Wow I suck at playing tab / sheet music!

red5 · #1 01-20-2006, 09:40 PM

I just realised I suck at playing tabs... haven't tried to learn anything from tabs in a while, and I just can't do it...

Just downloaded the tab to the ride the lightning solo and figured I would try to play it. The solo isn't even remotely challenging - just playing it to the tab is.

little wing · #2 01-20-2006, 10:23 PM

you're not the only one though..

pawel · #3 01-21-2006, 07:12 AM

Count me in too, I suck at it, except that I suck at playing by ear too.

I can play things pretty well from tab, but it takes me such a long time that by the time I get some part right I lose interest (that happened with my attempt to play Cliffs of Dover)

I get away by saying that I am an improviser though ;-)

Davey · #4 01-21-2006, 07:19 AM

Wow, I thought I was the only one! lol

I can do it for most stuff but when it comes to hectic solos it becomes really hard, although it's not so bad if you have a CD with it where it plays the notes slower.

The Total Accuracy DVDs have been a God-send I must say.

red5 · #5 01-21-2006, 07:28 AM

Update: I was just sucking all over tonight. I couldn't play much of anything

red5 · #6 01-21-2006, 07:28 AM

Update: I was just sucking all over tonight. I couldn't play much of anything. I'm scared - not drunk and maybe I just finally realised I suck

fettouhi · #7 01-21-2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red5

Update: I was just sucking all over tonight. I couldn't play much of anything. I'm scared - not drunk and maybe I just finally realised I suck

Welcome

.

Regards

André

nickcoumbe · #8 01-23-2006, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawel

Count me in too, I suck at it, except that I suck at playing by ear too.

I can play things pretty well from tab, but it takes me such a long time that by the time I get some part right I lose interest (that happened with my attempt to play Cliffs of Dover)

I get away by saying that I am an improviser though ;-)

+1 I can't do either very well.

I must start saying that I improvise. I have been telling everyone that I would rather play my own songs for years. Unfortunately, I can;t find any other musicians with the same opinion

I find it easy to learn some things from tab, and others impossible.

Eye been nez'd · #9 01-23-2006, 10:00 AM

I suck at playing tab also!!!I just like soloing that's the main reason I started playing guitar.

ChopTart · #10 01-23-2006, 10:06 AM

Tabs are always a bit difficult, because the duration of the notes and time signatures are totally out the window, but they're also easier to find and if you know the song really well its easier to learn - its a trade off

Al M · #11 01-23-2006, 10:42 AM

Its weird, I can sight read on trumpet and mandolin. But for some reason i really struggle applying it to guitar!

JJEMMER777 · #12 01-23-2006, 11:05 AM

Hmmm...just wondering WHY tab is so difficult?? Each and every note is all layed out right in front of you?? To me, learning a song (especially a difficult one) is much harder to try to learn by ear without tab. I find tab very helpful. But I DO need the CD to play along with for the time sigs, note duration etc. Although I do not do any covers anymore at all so I guess its irrelavant

rgr · #13 01-23-2006, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

Hmmm...just wondering WHY tab is so difficult?? Each and every note is all layed out right in front of you?? To me, learning a song (especially a difficult one) is much harder to try to learn by ear without tab. I find tab very helpful. But I DO need the CD to play along with for the time sigs, note duration etc. Although I do not do any covers anymore at all so I guess its irrelavant

+1, to use tab, you need to have an audio version of the song you are trying to learn close at hand. Also, take it slow, a measure, or a phrase at a time, you can't do it in real time. Tab just shows you where to put your fingers, you need to hear it to be able to phrase it correctly. Sounds like you are trying to play along with the song in real time with tab and getting frustrated, I'm guessing that would even frustrate Vai. Sight reading "real" music would give you a much better results with real time playing because all the information you need is written out. Of course, sight reading requires years of work to get the ability to do it well.

I quite often suck all over the fingerboard, usually that is telling me to slow down and really WORK on what I am trying to play.

$0.02,
Roger

jaken777 · #14 01-23-2006, 12:07 PM

The trick is to relax & take it slow then the mussles in your hands with your brain will flow with what you want to play, i suck badly when i try new tabs but you get there when you have done it over a few times, it helps to have a good ear as well, Perfect Pitch program can help with ear training if any bro's have problems here, it worked for me.

Cheers-Jake

red5 · #15 01-24-2006, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJEMMER777

Hmmm...just wondering WHY tab is so difficult?? Each and every note is all layed out right in front of you?? To me, learning a song (especially a difficult one) is much harder to try to learn by ear without tab. I find tab very helpful. But I DO need the CD to play along with for the time sigs, note duration etc. Although I do not do any covers anymore at all so I guess its irrelavant

Well you ansered your own question. I was playing stuff that I have not heard in a while, which does not help me out.

If I learn something by ear, I usually know it well enough that I can just sit down and play it straight through anyway