The Tabbing Secret

By

Robin James C. Yu                [agent_sixtyfour@yahoo.com]

Tabbing has always been a difficult task for one who isn't skilled with the ability to listen
by ear and play the proper notes on the keyboard or piano. Well I've found a way that'll make
tabbing easier. You have to be able to read notes to be able to do this. I don't know if any of
you ever heard of this trick or way of creating your own sheet music but here it goes.

Steps :

1. Download a program called MIDINOTATE. You won't be able to get its full version without
paying, but there's a trick I'll show you later to pass it. Download the TRIAL version at
[www.notation.com], just look for its download section.

2. Now let's say you'd like to be able to play the song " Hero " by Enrique Iglesias. First of
all you'll have to search for its MIDI file on the Internet. Just use this site to search for
your songs - [www.musicrobot.com]

3. Once you've got the MIDI file of the song you want. Open MIDINOTATE and press file > open
and open your MIDI file.

4. In front of you you'll see the piano notes to play them. Although many MIDI files include
several instruments playing like the drum, Alto sax and other such. Note: try to learn the
interface and the features MIDINOTATE has to offer before attempting to do some complex
breaking down.

5. Now since there are many available instruments try to locate the TRACK or instrument which
includes the MELODY of the song, since that's the part you mainly sing with and should hear in
a tab.

6. After locating the Melody, go to the menu and press Track > Transcribe chord names. Just
press Ok and stuff like that. Transcribing the chord names will allow you to play the proper
chords along with the melody. Personally I never play without the chords.

7. After locating the Melody and Transcribing the chords of the chosen song, delete all other
TRACKS. Do this by selecting Track > Track setup or pressing Ctrl + T. You got the tracks listed
so delete unnecessary tracks.

8. Now you should have the full Sheet music of the song you want to play. If you want to play
the song with a piano sound and the instrument used in the song isn't a piano, just go to track
setup (ctrl + t), and change the patch of the track you want to hear play in a piano instrument.

9. Now sometimes MIDINOTATE creates errors in the chord naming so be sure to test the song
before sharing to others and correcting any errors you see.

10. To share to others just read the "How to Tab" guide in the pianotabs.net articles and be
sure to share to others the tabs you made.

11. Make your own tab or MIDINOTATE has a option in where you can print your sheet music.

11. Now since your copy of MIDINOTATE is just a Trial Version, Well we can pass that. After 30
days your copy will expire and marks will appear every 5th frame of your songs. So when that
30th day comes just adjust your Windows Clock located on your lower right to a date before the
day your copy of MIDINOTATE expired. Be sure to do this BEFORE launching MIDINOTATE. Everything
should be just cool after that.

For any questions or comments E-mail me at agent_sixtyfour@yahoo.com

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