Can someone tell me how to read keyboard tabs?

[will86ca]

like this for example

--17----15----12--13----12---|----------12h-13h-12--10--|
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[bennychico11]

like this for example

--17----15----12--13----12---|----------12h-13h-12--10--|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|

for keyboard?? i've only seen that tab for guitar

17 means the 17th fret on that string, 15th fret, etc.

 

[will86ca]

The thing is, that is from a tabbed out song which is played by a program like guitar pro, or powertab software. You can change the musical instrument but the tab stays the same.

Theres a way to read it for keyboard but I forgot how.

 

[bennychico11]

The thing is, that is from a tabbed out song which is played by a program like guitar pro, or powertab software. You can change the musical instrument but the tab stays the same.

Theres a way to read it for keyboard but I forgot how.

but you're wanting to read it so you can play it on piano?
all that guitar pro is doing is just changing the syth sound that plays back the notes. if you want to learn to play the tab, you just need to learn what notes correspond to what frets on a guitar....then just adapt them to the piano. So for example the first note is fret 17 on the high E string...so that's high A about an octave and a fourth above the last E on the normal treble cleff staff (A6 i believe). Next is fret 15 which is 2 half steps down from the A...giving you G. And so on for the rest of the notes.

the only thing is rhythm is never really defined out on those "tab" charts. You just kinda have to know the song in order to figure out rhythm

 

[shiatzu]

if you're interested in "keyboard tabs" you had might want to check out a "fake book"... it has the melody and the chord symbols so it's really easy to play..

 

[will86ca]

...................

 

[gordone]

But you still need to
1)Read music so you know how to play the melody line
2)Know a fair amount of theory so you know which notes to play for each chord
3)Know a fair amount of piano skills to be able to integrate the melody and the accompaniment and make it sound "good"

If you know (1) but not (2) or (3), you'll have to get the "real" sheet music which tells you exactly which notes to play (and when!) for both the left and right hand. I really can't imagine any system for keyboard which correlate to guitar tab, they'r just very different instruments.

if you're interested in "keyboard tabs" you had might want to check out a "fake book"... it has the melody and the chord symbols so it's really easy to play..

 

[tamias]

There was a time when I relied on only my ear and tab to help me understand musical relationships. I have since kicked myself in the *ss everyday for not studying music theory.

In my reading I have come across a college online course that breaks down music in a very digestable way. Oh, did I mention it's free to browse??? You won't get college credit, but hey.....you want to learn right?

Will, check out: http://www.murraystate.edu/qacd/cfac/music/MUS109e/intro/chapter_index.htm

It will give you, not only a basic understanding of music. But it will also let you build up your understanding at your own pace. Everything from basic notation and beats to key signatures and major and minor scales.

So when my ear hears something, now I know what it is and how it's formed and what it's based on. Where as before, my only reference would of been stupid guitar magazines.....Wake Up!! Take the High Road. lol.
Best of luck!!

 

[crgl]

like this for example

--17----15----12--13----12---|----------12h-13h-12--10--|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------|

That is not a "keyboard tab" ( if there exists something like that ), that is a guitar tablature.

If you want to play a guitar melody in the keyboard and you only have the guitar tablature then I think is better to trancribe it to a Grand Staff first than trying to "read" directly from a guitar tablature. If you can read it directly from a guitar tablature and play it on a keyboard then you are a Genius.

Check my reply to this thread "Keyboard Tabs ? " here:

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=163660

 

[AlChuck]

This was the funniest post I've seen in a long time, thanks!

 

[BadAE]

This may intrest you http://www.musicarrangers.com/star-theory/

 

[crgl]

go to www.mysongbook.com

it has many gp4 files ( have to download Guitar Pro 4 demo )

You can view song files there both in tablature, in frets or the keyboard.

 

[SKYflyer]

well, if you are using guitar pro, there is a way to get it to display in keyboard notation, meaning with notes and stuff on a staff.

All you have to do is find the correct button to press on the toolbar. If you hover your mouse over this button, the tooltip will display "Standard Notation". Just press this button and you will be able to see the notes transcribed both in guitar tabs and normal keyboard style tabs (with a staff) at the same time.

EDIT: i think this only works with Guitar Pro 4, so if you are using an earlier version, you may be out of luck.