As Skip said,I go to a tab after hearing it a few times and thinking of the melody as I read it.
I find myself more able to just play along with others by ear most of the time,but I like knowing tab is usually available,should I need it.

Hi Steve,
Exactly! .....Jack

Patrick1962,

Attached below is a tablature that demonstrates a way to use tablature to allow you to answer the question you’ve asked. The tablature is for the song Red River Valley. For most people, it’s an old familiar song with a very recognizable melody.

The first half of the tablature consists only of the melody notes. The second half is an arrangement of the song that is intended to be a Scruggs-style interpretation of the melody. If you compare the first half of the tablature with the second half, measure by measure, you should be able to identify each melody note in the Scruggs-style arrangement.

If you create a tablature like this for the song arrangements you’ve learned, you should be able to identify where the melody notes are in those arrangements. It’s an approach that forces you to identify the melody notes, and just as importantly, it forces you to determine exactly when those notes are intended to be played.

Red River Valley - Melody + Arrangement.pdf

Red River Valley - Melody + Arrangement.tef

Excellent Wayne,
Very helpful and accurate and thanks a lot...Jack

quote:

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Originally posted by RB3

Patrick1962,

Attached below is a tablature that demonstrates a way to use tablature to allow you to answer the question you’ve asked. The tablature is for the song Red River Valley. For most people, it’s an old familiar song with a very recognizable melody.

The first half of the tablature consists only of the melody notes. The second half is an arrangement of the song that is intended to be a Scruggs-style interpretation of the melody. If you compare the first half of the tablature with the second half, measure by measure, you should be able to identify each melody note in the Scruggs-style arrangement.

If you create a tablature like this for the song arrangements you’ve learned, you should be able to identify where the melody notes are in those arrangements. It’s an approach that forces you to identify the melody notes, and just as importantly, it forces you to determine exactly when those notes are intended to be played.

Red River Valley - Melody + Arrangement.pdf

Red River Valley - Melody + Arrangement.tef

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Wayne's pdf reminds me very much of Bruce Stockwell's Feb. 2007 article in Gerald Jones' old online magazine Banjo Sessions (now sadly defunct): "Melodies and Rolls: Creating a Bluegrass Banjo Solo." It also uses "Red River Valley" as its example, although its focus is more on arranging than analyzing existing tab. On the other hand, both approaches start with the melody (which presupposes the user can find it). Regardless, I've always regarded this article as a gem, and never hesitate to circulate it.

“ how long the spaces are between them.” This! My experience tells me most newcomers to banjo or music in general aren’t advanced enough to capture this. However, the article isn’t for absolute beginners as he mentions learning some Scruggs tunes to get an idea how to construct solos.