question regarding tablature writing

[dmb_josh]

I am trying to tab out a song I wrote, and its not as easy as I thought it would be. I'm using a word document with a layout like this:

e--------------------------------|
b--------------------------------|
g--------------------------------|
d--------------------------------|
a--------------------------------|
e--------------------------------|

My question is, is there a 'norm' as far as spacing between notes, say 3 characters or something? For some reason my tab is not looking like most others that I see. Do the tab blocks themselves represent bars of music? Or are tabs more of an informal guide? I'm new to the writing aspect and could use any tips or advice on the process.

Thanks,

Josh

[sunglassesatnight]

Tabs are very informal. Just use the font Courier New, and chords and such will line up correctly. As for spacing, usually people try to put more space when the notes are further in time apart.

[Teego Time]

Yeah it's pretty much up to you, but the general rule is that the closer then notes are together, the faster played, and the further apart the slower.

HOWEVER, if they're too close together, you start running into clarity issues. Make sure you have enough room in your tab so that people can read it and pick individual notes out. When posting it in the forum use the code function as will put the tab in courier new for you.

Here are some examples for you:

This is with good spacing:

Code: Select all

d:-2h4p2---h7--h9--h7------------------------------------    -(12)-
a:-2-------h7--h9-----h7-------h7--h7/9—-h9-—h7p0-h7/9---    -(12)-
g:-2-----------------------------------------------------    -(12)-  
d:-0---------------h2----h7/9--h7--h7/9-—h9--h7---h7/9--- x2 -(12)-
a:-----------------h2------------------------------------    -(12)-
D:-----------------h2----------h5--------h4--------------    -(12)-

This is with spacing that's too close, notice how hard it is to read?

Code: Select all

d:-2h4p2-h7-h9-h7---------------------------------- -(12)-
a:-2-----h7-h9---h7------h7-h7/9-h9—h7p0-h7/9-----  -(12)-
g:-2----------------------------------------------- -(12)-
d:-0-----------h2--h7/9--h7-h7/9—h9-h7---h7/9--- x2 -(12)-
a:-------------h2---------------------------------  -(12)-
D:-------------h2--------h5------h4---------------  -(12)-

[dmb_josh]

thanks guys - exactly what I was looking for.


Josh