Power Tab Editor

<h2 id="power-tab-editor-20-project">Power Tab Editor 2.0 project</h2>
<p>There is a project on GitHub since July 2014 to develop a new version of Power Tab Editor from the scratch, called Power Tab Editor 2.0. It is a cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux) open-source solution. This new version can read the old Power Tab 1.7 files as well as <a href="/facts/Guitar_Pro/KNfoC802">Guitar Pro</a> files. A main change is that guitar and bass score are now in the same window.
</p>
<h2 id="features">Features</h2>
<p>The software primarily uses tablature notation entry. This is very useful for guitarists who are not familiar with standard notation and for instructing proper positioning on the neck. Other than the expected buttons for normal notation (i.e. <a href="/facts/Time_signature/kwQcWg1P">time signature</a>, <a href="/facts/Tempo/P5PfkpTb">tempo</a> markers, etc.), there are many others that are directed more at the guitarist. These include:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Slur_(music)/P2cPtIfr">Slurs</a> – in the form of slides or hammer-ons/pull-offs</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Vibrato/IIdeSJ0m">Vibratos</a> and bends</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Harmonic/9U9REzeR">Harmonics</a> – natural and artificial</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Mute_(music)/M9E3naYr">Mutes</a> and <a href="/facts/Palm_mute/Cq5ol1Wo">palm mutes</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Tremolo/bzjj7qU0">Tremolos</a> and <a href="/facts/Arpeggio/TNDg3PMw">arpeggiated chords</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Tremolo_arm/A70cA7nL">Whammy bar</a> dips and dives</li></ul>
<p>These buttons can be used in either score and the guitar and bass scores are not restricted to the <a href="/facts/Clef/a3FBqdAf">clef</a>, either. It is possible to switch between <a href="/facts/Treble_clef/a3FBqdAf">treble</a> and <a href="/facts/Bass_clef/a3FBqdAf">bass clefs</a>.
</p><p>Power Tab also features several tools to enhance appearance, accuracy and playback for the <a href="/facts/Transcription_(music)/IW8TDNbK">transcribed</a> music:
</p>
<ul><li>Score checker – this checks that there are no notation errors in the score</li>
<li>Score polisher – this aligns ('justifies') the written music so that it is evenly laid out with no gaps</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Chord_(music)/hJBCHCSB">Chord</a> identification – this tells you the possible names for the chords entered into Power Tab</li>
<li>Shifter tool – this moves groups of <a href="/facts/Musical_note/spIQyV4T">notes</a>, whether chords or a <a href="/facts/Melody/5TR3IE3Y">melody</a>, in <a href="/facts/Pitch_(music)/fQAK0JsC">pitch</a> or around the <a href="/facts/Fingerboard/KXSr6GaJ">fingerboard</a> (maintaining pitch)</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Tonality/vBJp7QcT">Tonality</a> tools – gives the key signatures that fit best with the music entered</li>
<li>Chord/<a href="/facts/Musical_tuning/v5Q1kYxC">tuning</a> dictionary</li></ul>
<h2 id="limitations">Limitations</h2>
<p>Some limitations of the software include:
</p>
<ul><li>Notes can only be inserted in <a href="http://www.beginnersguitarlessons.org/guitar-tabs-for-beginners/guitar-tabs-for-beginners">tablature</a>; it is not possible to enter music in standard modern music notation.</li>
<li>Power Tab Editor can only utilize up to a maximum of seven guitars across both scores (i.e. MIDI voices).</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Pick-up_measure/f7Yth847">Pick-up measures</a>, for example, are counted as errors although they are commonly used in music.</li>
<li>Swing/shuffle time with swing notes cannot be applied to start or stop part-way through a measure.  Conversely, notes in 'even time' cannot be notated within a measure where swing time applies.</li>
<li>When using high and low melodies, <a href="/facts/Redundancy_(information_theory)/HnbfBLE0">redundant</a> rests that are left out (as in regular notation) are counted as errors.</li>
<li>A Segno cannot be used for more than one <a href="/facts/Dal_Segno/AwHTfteR">D.S.</a> A Double Segno must be added in the same position.</li>
<li>The <a href="/facts/Tremolo/bzjj7qU0">tremolo</a>, <a href="/facts/Reverb/188vPg1A">reverb</a> and <a href="/facts/Chorus_effect/uWXkJFMI">chorus effects</a> only work on computers where their <a href="/facts/MIDI/tblhmeFV">MIDI</a> <a href="/facts/Device_driver/rDYnHU1G">drivers</a> and <a href="/facts/Computer_hardware/8jSjsCNv">hardware</a> support it.</li></ul>
<p>Detailed bugs are listed in the Power Tab <a href="http://www.power-tab.net/kbsearch.php">Knowledge Base</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="legal-action">Legal action</h2>
<p>Based on allegations of copyright violations,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> the <a href="/facts/Music_Publishers_Association/Ebp4Xa3c">Music Publishers Association</a> has encouraged its members to seek legal action against those sites which distribute Power Tab files of commercial artists. The creator of the Power Tab Editor, Brad Larsen, has stated on his website that the program is not directly affiliated with these sites.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>
</p><p>However, the MPA working with the founders of powertabs.net opened a legal powertabs site called <a href="http://www.tablibrary.com">Tab Library</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/TuxGuitar/oPTMdzcM">TuxGuitar</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/List_of_music_software/rFHHUh3w">List of music software</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.power-tab.net">Official website</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.power-tab.net/newbieguide.php">Newbie Guide</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.power-tab.net/guitar.php">Main features</a></li>
<li><a href="https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/powertab-developers/oujqU8jjKws">ptb file format specification</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>Power Tab Editor - Free software downloads and reviews - CNET Download.com <a href="http://www.download.com/Power-Tab-Editor/3000-2133_4-10502034.html?tag=dl.1" target="_blank">http://www.download.com/Power-Tab-Editor/3000-2133_4-10502034.html?tag=dl.1</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Music Publishers' Association | News". Archived from the original on 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-04-23. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080408050900/http://www.mpa.org/news/show/5" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20080408050900/http://www.mpa.org/news/show/5</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>FAQ: Where Can I Download Tabs (.ptb files) for Power Tab Editor? <a href="http://www.power-tab.net/getarticle.php?id=20" target="_blank">http://www.power-tab.net/getarticle.php?id=20</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Power Tab Editor open-in-new

Power Tab Editor