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
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