Tab Conventions

[cisco]

Tab notation

Everybody knows about tabs but even the search engine is
avoiding my question.
What is the tab nomenclature for the 2 extra holes on an
SCX 56 ?
I can play the notes and I’m glad for G3 but I also write
tabs from G clef notation so I’m interested in established
conventions.

[John Broecker]

I've never seen a tab for the 1st 2 holes on a
"1456" (14 holes, 56 reeds) harp, but, using
a Hohner slide chromatic note chart, the tab
for those notes would be, slide out (key of C):

3 blow, 3 draw; 4 draw, 4 blow; with a dot
above each note.

For slide in (key of Db/C#), the same tabs,
but with a "slide in" notation.

There are several tab notation systems, for
several harmonica types and sizes, and that
makes a search for a standard tab system
difficult.

My favorite harmonica tab systems include
Larry Adler's tab system:

3B, 3D, etc (hole 3 blow, 3 draw)

and USA painter & artist Thomas Hart Benton's
(1889-1975) tab, (with numbers and arrows):

3^, 3v; etc. (^ = blow; v = draw).

A common tab for use of the slide, based on
a French tab system:

> = slide out; < = slide in.

Best Regards

JB

[cisco]

Ok
I just was anticipating the possibility of sharing music with someone who did not read G clef.
I’m almost exclusive now using G clef and, surprisingly, I’m working with a method book that has almost no tab lessons.
I will have to find a HarpTabs song that goes that low 🙂

[John Broecker]

Try USA TV show themes
(Large letters exhale, small letters inhale):

The Addams Family:  G a b C .. G a b C .. (etc.)

The Beverly Hillbillies: G a b C  CC (etc.)

JB 

[Keith]

The most standard form of tab is :-

5  = hole 5 blow

-5 = hole 5 draw

5* = hole 5 slide in blow

-5* = hole 5 slide in draw

(Some people put a + in front of the number for blow.)