I was brought up with the dots and "traditional music sheets" and given the choice between them and ABC I would opt them for sight-reading.
However, in the comments in the tune section many interesting variations or even third parts of tunes (like in Mayor Harrison's Fedora) are spelled out in ABC. I know I have the option of copying and pasting the ABC into a translation program, but given the extra hazzle of starting another program I've tried to muddle my way through the ABC in a direct fashion.
My question is: Is it merely a question of habit and training to get the ABCs up to speed? Are there any experts in ABC out there who read out the ABC as effortless as regular music sheets?
It's not that hard to learn to read ABCs, but it's probably easier to install a program to typeset them as dots. ABC is very readable; many of the kids in the classes I've taken at East Durham don't read dots, but do read ABC (not exactly the computer version, but a less formal version).
Halldor - as a good exercise just transcribe a few tunes you have the dots for into ABC. By the 2nd or 3rd tune, you should be able to sight-read ABC notation, or at least have an easier time of it.
The process is quite the same as when you learned to read the dots originally. You simply have to create a link in your brain that equates the letter symbol with a particular note. A little trickier to get the timing than sheet music, as you have to interpret a number and a letter, but it just takes practice.
Yes, I find that I can - and do - sight read ABC notation as well as standard notation. I agree that transcribing in ABC contributes greatly to the abillity to sight read it. I still print it out in standard notation for my wife and others though.
I'm so stuck on notation I can't seem to do it...I have the same problem with tablature. How do you tell which octave the note is in, and how do you discern rhythm? I'm afraid I'm going to be hopeless at this...
I'm with dmarie; give me the notation any day. I just can't read ABC; I find it to be counterintuitive, and not having the rhythm accurately expressed adds another level of complexity. I can teach any 6th grader in my school how to read music (notation) in 10 minutes if they are willing; it happens every day.
Having said that, if ABC or tab or some other method works for you, then that's fine by me. Musicians have struggled since the middle ages for a system to record sound on paper, and there have been plenty. Whatever gets you through the next session is all that really matters., IMHO.
Thanks, Greg. I've spent nearly the last hour analyzing the ABC versions of songs I know, comparing back and forth between notation and notes, finally figuring some of it out, then realizing that in an hour I could've read through a large entire song book of new tunes. We all should just use what works for us individually.
PS Speaking of 6th graders, I can't even teach mine to put a music stand together or even sit in a chair for that matter. I had one little girl snap her fingers in my face and say,"Hey! You! Whatcher-name--get over here." There're some ABCs I'd like teach her, and it sure ain't music....
Jim FYI def Higher octave d'e'f' next ocave d''e'' f'' Lower octaves DEF next D,E,F, next D,,E,,F,, etc.
Dots are much easier to read and are much clearer in my view but then I was brought up on Dots. ABC is easier over the internet as you can print them in a text editor. I would never consider trying to sight read ABC, it just means learning all over again and at my age I just aint got the time or inclination to start over.
My preference is to transcribe an ABC tune to the dots by hand (rather than use a program) because I find doing it that way I get a better understanding of the tune, and it's easier to see any errors there may be in the ABC. And it doesn't take much longer than firing up an program and persuading the printer to do an acceptable job.
The ABCs contain enough information for a computer program to typeset the dots. Therefore they contain an image of the entire tune - at least insofar as the dots do. It's just a bit harder for the brain to parse since crams the information into one dimension instead of two.
From what I understand, sight-reading ABC seems to be an acquirable skill which is a matter of (more) practice, and thanks for the tip of enhancing reading skills by transcribing the ABCs.
The fact that the two different coding systems have different properties and somewhat different applicability, however, remans.
I think it's already been said here but there is no substitute for the dots in showing the rhythm / timing for the tune and what octave a note is. The ABCs are a sort of a halfway house and are useful for:-
1) entering music into a programme (ABC2Win or ABCPlay for example)
2) as a first step for students when learning to read music.
In my view any energies should be expended in learning staff notation rather than trying to become proficient in reading ABCs which is an inferior method of communicating the music.
FOr just about any trad tune, ABC's convey the rhythm just fine (At least as well as dots). I learned how to read/transcribe it last night fairly quickly. It's not rocket science.
The real benefit is that ABC's allow one to *write out* a tune quickly and easily w/o needing staff paper. That and a computer can play back ABC notation very easily. I am in the process of transcribing about six sets of tunes from dots into ABCs, the purpose being to *listen* to the tunes (Or a midified version of the tunes).
I won't disagree but that it's handy for scribbling out a tune in a hurry; however, I still contend that musicians who don't come to grips with the dots are missing out as any music collection will use staff notation as will many music teachers. Like the ABC's, it's not rocket science either and is more than worth the effort for browsing through tune books and other music sources to get new tunes that may never have been recorded or played in sessions.
ABC is great... but I'm not smart enough to read it. So I use the http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html to translate in a Encore easy to read score, with enough room to change what I want from what I heard on a record I like...
I want to know what they say at NASA ; "It's not rocket science. ". ? Oh yes it is !
It's just learning a new way of writing/reading information, but the old one is so much easier.I can read guitar tablature, but I will have to learn any music from this by heart before I can play it on my 'zouk, whereas anything in standard notation can be played just as easily on guitar, 'zouk, whistle, concertina, providing it's physically possible to play it oneach instrument, that is.
From ABC I have to go back to school again ! At my age ! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH ! DONT WANNA !
How well do you know your ABC...?
How well do you know your ABC...?
I was brought up with the dots and "traditional music sheets" and given the choice between them and ABC I would opt them for sight-reading.
However, in the comments in the tune section many interesting variations or even third parts of tunes (like in Mayor Harrison's Fedora) are spelled out in ABC. I know I have the option of copying and pasting the ABC into a translation program, but given the extra hazzle of starting another program I've tried to muddle my way through the ABC in a direct fashion.
My question is: Is it merely a question of habit and training to get the ABCs up to speed? Are there any experts in ABC out there who read out the ABC as effortless as regular music sheets?
# Posted on September 17th 2005 by FiddleTramp
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
It's not that hard to learn to read ABCs, but it's probably easier to install a program to typeset them as dots. ABC is very readable; many of the kids in the classes I've taken at East Durham don't read dots, but do read ABC (not exactly the computer version, but a less formal version).
# Posted on September 17th 2005 by GaryAMartin
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
Halldor - as a good exercise just transcribe a few tunes you have the dots for into ABC. By the 2nd or 3rd tune, you should be able to sight-read ABC notation, or at least have an easier time of it.
The process is quite the same as when you learned to read the dots originally. You simply have to create a link in your brain that equates the letter symbol with a particular note. A little trickier to get the timing than sheet music, as you have to interpret a number and a letter, but it just takes practice.
Cheers.
# Posted on September 17th 2005 by _Steph_
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
Yes, I find that I can - and do - sight read ABC notation as well as standard notation. I agree that transcribing in ABC contributes greatly to the abillity to sight read it. I still print it out in standard notation for my wife and others though.
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by Bill Reeder
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
I'm so stuck on notation I can't seem to do it...I have the same problem with tablature. How do you tell which octave the note is in, and how do you discern rhythm? I'm afraid I'm going to be hopeless at this...
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by dmarie
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
I'm with dmarie; give me the notation any day. I just can't read ABC; I find it to be counterintuitive, and not having the rhythm accurately expressed adds another level of complexity. I can teach any 6th grader in my school how to read music (notation) in 10 minutes if they are willing; it happens every day.
Having said that, if ABC or tab or some other method works for you, then that's fine by me. Musicians have struggled since the middle ages for a system to record sound on paper, and there have been plenty. Whatever gets you through the next session is all that really matters., IMHO.
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
Thanks, Greg. I've spent nearly the last hour analyzing the ABC versions of songs I know, comparing back and forth between notation and notes, finally figuring some of it out, then realizing that in an hour I could've read through a large entire song book of new tunes. We all should just use what works for us individually.
PS Speaking of 6th graders, I can't even teach mine to put a music stand together or even sit in a chair for that matter. I had one little girl snap her fingers in my face and say,"Hey! You! Whatcher-name--get over here." There're some ABCs I'd like teach her, and it sure ain't music....
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by dmarie
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
Jim FYI def Higher octave d'e'f' next ocave d''e'' f'' Lower octaves DEF next D,E,F, next D,,E,,F,, etc.
Dots are much easier to read and are much clearer in my view but then I was brought up on Dots. ABC is easier over the internet as you can print them in a text editor. I would never consider trying to sight read ABC, it just means learning all over again and at my age I just aint got the time or inclination to start over.
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by Bernie
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
Erm
Er
Erm..
Er
Whats ABCs?
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by MissWalshy
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
My preference is to transcribe an ABC tune to the dots by hand (rather than use a program) because I find doing it that way I get a better understanding of the tune, and it's easier to see any errors there may be in the ABC. And it doesn't take much longer than firing up an program and persuading the printer to do an acceptable job.
Trevor
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by Trevor Jennings
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
A digital watch will tell you the precise time. An analog watch gives you an image of where you are in the day.
ABC's tell you the notes. Standard notation gives you an image of the entire tune.
ABC's are human readable, but machine language. Standard notation is musician language.
I can read ASCII code if I have to, but I greatly prefer to translate into the Latinate alphabet.
KFG
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by KFG
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
For me, it works best just to learn by ear and use ABC's as a reference if you're bogged down on a tune.
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by Zazzaliss
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
The ABCs contain enough information for a computer program to typeset the dots. Therefore they contain an image of the entire tune - at least insofar as the dots do. It's just a bit harder for the brain to parse since crams the information into one dimension instead of two.
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by GaryAMartin
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
As a numeric code contains enough information for a computer to generate the image on your monitor right now. It's just harder for the brain to parse.
KFG
# Posted on September 18th 2005 by KFG
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
Thanks for the replies -
From what I understand, sight-reading ABC seems to be an acquirable skill which is a matter of (more) practice, and thanks for the tip of enhancing reading skills by transcribing the ABCs.
The fact that the two different coding systems have different properties and somewhat different applicability, however, remans.
# Posted on September 19th 2005 by FiddleTramp
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
I think it's already been said here but there is no substitute for the dots in showing the rhythm / timing for the tune and what octave a note is. The ABCs are a sort of a halfway house and are useful for:-
1) entering music into a programme (ABC2Win or ABCPlay for example)
2) as a first step for students when learning to read music.
In my view any energies should be expended in learning staff notation rather than trying to become proficient in reading ABCs which is an inferior method of communicating the music.
# Posted on September 19th 2005 by Bannerman
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
My advise is, get a recording of the tune you want and learn it by ear.
# Posted on September 19th 2005 by Beheader
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
FOr just about any trad tune, ABC's convey the rhythm just fine (At least as well as dots). I learned how to read/transcribe it last night fairly quickly. It's not rocket science.
The real benefit is that ABC's allow one to *write out* a tune quickly and easily w/o needing staff paper. That and a computer can play back ABC notation very easily. I am in the process of transcribing about six sets of tunes from dots into ABCs, the purpose being to *listen* to the tunes (Or a midified version of the tunes).
# Posted on September 19th 2005 by wormdiet
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
I won't disagree but that it's handy for scribbling out a tune in a hurry; however, I still contend that musicians who don't come to grips with the dots are missing out as any music collection will use staff notation as will many music teachers. Like the ABC's, it's not rocket science either and is more than worth the effort for browsing through tune books and other music sources to get new tunes that may never have been recorded or played in sessions.
# Posted on September 19th 2005 by Bannerman
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
ABC is great... but I'm not smart enough to read it. So I use the http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html to translate in a Encore easy to read score, with enough room to change what I want from what I heard on a record I like...
# Posted on September 19th 2005 by thierry
Re: How well do you know your ABC...?
I want to know what they say at NASA ; "It's not rocket science. ". ? Oh yes it is !
It's just learning a new way of writing/reading information, but the old one is so much easier.I can read guitar tablature, but I will have to learn any music from this by heart before I can play it on my 'zouk, whereas anything in standard notation can be played just as easily on guitar, 'zouk, whistle, concertina, providing it's physically possible to play it oneach instrument, that is.
From ABC I have to go back to school again ! At my age ! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH ! DONT WANNA !
# Posted on September 20th 2005 by Guernsey Pete