There are a lot of posts on this subject, but I think it's good to keep bringing it up. (Maybe Nick can find a good thread and make it "sticky."
Each of us have our own ways of going about it, but some things are essential to all of us. Here's my way(s):
Uhm...Where do I begin?....
I have the Circle of Fifths hanging on my wall.
I have also printed the note layouts for my harps and put them in a small photo album. I got the note layouts from
here. (See "tab guide" in the menu on the left, also.)
IF YOU HAVE SHEET MUSIC:
Put the lyrics in your word processor and SET THE FONT TO
COURIER NEW. This is important. It will keep your numbers lined up with your words. Set the spaces between the lines and put hyphens between the syllables. Don't make the lines too long, or they'll end up being split and all messed up.
(I usually copy/paste the lyrics from a website. Just Google "Whatever Song lyrics." ---Unless the name of the song you want to tab is not "Whatever Song."
Using the key of the song, and considering accidentals within the song, use the note layouts to choose the harp you want to tab for. (It might not be the same key as the song, but that's the first one to look at...unless you already know you want to tab it in another "position" besides 1st.) The availability of the notes and/or personal preference will determine which octave you will tab in.
Type the holes over the syllables. I use the following format:
(Diatonic)
3 = 3 hole blow
-3 = 3 hole draw
-3' = 1/2 step bend
-3" = 1 step bend
-3"' = 1 1/2 step bend
(4 5) = both at the same time
(Chromatic)
3 = blow
-3 = draw
3* or -3* = push the button
If you use other symbols, explain what they mean above your tab.
Make sure your tab isn't the same as one already on the site. Log in and click "Add a Tab." Toggle the Advanced Editor
OFF!! It's a failed experiment. It's good for nothing but to turn your tab into gibberish! Fill in the necesary information. "Key" refers to the key of the harmonica; not the song. If your song is a different version of one that's already posted, you'll have to change the title by adding some kind of suffix. In other words, if your're tabbing "Close to You" by The Doors, you'll have to type something like "Close to You (The Doors)" because "Close to You" by the Carpenters is already listed. There are a lot of ways to change the title..."higher octave", "key of Bb", etc. (Don't say something like "better version." You don't want to diminish other peoples work.)
Fill in the unnecessary information if you want to.
If a song does not have lyrics, I try to use longer or shorter spaces, new lines, etc to give a visual clue to the phrasing, when possible.
Copy the tab from your word processor and paste it into the tab box and click "Publish Song."
IF YOU DON'T HAVE SHEET MUSIC:
You might be able to generate your own sheet music. If you can find a midi version of the song, download it into a program that converts midi to sheet music. (I use Harmony Assistant.) Your newly generated sheet music might contain a mixture of sharps and flats. Change them all to sharps or all to flats (C# = Db, ya know), whichever produces a real key. (Be aware that it may contain accidentals.) Now you have sheet music.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE SHEET MUSIC OR MIDI:
Now you have to tab by ear. Using a (musical) keyboard will help.
Input from other tabbers is, of course, welcome.
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/2012 09:51PM by gene.