Entering tab with Simple Entry

Entering directly into a tab staff.

In addition to copying music to a tab staff from a standard staff, you can also enter fret numbers directly into tab staves.

In this lesson you’ll learn how to:

1. Entering directly into a tab staff
2. Entering chords in tab staves

Entering directly into a tab staff

Entering directly into a tab staff comes in handy if you are working with a tab staff only, or already know the tablature and not the standard notation.

To enter directly into a tab staff with Simple Entry:

1. Click the Simple Entry tool .
2. Click the Eighth Note (in the Simple Entry palette). You will need to choose the rhythmic value of the entry first so SongWriter knows its duration and how to properly space each fret number.
3. Click the TAB staff on the low (E) string in measure 9. A “0” (zero) appears. When you click directly into a tab staff, you will always see a “0” first.
4. Type 3.
5. Click the third (D) string to add the next note. Leave this one as 0.
6. Type ENTER to activate the Simple Entry caret.
7. Use the ARROW KEYS to move the caret to the fourth (G) string.
8. Type ENTER. A "0" appears.
9. Use the ARROW KEYS to move the caret back to the fourth (D) string and type ENTER. Now, we need to change durations to a quarter note.
10. Press COMMAND+OPTION+5 (or click the Quarter Note tool). The caret changes to a quarter note. (Remember, you must type 5 in the number keypad).
11. Move to the 5th (B) string, click the Quarter Note tool, and type ENTER. Now, we'll select the eighth note duration.
12. Press COMMAND+OPTION+4 (or click the Eighth Note tool). The caret changes back to an eighth note.
13. Move to the 2nd (A) string and type 2, 3.

Note. Instead of typing the string and fret number, you can also use a MIDI device to enter tablature with the Simple Entry Caret. First, from the Simple menu, ensure Use MIDI Device for Input is checked. Then, with the Caret active, choose the rhythmic duration and then play the note. SongWriter will place the fret number on the appropriate string.

Watch video "Entering directly into a tab staff."

14. Now, enter the next two measures of tab as shown, using either the Simple Enter Caret or clicking the notes onto the staff. When you get to beat 3, remember you will need to change the duration to a quarter note.

15. Enter the tab for measure 12-14 as shown using whichever method you prefer.

Adding chords in tab staves

You can also add multiple notes on the same beat to build a chord, either by clicking them in with the Simple Entry tool, or by adding them with the keyboard. Adding notes on a tab staff with keyboard commands is slightly different than adding them on regular staves:

To add chords in a tab staff:

1. OPTION+click on beat 3 of measure 15 in the tab staff. The "0" should be selected.
2. Type OPTION+QWERTY keyboard 2. SongWriter adds a “0” on the 5th (B) string above the fret number that’s already entered.
3. Type 1. The “0” changes to a “1”.
4. Press RIGHT ARROW and type OPTION+QWERTY keyboard 2.
5. Type 1 to change the note to the 1st fret.
6. Complete the last three measures using the techniques you've learned.

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