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Guitar tabs exist, but were only for people who wanted to play without taking the time to actually learn the craft This attitude really rubs me the wrong way.

Guitar tabs exist, but were only for people who wanted to play without taking the time to actually learn the craft This attitude really rubs me the wrong way. Tablature is absolutely ancient. It's been around for hundreds of years, and this glib dismissal is just the absolutely epitome of an elitist mindset.

beagle3 6y ago
I just added an edit: I wrote this, but this wasn't my mindset -- that was the mindset of every teacher and adult around me growing up, including those who couldn't read sheet music and used tablature to play. (Yes, I did grow up in a culture highly inspired by older/east european ideals, where kids were welcome to do whatever they want such as learn the guitar, after they've finished their homework, practiced their piano lessons. And as long they're on a path that -- if kept -- would lead them to be on a professional level) I played classical guitar for a few years, but stopped because I just wanted to play popular music, and there were no teachers around who actually taught that who were accomplished enough to be considered worth the money by my parents (who had a very limited budget).
andrewzah 6y ago
The fact that tablature is ancient doesn't mean it's great for "learning the craft" (in other words, understanding music theory). The age of a notation system is completely irrelevant when deciding what notation system to use, really. Tablature (for guitar/bass guitar, anyway) reduces note and rhythm information to merely a fret# on a string. This is perfectly fine for people who just want to play a song. I look at tabs sometimes for a quick reference since it's just mentally easier than sheet music. But if you want to start understanding the theory and relationships between those notes and chords to any meaningful degree, you really do need to start using sheet music. "Fret #3 on the E string to Fret #3 on the A string" doesn't communicate information like "G -> C" does (like the key center, the tonic, etc). It also doesn't limit you to any specific section of the fretboard. Sheet music is really not that hard to learn. If you want to just use tabs, go ahead, but it's not elitist to point out that sheet music is basically essential for progression as a musician. Music theory is a fundamental part of that progression, unless you just want to play tablature (or sheet music) robotically.

beagle3 6y ago

I just added an edit: I wrote this, but this wasn't my mindset -- that was the mindset of every teacher and adult around me growing up, including those who couldn't read sheet music and used tablature to play. (Yes, I did grow up in a culture highly inspired by older/east european ideals, where kids were welcome to do whatever they want such as learn the guitar, after they've finished their homework, practiced their piano lessons. And as long they're on a path that -- if kept -- would lead them to be on a professional level) I played classical guitar for a few years, but stopped because I just wanted to play popular music, and there were no teachers around who actually taught that who were accomplished enough to be considered worth the money by my parents (who had a very limited budget).

andrewzah 6y ago

The fact that tablature is ancient doesn't mean it's great for "learning the craft" (in other words, understanding music theory). The age of a notation system is completely irrelevant when deciding what notation system to use, really. Tablature (for guitar/bass guitar, anyway) reduces note and rhythm information to merely a fret# on a string. This is perfectly fine for people who just want to play a song. I look at tabs sometimes for a quick reference since it's just mentally easier than sheet music. But if you want to start understanding the theory and relationships between those notes and chords to any meaningful degree, you really do need to start using sheet music. "Fret #3 on the E string to Fret #3 on the A string" doesn't communicate information like "G -> C" does (like the key center, the tonic, etc). It also doesn't limit you to any specific section of the fretboard. Sheet music is really not that hard to learn. If you want to just use tabs, go ahead, but it's not elitist to point out that sheet music is basically essential for progression as a musician. Music theory is a fundamental part of that progression, unless you just want to play tablature (or sheet music) robotically.