learn is to write out, on a piece of paper the notes straight from your fretboard, then it’s notation and .abc from your fretboard and finally it’s notation/.abc/TAB by ear. This takes time but is an incredible personal investment.
    All the other apps are great too.

    Here’s another app FolkFriend.app that will write out your notes as you play them. https://thesession.org/discussions/44025
    -works best if you play slow, every eighth note, with good timing, pref. a mandolin with only four strings. Works really quite well, but still needs some RandD (Siri declared metre and key, for tune name input etc.)

  13. #10
    Registered User mbruno's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Personally I've been loving MuseScore for writing out tabs and notation. It's pretty easy to use and easy to convert to different keys and instruments (tab) - even can have multiple instruments tabbed out all linked together (i.e. you change keys for all at the same time).

    I'm not sure you can import text files to it (though I believe you can with PDFs), but writing out a tab or notation with it is very easy - so you can probably just copy one in pretty quickly.
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    Registered User Brian560's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    I attached a pdf of the standard notation for cruising timber that Matthiew created using TablEdit
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails cruising timber.pdf  

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  17. #12
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Quote Originally Posted by JohnW63 View Post
    TAB is still used all over the place in guitar circles. Why would it be considered so last century for the mandolin?

    Guitar Pro does it:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	GuitarProMandolin.jpg 
Views:	77 
Size:	83.7 KB 
ID:	197820
    I don’t think that they meant that Tablature is “last century”, I believe that the reference was to writing tablature in ASCII format.
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  19. #13
    Dave Berry
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Quote Originally Posted by mbruno View Post
    Personally I've been loving MuseScore for writing out tabs and notation. It's pretty easy to use and easy to convert to different keys and instruments (tab) - even can have multiple instruments tabbed out all linked together (i.e. you change keys for all at the same time).

    I'm not sure you can import text files to it (though I believe you can with PDFs), but writing out a tab or notation with it is very easy - so you can probably just copy one in pretty quickly.
    +1 on using the free tool Musescore. It's really a great exercise to transpose IMO.
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  20. #14
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Write it as .abc then use mandoltab.net

    It’s simple and you'll spend days on the mandolin instead of days on the internet.

  21. #15
    Registered User lowtone2's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Oh cool, a minor tune.


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  23. #16
    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Is there an easy way to convert TAB to notation?

    Ooops, I should have written Mandolintab.net

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