Q: about 'barre' in guitar 5-stave & TAB notation
I'm researching how to write for guitar, in MuseScore - and want to include a 5-line stave and TAB. I'm an electric bassist, so guitar is pretty foreign. Attached is a snipped from a file (from somebody else) downloaded from MS scores.
I recognize F & F# are an "E-form chord", but essentially barred at the 1st or 2nd fret. Likewise, the Bb & B are an "A-form chord" also barred at frets 1 or 2.
(I don't intend to include fret-board diagrams as seen here in anything I compose.)
From the guitarist's perspective, would it be more clear for chords which (optimally) use a barre, to have the barre explicitly added to what is seen here?
If yes to have a barre notation, I just don't understand any barre documentation on MuseScore references - how to add the barre to the notation. Suggestions? Thank you.
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guitar_tab_research.mscz | 6.25 KB |
Comments
From the guitarist's perspective, would it be more clear for chords which (optimally) use a barre, to have the barre explicitly added to what is seen here?
Regarding TAB, if the TAB staff shows a chord with the same fret number on multiple strings, then it's a good chance that a barre is involved. Nevertheless, the barre can be entered onto tablature as "C" with the fret number as Roman numeral.
Regarding standard notation (and TAB), see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barre_chord#Notation
for info. on notation of the barre technique with regards to customary editorial styles.
I recognize F & F# are an "E-form chord", but essentially barred at the 1st or 2nd fret. Likewise, the Bb & B are an "A-form chord" also barred at frets 1 or 2.
The following image shows that a barre can be placed on the fret-board diagrams (not that you intend to use).
Also...
That image shows an important distinction how to "spell" chords in standard notation.
As you are aware, F & F# are an "E-form chord". The chord shape is the same - that barred F chord "slides" one fret higher, thereby sounding all chord tones sharp.
Okay, so here's what's important: There is no B♭ in an F♯ major chord. (The F major chord is based on an F-A-C triad. When F gets sharped, A gets sharped.)
Look at the image to see your notation on the first line compared to the second line. For example, look at the arrangement of the noteheads of the B♭ chord compared to the B chord. The arrangement (and note-spelling) consistency displayed on the second staff aids readability. The noteheads are nicely stacked.
Your G# chord almost reads like some kind of a C chord (ignoring the accidentals).
In reply to From the guitarist's… by Jm6stringer
'Jm6stringer'... Now, I get it. Your interest in the gwitar. :)
(The G# was not of keen interest, it came along with the other chords.) Huh, I should have thought to look on a site like Wikipedia. So, HOW do I use the "C" with fret # in MuseScore? The procedure totally escapes me. I'll go back to the documentation for now - but I've already gone there and it didn't help.
In reply to 'Jm6stringer'... Now, I get… by Are Jayem
HOW do I use the "C" with fret # in MuseScore?
Use Roman numerals for fret #:
Lines show how long to hold the barre:
Locate the various barre C's throughout these guitar Etudes:
https://musescore.com/user/385716/scores/5054890
The "C" can be omitted (Roman numeral is understood):
from: https://musescore.com/user/17593111/scores/3618781
In reply to HOW do I use the "C" with… by Jm6stringer
Much appreciated... Will have to see how this applies to what I'd like to write.