I don't like reading tabs...

[As I Lay Dying]

I really don't like reading tabs off of paper. I rather learn them by ear. I've done most of the Nevermind CD by Nirvana.

BTW i'm a bassist.

[Silverbolt]

Tabs should only be used in very difficult situations or for reference. Learning by ear is much more effective in my opinion, you get a better feel for the song.

[As I Lay Dying]

Yeah. I can't really get the timing down when I read them. I learned all of the Nirvana songs I know by ear.

[xSANGUINEx]

I learned most of artist's songs and write my own on powertabs. It's like tabs and written music that you can hear. Okay, this doesn't make much sense, but I think it's more effective/accurate than learning songs by ear.

[Silverbolt]

I guess it matters on what instrument you play too...Drums are easy to learn by ear and from what I know bass isn't all too hard...Most guitar players I know use them, though.

[Cluck.]

It depends on the bass song. Nirvana is easy, I pity the musician who can't learn their stuff by ear. Try playing some Rush.

[Meathos]

Try playing some Primus if you're a bass player.


Man, I hate Rush. Not because I don't like them, but because they crush my dreams. It's like Dream Theater, but Canadian. F*ckin' crush dreams, man... F*ck Mike Portnoy and Neil Peart. Gahr.

:)


But, yeah. Tabs should be used to maybe get you started, or to show you how to actually play the song if you find the way you figured it out to be really damn hard. My band usually plays things by ear, then checks the tabs after they played the song their way, just to make sure, or to make things easier if possible.
As a drummer, I think you should die if you can't figure most of a song out by ear...
Unless it's a Rush, or Dream Theater/ Liquid Tension Experiment song...
Bastards.

[Forgotten]

I use Guitar Pro. This program is like Power Tabs, but better in my opinion. It's written like a tab, but you can hear it. So you can play along and hear the song so you can get a feel for the tempo and such. Many people are freakishly good at tabbing songs out so many Guitar Pro tabs include all the instruments in the band and sometimes even the vocals.

If you only want to hear a certain instrument you can also turn the other instruments down or off.

The only downside is you have to buy it. I got it from a friend for free, though :P

[As I Lay Dying]

Try playing some Metallica! I can barley hear Burton play somtimes!

[Meathos]

That's because Burton's bass was distorted, so it kinda blended and melted into the song. Sometimes.

Besides, Metallica bass lines are pretty easy.

[As I Lay Dying]

Yea I heard one of his solos and I was like WTF that doesn't sound like bass.