TAB question

[John Craton]

This is just a matter of curiosity for me. I was trained to read notes only, so TAB configuration is rather alien to me. While not proficient at playing with TAB, I can at least figure out most of it. But most that I've seen have all been in first position. How does a TAB indicate when one should change to higher positions? I'm sure there must be a way, but all the TABs I've seen to date have been strictly in first position.

[Martin Jonas]

Tabltature gives you the fret to be played, but not the finger to use. #You're right that most tablature is in first position, but by no means all of it. #More specifically, effectively all tablature that was generated automatically (e.g. from an abc file or other computer-readable form of standard notation) is in first position simply because allowing higher position creates ambiguities for the transcription. #When more than one fingering is allowed for the same note, it is necessary to make an intelligent judgment on which is preferable. #Computers tend to get that wrong, so it's much safer to stick with first position. #On the other hand, tablature that has been humanly created is free to use higher positions and frequently does so. #A particularly simple example is here (http://www.nigelgatherer.com/tunes/tab/tab1/ten.html); a version of Tennessee Waltz that shifts repeatedly from first to third position. #As you can see, the annotated numbers in the standard notation indicate fingers, but the numbers in the tablature indicate frets. #If you browse through the TablEdit collection at Mandozine, you'll find loads of tunes in tablature that use the entire neck extensively. #In effect, everything with a rating of "advanced" or "professional".

Martin

[John Craton]

Thanks, Martin. That makes sense. Good to know when I find something only in TAB. Elsewise, I believe I'll stick with notes. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif