How to read mandolin tabs?

[michaelpthompson]

Lots of great insight here. I can certainly see value in both "languages" as Ed says. However, I have to completely disagree with Bernie that there's essentially no learning curve with TAB. I have to look at a diagram, translate a numeral into fret position, probably look at my fingers, and then back at the sheet, get the next one, etc. That's why I was comparing it to chord diagrams. A chord diagram gives me a picture of the fretboard with dots where my fingers go. TAB sort of does that, except the numbers are symbolic, not pictorial. Since notes on a staff are also symbolic, that part seems similar to notation.

It does seem like TAB has the advantage of being pictorial with regard to which string to use, even if not for which fret to use, but notation would have the edge on how much information can be conveyed. I got worried because the TAB explanation mentioned that it can't tell you anything about note duration, which would be a definite disadvantage, especially if you've never heard the tune. I guess that's where ear training completes the triumvirate.

[Bill Snyder]

Tab can convey rhythm and key and whatever if the person transcribing it takes the time. The example here shows tab written out so that you know eighth, quarter and whatever else notes. This sample shows the standard notation as well but even without that there you would still get all of the information you need to play the piece properly.

[James Miller]

as you probably already know.. download tefview.. it has both and definitely helped me learn. Tefview has been my best friend as of late..

Any idea how to set this up for mandolin? Had selected Greensleeves demo and I'm like, huh? Nothing even remotely looked usable for someone that's learn this stuff. :P

[zedmando]

Hmm, this no problem reading tab for me--lots of experience with it--but one thing I do want to work on is reading standard notation for mandolin--getting better at it & all.
Guitar I can do well, bass decently & even keyboard I can--unless there's a bunch of chords.
But I haven't done it as much with mandolin.

[bennyb]

@James M.: Go to Mandozine search page enter Greensleeves( or any other title or "contains"). There's a couple thousand mando tabs there(some guitar too). The little "m" in the bottom right corner cycles thru tab, notation, both.
hth, benny