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Thread: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

  1. #1
    Síocháin Chiff's Avatar
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    Question ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Hi All,

    What I have done is try to put all the notes that I usually play on Irish Tin Whistle and for the thousands of tunes that I have in .ABC format into Mandolin Tab. Have I done it correctly?

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    So once I know the Tabs, I should be able to play any of my tunes, Is this correct?
    I know the strings on Mando = GDAE and I remember it by "G'day" (as in G'day Mate - Aussie) Smiles. Once I have tuned the Mando to GDAE, and play an open strum, What Key am I playing? How do I play in the key of "D" which 99% of my tunes are in?

    And I only know the keys of C, D and G on Whistles.

    Will put a copy of the abc text under here so you can make any corrections to my errors.


    X:1 %Music
    T:General Notes for Irish Tunes %Tune name
    C: %Tune composer
    I: %Tune infos
    Q:1/4=95 %Tempo
    V:1 %
    %!STAVE 0 'Staff 1' @
    %!INSTR '...' 0 0 @
    K:D
    M:4/4 %Meter
    D |E |F |G |A |B |c |d |e |f |g |a |b |]
    %End of file

    Thanks for your kind help.
    .


    1 * Eastman MD305 "A" Style.


    * Sorry to say, but I am fresh out of blue parrots today!

    * * For those who keep asking me? My Blood Group is "C"

  2. #2
    Orrig Onion HonketyHank's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Your tabs for the notes in the D scale are correct, so play away.

    A free program, called TEFView is capable of reading ABC files and displaying mandolin tabs and playing the file as a midi tune. Its full version is called TablEdit. You can find it with Google.

    GDAE isn't really a common chord, so it is a moot question about what key it would be. I suppose a musicologist could figure out a chord name for it though. Like maybe "G double flatted3rd 6th" or some such.

    Given that you are a fluter or flauter or whatever is the term, tell me -- what is a chiff? or a fipple?
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  3. #3
    Síocháin Chiff's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Chiff is a Flute term for the airy sound behind the notes that one plays.

    G,D,A,E = String Names on a Mandolin

    Thank you for your kind help.
    Last edited by Chiff; Nov-18-2017 at 5:57pm. Reason: Added Text

  4. #4
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Quote Originally Posted by Chiff View Post
    Once I have tuned the Mando to GDAE, and play an open strum, What Key am I playing?
    In the sense that you mean it in this question, the mandolin is in C. When you play a C note or a C chord, it makes the C tone. The A will be 440 Hz and the C below that A will be 246.94 Hz.

    An instrument that is not in C, like a Bb clarinet the fingering for C will make a Bb note, or an Eb alto sax the C will make the tone Eb. I don't know enough about whistles but I assume its the same. When you play the C fingering on a C whistle you get a C note. When you play the same fingering on a D whistle you get a D note.
    How do I play in the key of "D" which 99% of my tunes are in?.
    The mandolin has more notes than a whistle. It can play in all the keys. It's more like a piano in this respect. Another way to look at it is if you read music. If you play a tune written in D it will come out in D. What ever key the tune is written in, that is how it will come out if you play in on mandolin.

    I hope that makes sense. I am sure there are others who could explain it better.
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  5. #5
    Síocháin Chiff's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Irish Whistles (End Blown Flutes) and Irish Flutes have are tuned to a KEY. 99% of ppl use "D". One a "D" Whistle one can play D, G, A and some other minor keys using different fingering. If one plays a tune on a "D" and then does the same fingering on a "C" or "G" then the tune is automatically transposed into that new key. Its pretty cool really. But it does mean buying a ton of Whistles in different keys.

    Thank you Jeff for your kind help. Much appreciated.

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  7. #6
    Síocháin Chiff's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    So now, how do I turn my notes in the Tab into 2 finger chords (still in the Key of "D") ?

    Is there a chart for the Key of "D" 2 finger Chords?

  8. #7
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Chords (following diatonic harmony) for the key of D:

    I - D Major
    ii - E minor
    iii - F# minor
    IV - G Major
    V - A Major
    vi - B minor
    vii - C# diminished

    You can look up chord fingerings right here at the cafe. Use the Learn/Listen tab at the top of the site, and choose the Chord Library. Or, you can find them all over the web with a Google search. Or you can buy a chord bible, etc.
    WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
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  9. #8
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Here's a cool chart with three finger chords https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/a...2&d=1510229441

    A few two-finger chords here at the cafe: https://www.mandolincafe.com/two.html

    Some two- and three-finger chords https://www.themandolintuner.com/eas...ndolin-chords/

    Another page about two-finger chords: http://nativeground.com/simple-mandolin-chords/
    WWW.THEAMATEURMANDOLINIST.COM
    ----------------------------------
    "Life is short. Play hard." - AlanN

    ----------------------------------
    HEY! The Cafe has Social Groups, check 'em out. I'm in these groups:
    Newbies Social Group | The Song-A-Week Social
    The Woodshed Study Group | Blues Mando
    - Advice For Mandolin Beginners
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  10. #9
    Síocháin Chiff's Avatar
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    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Hi Mark,
    Thank you for you kind help.

  11. #10

    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Quote Originally Posted by HonketyHank View Post
    Your tabs for the notes in the D scale are correct, so play away.


    Given that you are a fluter or flauter or whatever is the term, tell me -- what is a chiff? or a fipple?
    A "fipple" is a cap or mouthpiece that aims your breath into the flute correctly. On a flute, you have to use your mouth to aim your breath at the right place at the right angle. On a recorder, there is a cap that aims for you, you just blow in it. That cap is the fipple. Recorders are a type of fipple flute.

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  13. #11

    Default Re: ABC format into Mandolin Tab

    Quote Originally Posted by Chiff View Post
    Irish Whistles (End Blown Flutes) and Irish Flutes have are tuned to a KEY. 99% of ppl use "D". One a "D" Whistle one can play D, G, A and some other minor keys using different fingering. If one plays a tune on a "D" and then does the same fingering on a "C" or "G" then the tune is automatically transposed into that new key. Its pretty cool really. But it does mean buying a ton of Whistles in different keys.

    Thank you Jeff for your kind help. Much appreciated.
    Mandolins are fully chromatic, so they can play in any key equally, unlike Irish whistles. They are also tuned in "concert" pitch (C), so they are not transposing instruments, like clarinets and saxophones.

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