Is the Guitar TAB Program of 2014 Buggy?
Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 8:07 pm
Hi. I have to ask if anybody else is having problems when using the manuscript notation program in conjunction with guitar TAB. I am a guitar teacher and use both systems extensively. I always had issues with the earlier versions, 2007 and 2009 but when I saved it, closed the file and reopened, I could usually fix it then. However, this new version is driving me bonkers and I'm wondering if I am the only person having problems. Or perhaps I am doing everything wrong, not the intended way with Finale. I must find out. It is taking me three times longer to complete complex scores.
Sometimes the program will NOT ALLOW me to delete notes. When I have a score in rough form, I drag down the notation to create a TAB line, usually working in small chunks because the program asks me what the lowest fret is and some of my arrangements jump around the neck. However, once I have it set, if I go back and fix things, I have a dickens of a time getting what I want. Depending on what the issues are, I sometimes make corrections to the manuscript staff and drag it down to make TAB, or sometimes it is easier to make the corrections in TAB and drag it up to the manuscript (I ALWAYS get the right notation on the later method.) I have a nasty time of trying to edit individual notes in the correcting mode.
Want proof the TAB program is buggy? Create a dual staff, manuscript on top and TAB on bottom. In the manuscript staff, write out a G chord, the first one everyone learns. G-B-D-G-B-G. Now drag that down to TAB and you will see that the program screws up the open strings. I have been complaining about this problem for years! Another issue. Create a file for just TAB and you will see that the first bar line is missing on each line. Guitar TAB NEVER appears this way (except in Finale.)
Yesterday I copied a melody from a songbook. It was in the key of F#m. I then went to transpose it to Am. The first two chords in the song (in F#m) are F#m and A7. I accessed the utilities menu (after highlighting all the notation measures) and chose the key of Am. It changed the F#m to Am just fine but changed to A7 to C#7. Then I went into the Key Signature Tool, chose "other" and set the transposition to move up to Am and it changed the chords correctly, the A7 to C7.
The TAB program seems to have serious issues with sharps and flats and changing them.
I used to write to Finale and point out the TAB issues and thought after I came back to Finale (I bought Sibelius 7 and preferred using Finale, if only it worked properly that is) and thought for sure after a few years the TAB program would have gotten a facelift.
What I need to find out is if others are using both staves in conjunction and running into issues? And then, assuming I am not the only one in the Finale community with these issues, how do I get them fixed?
I'd really like to know when the guitar TAB got a real honest bare bones makeover.
Please help. I used to have a full head of hair but I'm going bald pulling it out trying to resolve all these issues.
PS - I've noticed small changes to things in the program. In old days when I used the Chord Tool, adding chord names over notes, the TAB button would take me to the next note in the song. Now it goes directly to the next measure. Was this an intended change?
Sometimes the program will NOT ALLOW me to delete notes. When I have a score in rough form, I drag down the notation to create a TAB line, usually working in small chunks because the program asks me what the lowest fret is and some of my arrangements jump around the neck. However, once I have it set, if I go back and fix things, I have a dickens of a time getting what I want. Depending on what the issues are, I sometimes make corrections to the manuscript staff and drag it down to make TAB, or sometimes it is easier to make the corrections in TAB and drag it up to the manuscript (I ALWAYS get the right notation on the later method.) I have a nasty time of trying to edit individual notes in the correcting mode.
Want proof the TAB program is buggy? Create a dual staff, manuscript on top and TAB on bottom. In the manuscript staff, write out a G chord, the first one everyone learns. G-B-D-G-B-G. Now drag that down to TAB and you will see that the program screws up the open strings. I have been complaining about this problem for years! Another issue. Create a file for just TAB and you will see that the first bar line is missing on each line. Guitar TAB NEVER appears this way (except in Finale.)
Yesterday I copied a melody from a songbook. It was in the key of F#m. I then went to transpose it to Am. The first two chords in the song (in F#m) are F#m and A7. I accessed the utilities menu (after highlighting all the notation measures) and chose the key of Am. It changed the F#m to Am just fine but changed to A7 to C#7. Then I went into the Key Signature Tool, chose "other" and set the transposition to move up to Am and it changed the chords correctly, the A7 to C7.
The TAB program seems to have serious issues with sharps and flats and changing them.
I used to write to Finale and point out the TAB issues and thought after I came back to Finale (I bought Sibelius 7 and preferred using Finale, if only it worked properly that is) and thought for sure after a few years the TAB program would have gotten a facelift.
What I need to find out is if others are using both staves in conjunction and running into issues? And then, assuming I am not the only one in the Finale community with these issues, how do I get them fixed?
I'd really like to know when the guitar TAB got a real honest bare bones makeover.
Please help. I used to have a full head of hair but I'm going bald pulling it out trying to resolve all these issues.
PS - I've noticed small changes to things in the program. In old days when I used the Chord Tool, adding chord names over notes, the TAB button would take me to the next note in the song. Now it goes directly to the next measure. Was this an intended change?