TAB vs Music Notation. Which Should You Use? Si

[@andretonelli]

The C3 is a C4, of course...

[@VanHomeAdventures]

I learned to read music at age 14 playing sax. When I learned guitar it was much easier to use tab but when I tried fingerstyle and tried reading standard notation it was not as difficult as I suspected and soon became helpful

[@ChrisBrown-oo4bf]

Coming from a classical background, I learned to read music. The big disadvantage was knowing what position to play a note sometimes. The best system is with a combination of both somehow to solve this issue. You are definitely right about depending on the tabs too much. Guilty as charged.

[@andretonelli]

99% of the time I use this knowledge to write my music. Rarely I read scores on guitar. For piano, yes.

[@cougarbob1776]

Thank you. I’m just learning to play guitar at 70 years of age. I suppose it’s too bad I didn’t start earlier, but on the other hand, I’m glad to be on the journey now. I see the value and richness of standard notation. I plan on looking at some tab, but also learning standard notation. There’s just so much to learn in the beginning! It’s OK thanks again. Your video was much appreciated.

[@andretonelli]

Welcome to the club! Check out the other videos there’s tons of stuff that will help you on your way. Andre

[@DobDog151]

I’m guilty of relying on tab too. I sometimes play in bands for musical theatre shows and I find myself spending time translating notes to tab to help me learn parts. I can read a bit, but never fast enough to be able to keep up with most scores. The hardest part is figuring out the best fingering for different passages. I agree with the brain function thing but as I get older just find it a bit much to wrap my head around. Makes me realize the value of learning to read when you’re younger.

[@andretonelli]

Hi Colin, I feel you. I’m not a great reader either, and I actually got around to really learning music and reading and writing in my 20s, self taught. Sometimes I still have to go back to look stuff up! Andre

[@michaelnieves9688]

You are so right!

[@brendajeannewyche]

Thank you so much. This is very helpful for me. I’ve been leaning toward tabs because they are so much easier to understand & play than music scores, at my humble level. But yes, tabs are very limited. You have just given me the nudge I needed to level up & stop being lazy. Only speaking for myself. Not saying everyone who chooses tabs is “lazy.” I only know MY story - Somewhat lazy & impatient. 😬 Anyway, thank you very much for the info & push. ❤️😊

[@andretonelli]

Hi Brenda, nothing lazy about using TAB, you’re doing fine. But yes, learning the rudiments of reading and writing music would be a great idea! Andre

[@brendajeannewyche]

@@andretonelli Thank you so much for your help and encouragement. I won’t waste it.❤️😊

[@Тёмныйсвет-п7й]

There is also a rhythm in tablatures. I know at least 5 websites with rhythm tablatures. And guitar tablatures can also be used on a piano or a button accordion. There are even training courses on this topic on my channel, but they are in Russian

[@heavynov]

Tab has had quite a lot of use historically, actually. I'm not aware of any Lute literature in standard notation, only in tab (be it French, Italian or German) and quite a lot of Viola da Gamba repertoire was written down in French lute tablature. Pros you have not mentioned are that due to the large range of those instruments, standard notation would often requiere loads of ledger lines, frequent changes of clefs or both. Not to mention that alternate tunings (quite a lot of use in the Lyra Viol repertoire and also relevant for Lute music) are an absolute pain in the neck to read in standard notation.

[@andretonelli]

Great points! Absolutely agree on the Lute thing, though I’ve always had the Vivaldi Lute Concertos in standard notation. But historically, you are correct. I never found lute tab too inviting or user friendly though. 😀. Thanks for clarifying. Andre

[@davidzaharik5408]

I use both.... I can read music slowly, but rely on tab for finger style .... perhaps that is why I have never memorized anything?? You mentioned that Andre... what is the correlation?

[@andretonelli]

Hi David, any notation you can follow is bad for memorization, I find. Do as much as you can from memory. If you can’t go any further, have a peek, then back to memory. With TAB, it’s even more exaggerated because there’s not much active thinking involved. At least for most of us, sheet music requires a lot more brain activity, therefore we memorize faster. Eventually, ditch any reference, sheet music or TAB. Andre

[@davidzaharik5408]

@@andretonelli thank you so much Andre.... I will give it try!

[@TastateurDeArch]

I learned to read music when I learned to play the accordion. On the guitar, however, I still have difficulty playing by notes because it takes me about 10 seconds per note to know where it is on the fretboard at the desired pitch and how to play it in combination with the previous and following notes. The notes work for me in the first three frets, but everything else I can only play with tabs, unfortunately.

[@TheJoYo]

being able to hear a recording of the piece is better than both notations. video and the internet has changed how people learn.

[@andretonelli]

Sorry for the late reply, but learning by listening is, indeed, king! Andre

[@Lutemann]

The guitar is not a linear instrument. Also, it is a muti-note instrument. Because of this, it is the most difficult instrument on which to learn to read music. Of course it is better to learn to read standard notation on the guitar, but most pop musicians, even professionals, do not have the discipline to do the work.

[@andretonelli]

Not sure I would call it the most difficult instrument to read on, but the guitar does have its challenges. But a basic understanding of writing and reading for guitar is definitely obtainable for most people. And extremely useful. Beyond that, you’ll have to figure out how much do you really need it for the work you do. A lot of guitarists (especially modern) don’t really need to be great readers. Andre

[@rumbuzz1]

Joke - how do you make guitarists stop playing? Give them a piece of sheet music ! Also, a bunch of tab online is incorrect.

[@TheJoYo]

a bunch of music notation is wrong too.