Where do you get your tab and why? [Archive]

hawgadi

10-23-2009, 12:35 PM

Google. I just Google the song name and add "tab" and I get all the results and options I need. Ultimate-guitar often has good stuff!

This morning's tune 'o the day: http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=tonight+tonight+tab&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Dek431

10-23-2009, 12:38 PM

Tab is bad! Before I got Internet I use to take a song and skip back and forth learning it by ear, finishing with the solo if there was one. NOW I get lazy and look it up 8x/10. YouTube doesn't help either grrrrr! Most Internet tab is user submitted and can be way off or dead on with everything in between. It can be a start for reference. I'm 30 and was ear trained at 19 how the current new players will ear train themselves I don't know.

For your question, I use YouTube or ultimate guitar. Slap wrist!

Edit; I remember when a friend and I raced to get albums worked out by ear!

Smashing pumpkins??? GCDAm tab??? Come on :).

wcap

10-23-2009, 12:45 PM

This really depends on what sort of music you are playing. For fingerstyle, there are a number of FANTASTIC tablature web sites with tablature that is not bad (these include standard notation if you prefer that).

One that I know the web address of off the top of my head is

http://www.frettedinstrumentsnyc.com

(I think I must have posted this link almost once a week recently in response to various people's questions)

For classical and latin stuff, there is also Dirk's guitar page (do a Google). It is also fantastic.

And there is a great flamenco tablature web site with lots of great tablature.

gh1

10-23-2009, 12:48 PM

I first try and get it directly from the artist or their merchandise. I like to see them get compensated for their work. If neither is available, i'll try and work it out myself as best i can, usually using youtube, and ask friends for help if i get stuck.

If that doesn't work i just move on to another song.

It's just my thing to stay away from "free" tab sites. I think they deprive artists of potential income.

_____
gh1

ruger9

10-23-2009, 01:11 PM

I too try to buy "licensed" tab merchandise. But if it doesn't exist, I'll definitely go to the internet. Just keep in mind the internet stuff isn't always right, so you have to use your ears as well as your eyes.

TotalTabs is the one I use. I'll also google if totaltabs doesn't have it. And as for fingerstyle, I've only found ONE good fingerstyle tab site, guitarnick.com

We should have a sticky listing resources such as tab sights... we don't have to list them all of course, but especially the ones dedicated to ACOUSTIC guitar, specifically fingerstyles.

SlopeD

10-23-2009, 01:12 PM

guitartab.com

best tabs, no redirects, usually quite accurate.

djc227

10-23-2009, 01:19 PM

doctor_gogol

10-23-2009, 01:27 PM

I just use Google.

Something like

Beatles Blackbird chords

I stay away from tabs. Frequently they are wrong. Especially free tabs.

I use lyrics with the chords just for a basic structure and figure out the rest on my own. It's generally more accurate.

ship of fools

10-23-2009, 01:33 PM

Pay the piper and the music guys in the big blue sky.
http://www.musicnotes.com/commerce/fixv2.asp?request_id=new&burl=signin&si=su
Ship.........at least I know that its going to be correct.

gh1

10-23-2009, 01:39 PM

Where do you go to find tab or sheet music directly from the artist? Is there any sort of comprehensive site you can buy from or do you just look for the artist's home page?
I email them directly. Yeah, usually from their web site. As an example, i emailed Larry Pattis for a copy of his arrangement of Waltzing Matilda after seeing his youtube video. He was kind enough to send me a copy.

I like the site ship just posted, check it out.

Let me be clear, i'm sure there are plenty of legitimate tab sites. I just don't use them. Until we figure out a way, in the age of the internet, to fund the creation of "public goods" i tend to stay away from tab sites, p2p file sharing and the like.

An example of the unintended harm that can be caused is to look at what is happening to investigative and foreign correspondent journalism.

Like i said it's just my viewpoint.

_____
gh1

Big Paws

10-23-2009, 01:53 PM

From my viewpoint, I personally have no problem with free tabs, once the music is out there, its out there. If i were to make money off their music, thats a different story.

I use ultimate guitar too, I don't need a perfect replication of the artists notes, as long as it sounds good to me. When I need accuracy I usually pay for it in a book or something (but those can be wrong too - no big deal for me). Some really good tab can be found inside guitar publications, I find they are more picky about accuracy etc.

hawgadi

10-23-2009, 01:59 PM

Yep, tabs are often wrong.

It only takes a few seconds to figure out if it's done well or not, and even if not, it's often an interesting starting point. There are usually several versions--finding the right one is a matter of seconds.

Same thing applies to YouTube. Lots of junk, some good stuff, all more helpful than anything that's ever existed before.

Beginning guitarists who need strict guidance and exact or simplified (correct) versions use caution. Ask a friend, try by ear, get lessons.

Guitarpix

10-23-2009, 03:05 PM

I get the majority of mine from http://www.chordie.com/ It was the first site I found when I started back playing a few years ago and I've always found a great selection of artists and songs there with several tab or chord versions to choose from for most of them. I also find the songbook feature, the ability to change all songs to different instruments (guitar, banjo, mandolin, Uke, etc...), Auto transcribe, scroll options and such to be very convenient. Also some very friendly people hanging around the forums...

justonwo

10-23-2009, 05:41 PM

One of the best guitar-related purchases I ever made was to buy the Guitar Pro software. There are very few songs for which I can't find Guitar Pro tabs. Guitar pro not only shows the traditional musical notation and tab, but it allows you to play the song, slow it down, see the tab for various tracks, and of course write your own tab.

A long time ago I downloaded about 80,000 songs in Guitar Pro format using PTP software, and I've been coasting ever since. When I don't have a song in my catalog, I usually find that 911tabs has a good selection of Guitar Pro files.

15 Man

10-23-2009, 05:59 PM

I have to agree with Dek431 above when he says that tab is good as reference or starting point. I'll go beyond that and say that most tab is a waste of time. I usually only use tab as a place to get started if I'm having a hard time with a song. I've been playing for 42 years and learned how to figure stuff out by ear. I often wonder if a lot of the people - that are writing down that tab and posting it - aren't hearing imapired. Some tab is so far off it's hard to believe that they are hearing the same song I am.

colocajun

10-23-2009, 06:05 PM

I play country music mostly so I have 3 tab sites I use. they are cowboylyrics.com, allcountrytabs.com, and cowpie on roughstock.com. these sites are the most accurate I have found.

perron

12-28-2009, 09:16 AM

I see the guitar in a you tube video and is a no hole in the center(sound cavity)acustic natural any ideas

Tab is bad! Before I got Internet I use to take a song and skip back and forth learning it by ear, finishing with the solo if there was one. NOW I get lazy and look it up 8x/10. YouTube doesn't help either grrrrr! Most Internet tab is user submitted and can be way off or dead on with everything in between. It can be a start for reference. I'm 30 and was ear trained at 19 how the current new players will ear train themselves I don't know.

For your question, I use YouTube or ultimate guitar. Slap wrist!

Edit; I remember when a friend and I raced to get albums worked out by ear!

Smashing pumpkins??? GCDAm tab??? Come on :).

Turtle

12-28-2009, 10:07 AM

There is some pretty good stuff here: http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/

ScottAllyn

12-28-2009, 10:46 AM

The Guitar Tab Library (http://www.tablibrary.com/) has a huge selection of Power Tabs, all free and legal.

mmmaak

12-28-2009, 10:47 AM

I buy what is available (as a previous poster said: Pay the piper) and transcribe by ear what is not.

Most "free" internet tabs are too inaccurate for my taste, though there are a handful of fairly good sites and authors.

JoeNewbie

12-28-2009, 11:10 AM

For major artists, I go to the music store.

For "specialized" artists, such as Pierre Bensusan, Pete Huttlinger and Muriel Anderson, I go to their website.

The free stuff is either illegal or was transcribed by an amateur. Either way I'm not interested.

Minotaur

12-28-2009, 11:16 AM

Yep, tabs are often wrong.

It only takes a few seconds to figure out if it's done well or not, and even if not, it's often an interesting starting point. There are usually several versions--finding the right one is a matter of seconds.

Same thing applies to YouTube. Lots of junk, some good stuff, all more helpful than anything that's ever existed before.

^ This.

I usually go directly to UG then weed through the garbage. You know, like the ones that make me think "why did this person even bother?"

mmmaak

12-28-2009, 11:27 AM

The free stuff is either illegal or was transcribed by an amateur. Either way I'm not interested.
I take (slight) offence at that comment :D:D:D

(though there's no denying that I am very much an amateur!)

ScottAllyn

12-28-2009, 11:48 AM

::high fives mmmaak::

mmmaak

12-28-2009, 12:03 PM

::high fives mmmaak::
http://www.dawgsports.com/images/admin/USC_chest_bump.jpg

JoeNewbie

12-28-2009, 12:05 PM

I take (slight) offence at that comment :D:D:D

(though there's no denying that I am very much an amateur!)

From string action to transcriptions, you and I have a long history of disagreement. Let's settle this now and mutually block each other! :D

Seriously, there's only so many hours in a day and if I spend time to learn a transcription, I'll want the "master" transcription. Nothing wrong with the others but not a priority for me...

mmmaak

12-28-2009, 12:09 PM

From string action to transcriptions, you and I have a long history of disagreement. Let's settle this now and mutually block each other! :D
And deprive myself of all the fun? No way! :lol:

Seriously, there's only so many hours in a day and if I spend time to learn a transcription, I'll want the "master" transcription. Nothing wrong with the others but not a priority for me...
Just curious....by "master", do you mean transcriptions written by the original artists/arrangers? Or just someone who is a "pro transcriber"?

JoeNewbie

12-28-2009, 12:23 PM

Just curious....by "master", do you mean transcriptions written by the original artists/arrangers? Or just someone who is a "pro transcriber"?

This question is as tricky as "how do I sort my classical CDs?". Ever thought of that? I still haven't figured out a definite way... :)

I don't think there's a definite line for me but essentially, if I want to learn a TE song, I'll get the books on Mel Bay. I also prefer the recorded versions (whenever possible) to some other (often watered down) arrangements.

If a guy can accurately transcribe a tune that's difficult enough for me to require tab, he's a pro in my book (and guys like that usually don't work for free).