Support for Tab on non-standard fretted instruments?
Hi, is there a way to create a Tab staff that has different fret width intervals? I have a quartertone fretted guitar, and I like to write the tab for that in whole numbers, but that means things like the octave is the 24th fret, not the 12th fret. (This has interesting properties, by the way; where if the instrument is tuned in all fourths, the 10th fret is equivalent to the 0th fret on the next higher string)
I attempted to create a tab-only staff, and adjust the instrument properties so that it had 48 frets. This was only partially
successful. I was able to enter 48 frets under the staff properties->String data menu, but when attempting to enter note values on the resultant staff, it only lets me type in "24". "25" and higher result in "?" appearing on the staff.
Furthermore, even if this workaround was successful, I would not be able to generate proper quartertone notated sheet music in a linked staff, or have any playback capabilities, so it's only a half-solution at best.
Ideally I'd like to be able to define the number of frets and the fretting interval in cents, which would also allow me to write tab for stranger instruments, like 16-EDO fretted guitars.
Comments
This is not supported. Eg users hope for a close and more common request about diatonic fretted instruments.
![Tuning.jpg]( "Tuning.jpg")
Nevertheless, in Inspector, you can change the tuning of certain notes (works fine eg with Selection -> More -> same pitch etc.)
See (100,00 corresponds to a semitone, 50,00, quartertone, the maximum value is 200,00)
Of course, the fret number will not correspond to the tuning change. We are confronted with this same kind of problematic with diatonic instruments.
We can add a second invisible staff for playback, but it is uncomfortable and very time consuming.
In your case, you will not be able to go beyond the fret 24. The question mark means this limit. I think we could go up to the fret 28 (there are mandolins that include this number), but beyond that, it does not exist in the real practice of plucked instruments (except with kind of instruments? )
How many frets has your quartertone fretted guitar? Similar to? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMScr4IqCEo
In reply to This is not supported. Eg we… by cadiz1
"How many frets has your quartertone fretted guitar? Similar to? .."
Mine is a 7 string with 48 frets spaced at 50c each, manufactured by Ron Sword of metatonalmusic.com
A friend of mine that I collaborate with, and share tablature with, has two 6 string quartertone guitars, one at 42 frets and the other at 48 frets.
I suppose a short term workaround would be to create two parallel tab staves; the second one representing the octave higher position, but that's extremely confusing, and probably not worth the effort over just using pencil and paper.
In reply to "How many frets has your… by emf1123
OK, see around what you said (I cannot help more) "it might just be that the problem is that only 24 glyphs are defined in "fonts/fonts_tablature.xml". It might already be supporting larger numbers of frets, but lacking a way to display them."
You cannot make microtones (1/4 steps) play back without a lot of work. If you ask, someone will tell you how to do it. As far as the frets are concerned, you would need to make a non-linked staff and enter the fret positions yourself. Unfortunately, if the frets are not in position 1, you will run out of frets.
I have made 2 proposals that have not had anything done with them yet.
First, I suggested more than 24 frets be permitted. I actually I suggested 99 since it would not make the fret window change sizes and everyone laughed. This would have been overkill but would have helped you.
Second, I suggested allowing for custom fret positions with the intention of using them for diatonically tuned instruments. A modified version of this proposal could be used for micro tuned instruments such as your guitar. I would need to think more about how to implement this for micro tones. My understanding is that version 3.0 is supposed to support micro tones. I'll have to look at how that gets implemented to suggest how to allow for micro tones on fretted instruments.
In reply to You cannot make microtones … by mike320
Even in 12-edo standard western tuning, the Ibanez RG550XH 30 fret guitar exists.
Also, support for diatonically tuned instruments would be wonderful as well; eg Mountain Dulcimer, or the Bayati-scaled fretted guitars that King Gizzard uses. (Simiarly, the Ibanez KMM1 or KMA1 "Oriental Series" guitars), but support for that (as well as full linking of staff between any weird frettings and notation) seems like a more difficult level of complexity to fix than allowing 99 frets.
I took a very brief look at the code, and at first glance, it might just be that the problem is that only 24 glyphs are defined in "fonts/fonts_tablature.xml". It might already be supporting larger numbers of frets, but lacking a way to display them.
In reply to Even in 12-edo standard… by emf1123
"the Ibanez RG550XH 30 fret guitar exists." Indeed, 28/30 frets, we are in the same area.
"Also, support for diatonically tuned instruments would be wonderful as well; eg Mountain Dulcimer"
Of course.
" it might just be that the problem is that only 24 glyphs are defined in "fonts/fonts_tablature.xml". It might already be supporting larger numbers of frets, but lacking a way to display them."
I don't know, beyond my skills.
In reply to Even in 12-edo standard… by emf1123
It might already be supporting larger numbers of frets, but lacking a way to display them.
Looking at the tab options, I would guess that the number of frets is hard coded to 24 and the glyphs come from the selected font. Since I don't know how the font is set up I don't know if only individual numbers are defined (1 2 4) or if every fret is has its own glyph defined in the font. Since I don't program it's beyond my knowledge as well.
In reply to It might already be… by mike320
Feature request created for tab past 24:
https://musescore.org/en/node/272241