[FR] Guitar/Bass Tablature Clips

[spoontechnique]

Here's an idea that might help Waveform appeal to songwriters and bands. I record guitar/bass. Like many guitarists (20+ million active users on Ultimate-Guitar alone), I use tablature exclusively. I sometimes use software like Guitar Pro and Tuxguitar for writing music. It's common to write in Guitar Pro and then export as MIDI, but that introduces an extra stage (and program) in the writing process.

A potential solution could be Tablature Clips. I imagine a GUI that slaps on to the existing MIDI interface. Six channels mimic strings, with the option to add/remove strings (to accommodate bass guitar, extended range guitars, mandolins, ukuleles, etc.) and change tunings of each string. Each string hosts MIDI notes which can be stretched, cut, copied, pasted, dragged between strings, etc. The pitch of the note is determined by a fret number (0-24, typically). Changing the fret number (and thus pitch) would probably act like raising the velocity of a MIDI note (alt dragging, using a shortcut, etc.). I don't think specialized articulations are necessary.

Tab is a familiar paradigm for many people that could coexist alongside the piano roll. The modern rock/metal world is driven by guitarists as bandleaders who often write/program drums, bass, guitar, and VST instruments for the entire band, and most of them learned from tab. Even non-guitarists might find value as an alternative way of writing. Although Reaper has 3rd party functionality similar to this, and Cubase has a limited tab editor, few DAWs have a native feature that approximates guitar tab. It could be a unique draw for Waveform.

[Stuttaton]

Interesting idea. I think it would be even better if it displays the actual note name in conjunction with the fret number. You could either enter the note name or the fret number and waveform would add the other. This would be very educational, when you want to translate from standard notation to tab and vice versa.

[spoontechnique]

That's a great point! That would make transitioning between the two even easier.

[Watchful]

Would be interested to see Figbug chime in here, as this has serious potential.

[Stuttaton]

Would be interested to see Figbug chime in here, as this has serious potential.

It's probably best to send him the suggestion as an e-mail.