ABC music notation system

[Earbrass]

Sorry if you all know about this already, but in the threads I've read about notation people seem to refer to traditional notation or TAB, but I've not seen a reference to the ABC system on this site. It's widely used in folk and traditional music circles, and would be a simple way of transcribing basslines etc. One of its advantages, apart from the fact that it can be written on a computer keyboard without special software, is that you can add as much or as little detail as you like, depending on how much of the language you want to use.


More info at

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_(musical_notation)"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_(musical_notation)[/url]

[Eight]

Would you say there is any real need for it anymore?

Tab is popular, and unlike a few years ago standard notation is very easy for people to edit/view on their computers. Plus, there's that tab/notation hybrid used by magazines to save space (like Guitar World).

Then you've got free/cheap tools that display midi files in notation etc. and things like Guitar Pro.

I must confess I'd never come across it before and am not really surprised that it isn't massively popular.

Edited May 8, 2009 by Eight

[dlloyd]

Here's a fairly large collection of tunes scored using the abc system...

[url="http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tunefind?P=Mr%20&%20Mrs%20Don%20Machen&m=title&W=wide&limit=1000&thresh=5"]http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tunefi...00&thresh=5[/url]

(I've had that for quite a while without really knowing what it was!)

[Eight]

No Enter Sandman?

I've changed my mind - I love ABC now.

[rslaing]

Isn't it just easier to learn to read music?

[Eight]

[quote name='rslaing' post='483280' date='May 8 2009, 08:24 PM']Isn't it just easier to learn to read music?[/quote]
I didn't want to say that... At the time, it was maybe a useful option for some but now...

If I had a child who suddenly turned around and said "dad, I'm going to learn ABC and write music in that from now on", I would slap them.

But I guess if some people use it and like it then thats ok... really trying not to be too negative here.

[Doddy]

Wow .........and I thought TAB was bad.

[wulf]

ABC is a handy system for sharing simple lines. You can read straight from the ASCII version but the real beauty of the system is that it is easy to transform into standard notation. It's main limitation is that is (or at least seemed to me when I dabbled with it a few years ago) limited when it comes to rhythmic complexities; it would be great if you are exploring walking basslines (often just a stream of crotchets) but less so if you are trying to chart out some funk.

Wulf

[Earbrass]

Well, I agree it's not a replacement for standard notation, but I don't think it was ever really intended to be.

It's strength, if it has one, is as a means of SHARING musical data - the files are quick and easy to upload / download, and can be transformed by readily available software either into standard notation, or into a MIDI file. This means that even a non-reader could download a transcription of a bassline, build a midi-file from it and load it into their DAW/sequencer, and play along.

OK it's probably a crap idea. I haven't used it myself - just came across it on the interweb and thought it might be of interest.

I'll shut up about it now.

[Eight]

[quote name='Earbrass' post='484942' date='May 11 2009, 10:47 AM']It's strength, if it has one, is as a means of SHARING musical data[/quote]
It seems like the guy came up with it in the early eighties - and at the time it would have been potentially very useful. Now there are so many other (better?) options for achieving it.

[quote]I'll shut up about it now.[/quote]
Just because we didn't really warm to it, doesn't mean it wasn't an interesting post or isn't worth commenting on further.

I like learning about stuff like this that I haven't come across before.

[thepurpleblob]

The ABC system? That's a new one on me... plus I looked at that site and have no idea what's going on. Loads of weird files with odd stuff in.

What am I supposed to do with...

X: 1
T:007 (from "From Russia With Love")
C:John Barry
Z:Hoho windfola server
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:100 =1/4
K:C

Edited May 11, 2009 by thepurpleblob

[dlloyd]

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='485368' date='May 11 2009, 09:57 PM']The ABC system? That's a new one on me... plus I looked at that site and have no idea what's going on. Loads of weird files with odd stuff in.

What am I supposed to do with...

X: 1
T:007 (from "From Russia With Love")
C:John Barry
Z:Hoho windfola server
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:100 =1/4
K:C[/quote]

Tells you in the wikipedia article (mostly):


X: 1 [b](One tune in file)[/b]
T:007 (from "From Russia With Love") [b](Tune:[...])[/b]
C:John Barry [b](Composer:[...])[/b]
Z:Hoho windfola server
M:4/4 [b](Time signature:)[/b]
L:1/8 [b](Default note length)[/b]
Q:100 =1/4 [b]Tempo = Quarter note = 100 bpm[/b]
K:C [b](Key of C)[/b]

That file in particular doesn't seem to want to cooperate with the conversion software.

Edited May 11, 2009 by dlloyd

[thepurpleblob]

[quote name='dlloyd' post='485471' date='May 12 2009, 12:05 AM']Tells you in the wikipedia article (mostly):


X: 1 [b](One tune in file)[/b]
T:007 (from "From Russia With Love") [b](Tune:[...])[/b]
C:John Barry [b](Composer:[...])[/b]
Z:Hoho windfola server
M:4/4 [b](Time signature:)[/b]
L:1/8 [b](Default note length)[/b]
Q:100 =1/4 [b]Tempo = Quarter note = 100 bpm[/b]
K:C [b](Key of C)[/b]

That file in particular doesn't seem to want to cooperate with the conversion software.[/quote]

So where's the file with the music in it? I'm missing the point here I take it?

[dlloyd]

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='485537' date='May 12 2009, 07:10 AM']So where's the file with the music in it? I'm missing the point here I take it? [/quote]

It's there when I click on 'get'.

I wouldn't necessarily want to use it in that state though... I'd rather it converted properly to standard notation.

[dlloyd]

X:1
T:007 (from "From Russia With Love")
C:John Barry
Z:Hoho windfola server
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:100 =1/4
K:C

C,3 C,3 C,2 | C,3 D,3 G,2 |
C,3 C,3 C,2 | C,3 D,3 G,2 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D G,4/5 |
%s
C,/5C E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 | C, E/5G4/5 E/5G3/5 D,/5C D/5B,8/5 G,/5A/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5G E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, c/5E/5C3/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5c B/5F/5D7/5 G,/5G/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5A E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5A G/5F/5B,7/5 G,/5C/5A,/5F7/5 |
C,/5E C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 C, C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 C, C/5G,4/5 | C, C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 D,2 C/5A,/5F,3/5 G, B, |
C,/5C E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 | C, E/5G4/5 E/5G3/5 D,/5C D/5B,8/5 G,/5A/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5G E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, c/5E/5C3/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5c d/5B/5F7/5 G,/5G/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5e c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E3/5 C, c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E3/5 C, c/5G/5E3/5 | C, c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E2/5 D,/5e f/5c/5A7/5 G,/5d/5B/5F7/5 |
C,/5g e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 C, e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 C, e/5c/5G3/5 | C, e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 D,2 c/5A/5F3/5 G, B/5F/5D3/5 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z |
C, ^F,/5E,4/5 ^F,/5E,4/5 C, ^F,/5E,4/5 ^F,/5E,4/5 C, ^F,/5E,4/5 | C, ^F,/5E,4/5 ^F,/5E,3/5 D,/5G,3/2 =F,/2 E,/2 _E,3/10 G,/5D, z |
C, ^F,/5E,4/5 ^F,/5E,4/5 C, ^F,/5E,4/5 ^F,/5E,4/5 C, ^F,/5E,4/5 | C, ^F,/5E,4/5 ^F,/5E,3/5 D,/5G,3/2 =F,/2 E,/2 _E,3/10 G,/5D, G,4/5 |
C,/5C E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 | C, E/5G4/5 E/5G3/5 D,/5C D/5B,8/5 G,/5A/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5G E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, c/5E/5C3/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5c B/5F/5D7/5 G,/5G/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5A E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5A G/5F/5B,7/5 G,/5C/5A,/5F7/5 |
C,/5E C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 C, C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 C, C/5G,4/5 | C, C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 D,2 C/5A,/5F,3/5 G, B, |
C,/5C E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 | C, E/5G4/5 E/5G3/5 D,/5C D/5B,8/5 G,/5A/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5G E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, c/5E/5C3/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5c d/5B/5F7/5 G,/5G/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5e c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E3/5 C, c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E3/5 C, c/5G/5E3/5 | C, c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E2/5 D,/5e f/5c/5A7/5 G,/5d/5B/5F7/5 |
C,/5g e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 C, e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 C, e/5c/5G3/5 | C, e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 D,2 c/5A/5F3/5 G, B/5F/5D3/5 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D G,4/5 |
C,/5C ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 D, G/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z |
C,/5^F E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D G,4/5 |
C,/5C ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 D, G/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z |
C,/5^F E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D G,4/5 |
C,/5C ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 D, G/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z |
C,/5^F E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D G,4/5 |
%to s
C,/5C E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 | C, E/5G4/5 E/5G3/5 D,/5C D/5B,8/5 G,/5A/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5G E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, c/5E/5C3/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5c B/5F/5D7/5 G,/5G/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5A E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5A G/5F/5B,7/5 G,/5C/5A,/5F7/5 |
C,/5E C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 C, C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 C, C/5G,4/5 | C, C/5G,4/5 C/5G,4/5 D,2 C/5A,/5F,3/5 G, B, |
C,/5C E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 E/5G4/5 C, E/5G4/5 | C, E/5G4/5 E/5G3/5 D,/5C D/5B,8/5 G,/5A/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5G E/5C4/5 E/5C4/5 C, c/5E/5C3/5 E/5C4/5 C, E/5C4/5 | C, E/5C4/5 E/5C3/5 D,/5c d/5B/5F7/5 G,/5G/5F/5B,7/5 |
C,/5e c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E3/5 C, c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E3/5 C, c/5G/5E3/5 | C, c/5G/5E3/5 c/5G/5E2/5 D,/5e f/5c/5A7/5 G,/5d/5B/5F7/5 |
C,/5g e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 C, e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 C, e/5c/5G3/5 | C, e/5c/5G3/5 e/5c/5G3/5 D,2 c/5A/5F3/5 G, B/5F/5D3/5 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z4/5 |
%coda
C,/5^F/5E/5C3/5 ^F ^F4/5 C,/5^F/5E/5C3/5 ^F ^F4/5 C,/5^F/5E/5C3/5 ^F4/5 | C,/5^f/5e/5c3/5 ^f ^f4/5 C,/5^f/5e/5c3/5 ^f ^f4/5 C,/5^f/5e/5c3/5 ^f4/5 |
B,/5^f/5^d/5B/5^F7/5 z6 |

[dlloyd]

Other files in that list seem to convert okay into standard notation. There must be an error in the coding for the 007 one.

[Eight]

[quote name='dlloyd' post='485768' date='May 12 2009, 10:36 AM']C,3 C,3 C,2 | C,3 D,3 G,2 |
C,3 C,3 C,2 | C,3 D,3 G,2 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D z | C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E4/5 C, ^F/5E4/5 |
C, ^F/5E4/5 ^F/5E3/5 D,/5G3/2 =F/2 E/2 _E3/10 G,/5D G,4/5 |
%s
... *snip* ...[/quote]

From Wikipedia

[quote]Although it is a computer-based musical language, a key goal has been that it be also [b]easily read by humans[/b].[/quote]

[maxrossell]

To be honest, today is the first time I've come across ABC and it already makes far more sense to me than this sort of thing:



Even though I've been looking at standard notation since I was a little kid.

It's just a code, exactly like standard notation, except it's made of of symbols that most people recognise, instead of little dots with tails on them and smaller dots all on a bunch of lines and stuff.

[dlloyd]

[quote name='maxrossell' post='485792' date='May 12 2009, 11:59 AM']To be honest, today is the first time I've come across ABC and it already makes far more sense to me than this sort of thing:



Even though I've been looking at standard notation since I was a little kid.

It's just a code, exactly like standard notation, except it's made of of symbols that most people recognise, instead of little dots with tails on them and smaller dots all on a bunch of lines and stuff.[/quote]

The advantage that the standard notation above has is that it's ultimately easier to read, even if that might not be obvious to a beginner.

While this...

X: 1
T:Paddy O'Rafferty (1)
R:Jig
S:Unknown fiddle player (James Cullinane?)
D:Clare FM broadcast. From the Miltown Malbay fiddle recital.
Z:Bernie Stocks
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:G
G3 AGE|BAB AGE|~G3 AGE|GAB GED|!
GFG AGE|GAB cde|dBG AGE|GAB GED||!
BGG AGG|BGG AGE|BGG AGE|GAB GED|!
BAB ~c3|~d3 g3|dBG AGE|GAB GED||!
dge dBG|ABA ABc|dge dBG|dgf g2a|!
bag agf|gfe dcB|~c3 ~B3|AGE GED||!
G2d BGd|BGd AFD|G2d BGd|AFd AFD|!
G2d BGd|BGd ABc|BAG AGE|GAE GED||!
EFD EFD|ABA BGE|EFD EFD|GAG GED|!
EFD EFD|A3 AB^c|BAG AGE|GEA GED||!

...is fairly easy to understand and apply, it would take some work.

The standard notation above (that you posted) is much easier, and is pretty easy to sight read.

Add any level of rhythmic variation onto the ABC system and you'll be swamped very quickly. That's probably why it appeals to players in styles that are rhythmically simpler.