Tablature, or more frequently called TAB, is a way of understanding guitar pieces... or the performance of a guitar player without the use of regular music notation. While it must be said that some of the best fretted instrument music was created by individuals using tab, hudreds of years ago, we have to keep in mind that it was not tab that was responsible for that creativity. Tab was just the way of writing such music at that time, the tool, so to say, for putting the music down on paper. Music for the early guitar and similar instruments would have been created regardless of what system of notation was used.
Today, with tab, a person can apparently learn to play and write music while remaining illiterate of the real art of music notation. Even though tab presents the learning of guitar in an easy to visualize format, there are however problems that can result from using tablature instead of standard music notation, as musicians playing instruments other than the guitar have been taught to do. This has been observed and noted by many individuals. Below, is more on tabincluding links to internet sites, with views both pro and con expressed to help those unfamiliar become more aware so that choices can be made as to whether to use tab, standard notation... or both.
Tablature
The Past and The Present
Save The Guitar ~ click above image
Tablature Update
It is now apparent that "Tab" really does hurt the development of the guitarist. Recently information has been coming in from educators around the world who have had to refuse the acceptance of applicants to college studies in guitar because they do not read standard music notation. Hundreds of talented individuals have been told they cannot have music as a major, or even as an elective because they are not properly prepared. It is as if they were to have slipped through the system without knowing how to read language, or simply understand the numbers 1-9 and zero... and expecting college entrance. This has none the less been very disappointing to the students, not to mention parents who honestly thought their children were being given proper lessons in guitar. Some parents have filed complaints against private guitar teachers who told them their sons and daughters were learning valid materials.
The essential point here is that "Tab" is not actually music notation reading. A comparison might be if a person was taught another form of written communication ie. hieroglyphics, or some type of picture language, or a different number system for math (or no math at all) and expected to get in to school. Of course, this would not happen because we all know better, and even parents would recognize this... not to mention S.A.T.s and all that would have preceded these tests through the years of standard education. This is a real tragedy to not only the students, but the credibility of the guitar. The ability to read standard music notation is available on guitar as it is on all other instruments, but the majority of actual guitar lessons go without teaching it. This is because most of those teaching guitar are either incapable themselves of reading music, or they have fallen prey to that system which has been lowering the level of education in our world in general.
This unfortunate situation can be and is in the works of being overcome. New standards are now being introduced in some school systems where "Real" guitar lessons are being taught. Students will be only given valid knowledge on guitar technique and the reading of music so that they can grow and develop properly and be able to use their guitar beyond their "head banging" years. Also, parents can be more aware and informed so they can correctly discern the guitar lessons they are paying for in the private sector, so that their money is spent wisely. Hopefully this education in correct guitar will spread so there will be less disappointment and loss in the future.
Both of the above links are toMel Bay Publications.
As a young guitarist I studied only from books published by Mel Bay. If it were not for these books, including all the volumes of the Mel Bay Guitar Method, I... as well as many other guitarists, would have never experienced the pleasure and rewards we have from the guitar. Mel Bay Publications is GUITAR. It is my belief that if it were not for these fine books, much of the popularity the guitar enjoys today would be non-existant. Even though other publishers have since marketed numerous methods and materials, some good... some perhaps not so, it was Mel Bay Publications that started it all for real studies in guitar.
