h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Why the f**k does it say "Mmm...honey" on the front page?

Bee-cause

Now it says "Brr...chilly!"

yes... it does
I expect its just the italics messing with our heads
Pay no attention, and perhaps they'll desist..

?

Mmmm

?

BTW, I listened to those midis.. very... unusual
Do you have a midi keyboard, or did you use the computer qwerty?

Ah, they're extremely unusual. Most of them are just random. Completely random. Dot dot dot sort of thing.

Neither. Well, qwerty. Well, no. We used a program they have at school, called Finale 2003, where you write (sheet) music, by picking the note and pressing it on the stave (staff? ). The general way of saving it as sheet music is .mus but on that program you can also save what you've written as a MIDI, as well as (and this is cool) change MIDIs into sheet music.

Hmmm. I think I can do that with Band in a Box, and also Bucket O' Tabs allows you to play guitar tabulature as a midi.

I have an 8 hour drive tomorrow, (actually, later today), so I must bid you goodnight...

Did you download 'em for free?

Have fun on your drive then. Are you going anywhere interesting and what are you driving in?

Today it says "toffee".

Just a quick trip to Vancouver and back.. family stuff. I suppose Vancouver is interesting, in some ways... most of them unpleasant..
I drove a teensy black Echo

toffee, eh?

Shhh! Pay them no attention. Soon they'll get bored and stop!


Bucket O' Tabs is free.. but it is unable to understand musical notation, and is specific to guitar tabulature. Do you know about guitar tabs?

Standard tuning is represented like this:
E ---------
A ---------
D ---------
G ---------
B ---------
e ---------

Notes or chords are indicated by numbers, representing the frets:

E --3------
A --2------
D --0------
G --0------
B --0------
e --3------

would be the G major chord. Muted strings are indicated by an X instead of a 0, or just left blank..


Band in a Box is a purchased program. It is quite powerful, but a bit unstable, and of limited use without a midi keyboard. One can use the mouse to actually place notes on a staff, and the program will print sheet music.

I don't really care much for midi -- it seems 'cold' somehow.

Live music, or at least music performed with little or no digital involvement is more appealing

You're right, it is a bit cold, but it's the only way you can hear what you compose (for many parts) unless you keep a symphony orchestra locked in your basement, which, unfortunately, I don't.

I do know a bit about guitar tabs, and you explained a bit, but it's still confusing.

I may even consider learning guitar, as I love the sound.

Many musicians use midi to help them develop music... I just don't like it when midi is used for a 'finished' product, just as I prefer a live percussionist/drummer to electronic drums. I *hate* electronic drums, even though they are handy for practise work.

Tabs are ok if, (like me!), one cannot read music, but tabs don't provide much information about tempo or rhythm.

If you decide to learn guitar, I suggest you first try a classic, (nylon strung), guitar, because it is easier on the fingers tban a steel string, although the neck is a bit thicker and it tends to go out of tune Once you have developed finger strength and proficiency, you could try a steel string, but be prepared for a certain amount of discomfort until your fingertips develop callouses
One can get a new, reasonably decent sounding classic guitar for under $150.00 (Cdn) Or maybe your school has a rental program

Although typical classic guitars are acoustic only, a few manufacturers have produced electric and electric/acoustic classics, using special pickup technology that does not require magnetic coils and ferrous strings. Yamaha makes a very nice electric classic, but it is about $800.00 and requires an amplifier..
Rock on!

Tabs can provide as much information about tempo and rhythm as notes. The only problem is that to understand it you'll need to know.... notes.

BTW, I listened to those midis.. very... erm... interesting!

Tabs alone don't really give very much info about rhythm. Fortunately the music staff is commonly displayed above the tabs, at least in some stuff I've seen, including some music software --- great for learning to read music

So-called tabs in plain text files available at various places on the 'net cannot include the music staff, and sometimes don't specify what chord voicings are used, etc. But they're free, so we shouldn't complain..

But we will...

Ah yes, those midis... ... yes... interesting... yes..

I'm not a guitarist but have read many tabs and written a few myself when arranging. If I don't remember completely wrong the tabs are very often supplied with... what's the word(?)... stems, tails, something... used in normal scores. Certainly not perfect, but quite good if you *do* read music but have problems with that of an instrument called a guitar.

Then again... I *might* remember completely wrong. And I can't be bothered to go upstairs now to find out if I am.

stems? tails?

Well written tabs are often enhanced with the treble clef, key signature, and meter

And it *is* a of an instrument... I it!

Ottox, if you compose solo pieces, does that make you a 'lone arranger'!

Guitar tabs are sometimes written above notes, aren't they?

Are you knocking my midis?

knocking your midis? I wouldn't dare

I have seen guitar chord diagrams included above music notation. They aren't really tabs, though; perhaps they are intended as a suggested chord voicing