GnTabber 2.3
Manual

1. Ascii Tab generation

GnTabber takes a tab file in "gntab" format (which syntax is defined hereafter) as input and outputs the corresponding fine tab in ASCII format. The resulting tab is formatted on a customizable number of columns with spacing between notes according to their durations.

GnTabber has two text windows. The upper window is used to type the tab in gntab format. The fine ASCII tab is generated in the lower window when pushing the "Generate Tab" button.

Any syntax error in the gntab format is highlighted in the gntab text window when pushing the "Generate Tab" button.

By default, the whole gntab is converted to ASCII tab. However if you make a mouse selection in the gntab file, only the selected region will be converted to ASCII tab during the generation.

1.1 Generation options

Under menu Options/Edit, it is possible to customize the tab generation.

Instrument : here you select the instrument for which you want to generate the tab. On this selection will depend the number and names of the strings in the gntab file. Note that the strings you are allowed to mention in the gntab file do not depend on the tuning of the instrument (ex : for Bass (4) dropped D or Bass (4) Eb, you should use strings E, A ,D G). The tuning of the instrument is only needed for the Midi Player feature (see below).
Tab page width : here you select the number of columns on which you want to format the generated ASCII tab.
Tab page height : here you select the number of line in a page. This is used in order to ensure that bars are not cut at the end of the pages in the generated ASCII tab when you will print it.

1.2 "gntab" syntax definition

The syntax of the "gntab" input file should be :

1) one bar per line;

2) each bar defines a succession of notes <string><fret><duration> or chords (<string1><fret1><string2><fret2>...)<duration>

2.1) Different string instruments are supported. The supported <strings> depend on the selected instrument. Both upper and lower case formats are supported wherever there is no possible confusion :

2.1.1) For Bass (4), Bass (4) drop D or Bass (4) Eb, <string> should be among E,A,D,G. Both upper and lower case formats are supported
2.1.2) For Guitar (6), <string> should be among E,A,D,G,B,e. Both upper and lower case formats are supported for A,D,G,B.

2.3) <duration> should be among w,h,q,e,s,t. Triplets are also supported : t3,e3,q3. To define more complex durations, use '+' as in 'q+e'.

3) each note or chord in a bar is separated with a blank character

4) string and fret may be omitted if they are identical to the previous note or chord in the bar

5) comment lines start with a '#'. They are copied as is to the output file

6) appending a '+' at the end of a bar definition will tie the last note or chord of the bar to the first note or chord of the next bar

7) the syntax for Rests is R<duration> or r<duration>

8) the following effects are supported to link notes :

8.1) ho : hammer on (written down 'h' in the generated tab, 'ho' is needed to avoid confusion with the 'h' duration)

8.2) p : pull off

8.3) / : slide up

8.4) \ : slide down

8.5) ^ : bend

8.6) ~ : release

9) appogiatures (i.e notes with no duration) are noted <string><fret>z

10) special line @ins notations can be used to automatically insert used notations in the generated tab

11) special line @tempo <Value> can be used to insert tempo definition (in quarter notes per minute). This definition will overwrite the default Midi option and can be used more than once in the tab if you need to indicate a change of tempo.

Example :

#Title by Band from the Album "Album"
#------------------------------------
#
@ins notation
#Riff1
#-----
@tempo 120
e5q q q q
a3q e ho 5e e e g3e e +
g3q 0h e3e / 5e 
@tempo 80
(e8a10d10)e q (a8d10g10)e rq e5q
a3z ho 5e e e e 3z ho 5e e e e

Bass Output is :

Title by Band from the Album "Album"
------------------------------------

Notations :
  e : 8th             h : half            q : quarter         
  +++ : tied notes    / : slide up        R : rest            
  h : hammer on       

Riff1
-----
Tempo 120
    q q q q   q     e   e  e  e  e  e++++q     h            e   e   
G-|---------|--------------------3--3--|-3-----0-------------------|
D-|---------|--------------------------|---------------------------|
A-|---------|-3-----3--h5--5--5--------|---------------------------|
E-|-5-5-5-5-|--------------------------|--------------------3--/5--|

Tempo 80
     e  q     e q     q      
G-|----------10-------------|
D-|-10-10----10-R-----------|
A-|-10-10-----8-------------|
E-|--8--8-------------5-----|

       e   e   e   e      e   e   e   e       
G-|---------------------------------------|
D-|---------------------------------------|
A-|-3-h5---5---5---5---3-h5---5---5---5---|
E-|---------------------------------------|


----------------------------------------------------------------------
| Tab generated with GnTabber (http://gvelay.free.fr/tools/gntabber) |
| on Thu Nov 11 15:59:48 2004                                        |
----------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Midi Player

If you have a Midi player software on your machine, you should be able to use the Midi player feature of Gntabber in order to hear your tabs and validate them.

2.1 Usage

Select the desired Midi options in menu Options/Edit (see section below for explanations)
select a region in the gntab text window if you only want to play a part of your gntab, or do not select anything if you want to hear the whole tab
push the "Play" button :

On Linux (tested on Mandrake 10.0 with Timidity as Midi Player), the play of the tab should start immediately and can be stopped with the "Stop" button
On MS Windows (tested on Win XP SP2 with Nero Media Player as Midi Player), the external Midi Player should open with the midi tab already loaded. Use the "Play" button of the external Midi Player to hear the song. Then close the external Midi Player to be able to use the "Play" button of GnTabber.

2.2 Midi options

Under menu Options/Edit, it is possible to customize the Midi playing.

Instrument : here you select the instrument for which you want to play the tab. On this selection will depend the tuning of each string.
Channel : Here you select the Midi channel. Note that Channel 9 is used for drums toolkit.
Midi instrument : here you select the Midi instrument that will be used to perform the song.
Midi Player : here you select the external Midi Player that will be used to interpret the Midi tab.
Tempo : here you select the default tempo of the song (unit is number of quarter notes per minute). This value can be overwritten by using special keyword @tempo in the gntab file.

2.3 Limitations

effects (slides, hammer on, pull off, bends,...) are not interpreted. However, appogiatures and tied notes are properly interpreted

3. Midi Exporter

Since version 2.2, it is possible to export your tab to a midi file. It is similar to the Midi player described above in terms of usage and options.
The only difference is that you can select the name and location of the midi file to be generated. The midi file is only generated and not played.

3.1 Usage

Select the desired Midi options in menu Options/Edit (see section below for explanations)
select a region in the gntab text window if you only want to export a part of your gntab, or do not select anything if you want to export the whole tab
push the "Midi Export" button ans select the name and location of the midi file to be generated

3.2 Midi options

See section 2.2

3.3 Limitations

See section 2.3

Please send questions, comments and suggestions to gvelay@free.fr

GnTabber 2.3 Manual