Tab notation qustion

[Carl23]

I'm adding tab notation to clarify some specific fingering.
I don't really think it's necessary, I think the fingering speaks for itself.

Just looking for opinions...

In mesure 1 I only notate the fret placement of the 4th finger. in measure 2 I fill in everything.

Does mesure 1 make it more confusing?
Is there a better way of notating this?

thanks

C

[Chris Gray]

That's correct. I don't think you need the dashes.

[Jim Garber]

The fingering the tab example looks awkward to me but I assume you are just asking us whether the notation itself is clear. I would say the 2nd measure makes more sense. The first does not make sense with rests indicated.

[Carl23]

yeah, fingering is weird because I'm avoiding the open strings.
You should see what I came up with in a later measure. Akward as hell, but sounds great when I can get it.

C

[Jim Garber]

What genre of music is this? Even in classical you can use open strings if they make sense in the phrasing or want something to ring out. It won't work well also if the avoidance of open strings interrupts the flow of the music.

That is one reason why I prefer not using TAB or reading from urtext notation. I would rather experiment and put my own fingerings in. There is one version of the Beethoven mandolin pieces I was trying to play years ago and it was the most awkward fingerings at times. Poor editing/arrangment and this was published by a recognized authority. Hmmmm...

[Carl23]

Classical (Cristofaro - Mazurka)

I always go for sound first, especially the ability to control the sound (aka with fingers on strings)
I also prefer a minimum movement of the hand. In the awkward fingering case, it's double stops that needed to be solved. So I had to choose between awkward hand motion and awkward fingering.

In the OP case I think the 'pull off' E sounds great open, then the fingered Es increase the impact of the open E (at least to my ears) the final fretted E continues to the F then up the scale, an open string in the middle of a scalar run oftes sound weird to me. (unless it falls on a strong beat)

Finally, "avoiding" open strings forces me to make open strings a more intentional choice, rather than the default. In many cases the music makes it obvious when you absolutely need to use the open strings.

I mostly do not use Tab, but I find that it helps when discussing unusual or new fingerings (just like this discussion)

C