Couple of Tab Questions

[GoWaldo]

I've been looking at internet tablature. It looks like this...

http://www.ezfolk.com/guitar/Tutorials/Four_Strums__4_4_Time_/four_strums__4_4_time_.html

The "B" with the up arrow is what i'm looking at on the strumming pattern. I also see it with a down arrow. What's that mean?

Also, the note above the word "your" has that slanted tail, what is that?

Thanks a lot!

[SteelSlider]

Hi GoWaldo
Man, it's been years and years since I've read any music.
That tail on the line means a eighth note. Like when you tap your foot to the beat.
Check out this page with in the Cyberfret site.

http://www.cyberfret.com/reading/index.htm

That should answer everything you need to know, and some.


The arrows that point up means to strum the designated strings from the bottom up. Start at your smallest string and strum up to the largest.

The down arrow means to strum down, from the big strings to the bottom.

Good luck.

made a correction on the timing.
Thanks Shawn, after I posted quarter I had to look to make sure.
Sorry if I missled anyone.

[cyberfret]

Hmmm. I don't know. The arrow would indicate strumming direction. And it this tab format it would mean to strum down (toward the floor). But I do not know what the B means. Most of the chords in the tablature have that arrow and the B, but a couple do not. In that example you would just strum down on every beat....quarter notes. But what the B stands for I don't know. I would probably contact the webmaster of ezfolk.com. And be sure and let us know what you find out :)

Now the note with a slanted tail above the word "your" is the notation for a single 8th note. An 8th note is a half beat.

Here is a small explanation of 8th notes.
http://www.cyberfret.com/reading/rhythms/part-2/index.htm

--Shawn

[E-string]

Well, I would have thought the "B" stood for "beat," trying to show where the beat was, except that they didn't stick that "B" on every beat... :D ... so who knows... I'm curious now, too.

[SteelSlider]

The only thing I can think that 'B' could mean is 'Beat'.

I've watched tab since it first appeared. Kinda like watching chat ettiqueet back fifteen years ago. Seeing the different styles, and such, then slowly all coming together.

[GoWaldo]

You were right Shawn, the arrows do simply indicate strumming direction. I emailed Rishard Hefner and got this reply:

Hi Andrew,

Sorry for the confusion there. The B stands for "Brush" and when it's used in TablEdit it makes the sound more authentic when you listen to the file (or create a midi), giving it more of a strumming sound instead of playing all of the strings at the very same time. The direction of the brush is the way you should strum. I'm going to hold on to your message until I can get in and add an explanation on one of the early lessons (possibly the tab reading tutorial). Thanks for pointing it out!

Richard

I guess that a thumb stroke is the exact same thing as a brush stroke... http://www.radioyur.com/les4.html

Anyone know how do a brush stroke going up?

Thanks! Damn I love cyberfret.com!
-Andrew

[E-string]

Originally posted by GoWaldo
I emailed Rishard Hefner and got this reply:

Hi Andrew,

... The B stands for "Brush" ...


Hmm... that's one thing I hadn't thought of... :D I'm glad you were able to find out for us all...

(Personally, I think this place, i.e. Cyberfret.com, is much more friendly for us not-so-expert guitarists... :) I don't think we would have had so much confusion about what something meant here... IMHO )