Notation software (once again), and notes-dyslexia(?)

Whistle
1

I realize that this topic has been up lots of times before (I do search!).

But I have a specific need that I can not find, as I’m not even sure what to search for (what it’s called) while browsing the hundreds of sites with such software.

And my internet-connections is really bad so I can’t download everyone of them and try out.

I would really like to be able to take a MIDI for example and have the application automagically transcribe it all for me into Alphabetical notes.

I really suck at notes, it takes double(if at all) the time for me brain to connect when it’s about real notes rather then it just saying “A”, “D” “F#” etc.

I’ve always had this problem so throu the years I’ve had my own style of memorizing tunes(written on paper), how to signify pauses and all sorts of things. It might not be very “professional” but it’s worked so far - with the downside being not many others use ‘my’ way of doing it.

It took me only a few hours to learn the scale on my Uilleann, as in what each of them was and where they were (I was staring at the letter-notes while doing it), and a few days ago I almost managed to play a whole – simple-- song (only had the thing for a week) that I had long ago written down via the letter-system.

But I would like to expand and try new songs(both on my new uilleann and whistle) but it takes such a bloody long time for me to “transcribe” (as I have to do) real notes into letters before I can start my attempt. So I can’t even know I will like it before I’ve spent a few hours translating it.


I think it’s sort of like a dyslexia but for notes, show me a tune notated with letters and I get it. But with real notes and I choke up and get all confused and afraid.

And I’ve never needed the details that real notes give(?). I think that music is something that can only be very generally written down and then it’s up to the person playing to give it life and all the little details, and as a plus it will all be very personal to the one playing. So having only letters describe a tune has worked very well for me for a long time. It’s the broad strokes and then I’m free to add details if/when I’m ready.


So I would really think the optimal for ME would be something that could show me the notes as it traditionally is written down, and then directly above each note or below stands the letter-note. This way perhaps I will actually learn by association and some day manage to play from notes alone – since it’s sort of the “standard” me guess it would be for the best in the long run.

Anyone know of such an application???

Thanks in advance!

PS. I’ve owned MidiNotate for a long time is what I have used to try and translate the notes as I can hear them when I click them. But it still takes forever. And it can not display letters for every note, at least I’ve tried a thousand times.

2

ABC Notation may be your ticket.

Basics
http://www.lesession.co.uk/abc/abc_notation.htm

Archive of thousands of tunes in ABC format
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/music/abc/FindTune.html
a mirror site if that one is down
http://jc.tzo.net:1742/~jc/music/abc/findtune.html

Concertina converts ABC to MIDI but I don’t think it does the reverse
http://www.concertina.net/tunes_convert.html

If that fails, don’t despair. Many accomplished musicians can’t sightread worth a damn. Irish Traditional Music is an aural tradition where the best learn to play by ear, and songs are passed on that way rather than sheet music.

Sight reading is a specific skill that can be learned. Adding letters under the notes on the staff will not speed up that process. Learning to read ABCs is a good alternative if your brain processes the letters better than the dots. If neither works for you, feel free to ditch all the notation and learn by ear. MIDIs are not the best way to learn traditional tunes, because the subtleties of rhythm and accent are difficult to express in MIDI format.

  • Bill
3

I have a program called MID2ABC which does convert midi files to abc notation. It does work, although I have rarely ever used it. I got it off the net, but don’t remember the source.