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TablEdit Users Say:

"I found out about TablEdit from the CoMando (now Mandozine) website, for mandolin players. There are over a thousand tunes there for download. I was impressed; people are constantly transcribing new stuff, too. So after trying the lite version I decided to support TablEdit by buying the full version."
Jim Kendrick - New York, USA

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TablEdit Manual 2.65

Special Instruments

 
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Diatonic instruments  
 
This category includes the diatonic accordion and the harmonica. As both of these instruments make use of a special variant of the Tuning portion of the "Instrument..." dialog, a separate page has been dedicated to them.  
 
Clawhammer banjo  
Dulcimer  
 
TablEdit recognizes these two instruments as a function of the number of strings and the tuning used (the bottom string having the highest pitch). Having been recognized, TablEdit manages all of the peculiarities of these instruments automatically, including the diatonic capo for the dulcimer.  
 
Tip: In order to force TablEdit to display the tablature using a diatonic fingerboard, simply enter "Dulcimer" as the instrument name.  
 
Lute  
 
The Renaissance lute, which has anywhere from eight to twenty-one strings, is always tabbed out on a grid consisting of seven strings and, generally, using the notation "a=0, b=1, c=2". The first six strings are completely non-specific. On the other hand, the 7th string, all on it's own, represents all of the instrument's bass strings starting with the 7th, itself.  
For example, //a indicates that the 9th string (7+2//) is played open, a simple 6 indicates that the 13th string (7+6) is played open, etc. TablEdit applies these rules as soon the instrument has seven or more strings with the 7th string tuned to G#, A or F#.  
 
By default, the lute tuning obtained by use of the pre-defined tunings is for a thirteen string lute in A. In order to manage all the lute forms from seven to twenty-one strings, a specific dialog can be opened by selecting "Instrument configuration". This dialog allows you to:  
 
·define the number of strings  
 
·adjust the tuning of strings 7 to n-1  
 
·to specify the string to be used for the basses (entering "1" in the "Bass" field would, for example allow you to select a reversed tuning).  
 
In the "Tuning" dialog, you define the tuning of the first six strings and the lowest bass string (n) as usual. The "Lute tuning" dialog allows you to adjust the tunings for strings 7 to n-1.  
 
Fiddle (Violin)  
 
In tablatures written for the violin, the numbers don't indicate hypothetical, non-existant frets. Instead, they indicate the finger used to fret the string, this finger corresponds to a note in the ongoing scale. Notes requiring a fingering which is offset from the base position are displayed by either an "L" (low) or an "H" (high). The algorithm used for deciding when a "L" low of "H" high finger position is displayed is relative to the diatonic fingerboard. To ask TablEdit to use this type of notation just enter "Fiddle" as the module name.  
 
Tip: If you have a C displayed as "3H", you can change it into a "4L" by forcing a D.  

Tip: To get a legato, just add a Slide to the starting note.  
 
Pedal Steel Guitar  
 
TablEdit handles this instrument without problems. Simply:  
 
·select one of the tunings available in the popup list found in the "Tuning" portion of the "Instrument..." dialog.  
 
·select the "Module" tab then click on the "Pedal Steel Guitar" option.  
 
Pedals and knee levers are emulated through the use of the "Pitch change" function.  
 
In order to provide the best possible sound reproduction, we recommend that you activate the "Extend Bends/Slides" and "Predefined Solo Instrument" options in the "Advanced" options dialog.  
 
See also: Steel Guitar Tips  
 
Tin Whistle/Recorder/Xaphoon  
 
TablEdit can also create "tablatures" for Tin Whistle, Recoder or Xaphoon (this is a kind of mini-saxophone, also known as a "pocket sax" http://www.xaphoon.com/). Just select any of these three instruments in the "Instrument>Tuning" sub-dialog" and TablEdit will automatically display a graphical image representing the body of the instrument below the notation. It goes without saying that the tablature, itself, has no significance in this case. It's recommended that you deactivate the latter for printouts.  
 
The "tablature" portion of tunes written for reed instruments contains three hypothetical strings which always maintain the same internal relation. You can change the tuning but make sure that all three strings are modified to the same degree (by, for example, pressing [Ctrl] while modifying a "string"). If this isn't done correctly, TablEdit will no longer recognise the instrument for what it is.  
 
Tip: To get a legato, just add a Slide to the starting note.  
 
Autoharp  
 
In an autoharp tablature, the five lines of the tablature grid do not, obviously, represent the 36 actual strings of the instrument. Instead, they mirror the five lines of the classical notation by displaying, on the same line as the that of the corresponding pitch, fingering indications for rhythm and melody.  
 
By default, melody notes are "plucks", that is to say that the player, using the thumb and a finger, picks the fundamental of the chord and two or three adjacent strings at the same time. You can enter a "pinch" (a single string) by assigning the note a right-hand thumb attack indication.  
 
For rhythmic or accompaniment figures, enter the fundamental of the chord and assign it a "Brush" or "Roll" effect. (see Special Effects)  
 
In order to force TablEdit to display the tablature in an autoharp-specific format, simply enter "Autoharp" as the instrument name. Given the fact that notes are not displayed on the string where they're actually located in the tablature, it's recommended that this display mode not be activated during editing.