Guitar Tablature to Standard Notation Converter

Enter guitar tablature below. This tool will convert the fret numbers on each string into standard musical notes (e.g., E4, G3).
Please use standard 6-string guitar tuning (E-A-D-G-B-e) and include string labels (e.g., `e|`, `B|`). Only numbers (frets) and dashes (`-`) are processed. Other characters will be ignored.

Example: e|--0-1-2----------| B|--------0-1-2----| G|-----------------| D|-----------------| A|-----------------| E|-----------------|

Converted Notes:

Notes will appear here.

Important Notes & Limitations:

  • Simplified Conversion: This tool converts fret-string combinations to individual notes and octaves (e.g., "E4"). It does **not** interpret rhythm, duration, or complex musical symbols found in full standard notation.
  • Standard Tuning (EADGBe): Assumes standard 6-string guitar tuning. Conversions for other tunings will be inaccurate.
  • String Labels Required: Each line of tablature should ideally start with its string label (e.g., `e|`, `B|`, `G|`, `D|`, `A|`, `E|`). If labels are missing, the order of input lines will be assumed for standard tuning from top (high e) to bottom (low E).
  • Basic Parsing: Only numeric fret values and hyphens are processed. Other characters (like 'p' for pull-off, 'h' for hammer-on, 'b' for bend, '/' for slide) are ignored.
  • Open Strings: '0' represents an open string.

This tool is a basic aid for understanding note relationships in tablature, not a full musical transcription service. For precise musical notation, specialized software is recommended.

Application error: Missing required elements. Please contact support.

"; } return; } // --- Musical Constants and Mappings --- // Array of all 12 notes in an octave, starting from C const NOTES_CHROMATIC = ["C", "C#", "D", "D#", "E", "F", "F#", "G", "G#", "A", "A#", "B"]; // Standard 6-string guitar tuning (from low E to high e) // Values: { note: base_note_name, octave: base_octave_for_open_string, stringNum: 1-6 } // The order here matters for default mapping if labels are missing. const STRING_TUNING = { 'e': { note: "E", octave: 4, stringNum: 1, label: 'e' }, // High E 'B': { note: "B", octave: 3, stringNum: 2, label: 'B' }, 'G': { note: "G", octave: 3, stringNum: 3, label: 'G' }, 'D': { note: "D", octave: 3, stringNum: 4, label: 'D' }, 'A': { note: "A", octave: 2, stringNum: 5, label: 'A' }, 'E': { note: "E", octave: 2, stringNum: 6, label: 'E' } // Low E }; // Ordered array of string labels for default processing const DEFAULT_STRING_ORDER = ['e', 'B', 'G', 'D', 'A', 'E']; // High e to Low E /** * Converts a fret number on a specific string to its standard musical notation (e.g., "E4"). * @param {string} stringKey - The character representing the string ('e', 'B', 'G', 'D', 'A', 'E'). * @param {number} fret - The fret number (0 for open string). * @returns {string|null} The note name with octave (e.g., "C4"), or null if invalid input. */ function getNoteFromFret(stringKey, fret) { const tuning = STRING_TUNING[stringKey]; if (!tuning || fret < 0) { return null; } let baseNoteIndex = NOTES_CHROMATIC.indexOf(tuning.note); // Calculate total half steps from C0 (or arbitrary reference, just consistent) // C0 is 0, C#0 is 1, D0 is 2 ... B0 is 11, C1 is 12 // E2 is 4 + 12*2 = 28 half steps from C0 let initialHalfSteps = baseNoteIndex + (tuning.octave * 12); let finalHalfSteps = initialHalfSteps + fret; let newNoteIndex = finalHalfSteps % 12; let newOctave = Math.floor(finalHalfSteps / 12); return NOTES_CHROMATIC[newNoteIndex] + newOctave; } /** * Parses the raw tablature input and converts it into a structured list of notes. * @param {string} tabInput - The raw multi-line tablature string. * @returns {Object} An object where keys are string labels and values are arrays of detected notes. */ function parseTablature(tabInput) { const lines = tabInput.split('\n').map(line => line.trim()).filter(line => line.length > 0); const notesPerString = {}; let assignedStringIndex = 0; // For cases where string labels are missing lines.forEach(line => { let stringKey = null; // Try to identify string key from the start of the line (e.g., "e|", "B|") const match = line.match(/^([eEBGDAb])\|/); // Regex to catch e, B, G, D, A, E (case insensitive for start) if (match) { // Use the canonical casing for lookup in STRING_TUNING const foundChar = match[1]; stringKey = Object.keys(STRING_TUNING).find(key => key.toLowerCase() === foundChar.toLowerCase()); } else { // If no explicit string label, assign based on default order if (assignedStringIndex < DEFAULT_STRING_ORDER.length) { stringKey = DEFAULT_STRING_ORDER[assignedStringIndex]; } } if (stringKey) { const tabData = line.substring(line.indexOf('|') + 1); // Get content after '|' const fretsOnString = []; let currentFret = ''; for (let i = 0; i < tabData.length; i++) { const char = tabData[i]; if (char >= '0' && char <= '9') { currentFret += char; // Accumulate digits for multi-digit frets } else { if (currentFret !== '') { const fret = parseInt(currentFret); const note = getNoteFromFret(stringKey, fret); if (note) { // Only add if it's a valid note fretsOnString.push(note); } currentFret = ''; // Reset for next fret number } // Handle '-' or other non-digit characters (ignore them, just reset fret accumulation) } } // After loop, check if there's a pending fret number at the end of the line if (currentFret !== '') { const fret = parseInt(currentFret); const note = getNoteFromFret(stringKey, fret); if (note) { fretsOnString.push(note); } } notesPerString[stringKey] = fretsOnString; assignedStringIndex++; // Move to the next string in default order for unlabeled lines } else { console.warn("Skipping line due to unidentifiable string format:", line); } }); return notesPerString; } /** * Handles the conversion and displays results. */ function handleConversion() { const tabInput = tablatureInput.value; const convertedNotes = parseTablature(tabInput); notesResult.innerHTML = ''; // Clear previous results let hasNotes = false; // Display results in a structured way // Order by standard guitar strings (High e to Low E) for (const stringKey of DEFAULT_STRING_ORDER) { if (convertedNotes[stringKey] && convertedNotes[stringKey].length > 0) { hasNotes = true; const p = document.createElement('p'); p.innerHTML = `${stringKey} String:`; const ul = document.createElement('ul'); convertedNotes[stringKey].forEach(note => { const li = document.createElement('li'); li.textContent = note; ul.appendChild(li); }); p.appendChild(ul); notesResult.appendChild(p); } } if (!hasNotes) { notesResult.innerHTML = "

No playable notes detected from the provided tablature. Please check format.

"; downloadPdfButton.style.display = 'none'; } else { downloadPdfButton.style.display = 'block'; } } /** * Generates and downloads a PDF summary of the inputs and converted notes. * Uses the jsPDF library. */ function downloadPdfSummary() { const inputTablature = tablatureInput.value; const convertedNotes = parseTablature(inputTablature); const jsPDF = window.jspdf.jsPDF; if (!jsPDF) { console.error("Error: jsPDF library not loaded. PDF generation aborted."); notesResult.innerHTML = "

PDF export is currently unavailable. Please try again later.

"; return; } const doc = new jsPDF(); const leftMargin = 20; const rightMargin = 20; const topMargin = 20; const bottomMargin = 20; const contentWidth = doc.internal.pageSize.getWidth() - leftMargin - rightMargin; const pageHeight = doc.internal.pageSize.getHeight(); const footerHeight = 15; let currentY = topMargin; // Title doc.setFont('helvetica', 'bold'); doc.setFontSize(20); doc.setTextColor(0, 77, 153); doc.text("Guitar Tablature to Standard Notation Summary", doc.internal.pageSize.getWidth() / 2, currentY, { align: 'center' }); currentY += 15; // Input Tablature doc.setFont('helvetica', 'normal'); doc.setFontSize(12); doc.setTextColor(51, 51, 51); doc.text("Input Guitar Tablature:", leftMargin, currentY); currentY += 8; doc.setFont('courier', 'normal'); // Use a monospaced font for tab doc.setFontSize(10); const tabLines = inputTablature.split('\n'); tabLines.forEach(line => { const splitLine = doc.splitTextToSize(line, contentWidth); const lineHeight = splitLine.length * 5; // Approx height for line if (currentY + lineHeight > pageHeight - bottomMargin) { doc.addPage(); currentY = topMargin; } doc.text(splitLine, leftMargin, currentY); currentY += lineHeight + 2; // Small gap between tab lines }); currentY += 15; // Space after tab // Converted Notes doc.setFont('helvetica', 'bold'); doc.setFontSize(16); doc.setTextColor(0, 77, 153); doc.text("Converted Notes:", leftMargin, currentY); currentY += 10; doc.setFont('helvetica', 'normal'); doc.setFontSize(11); doc.setTextColor(0, 0, 0); let anyNotesFoundInPdf = false; for (const stringKey of DEFAULT_STRING_ORDER) { if (convertedNotes[stringKey] && convertedNotes[stringKey].length > 0) { anyNotesFoundInPdf = true; const stringNotesText = `${stringKey.toUpperCase()} String: ${convertedNotes[stringKey].join(', ')}`; const splitNotesText = doc.splitTextToSize(stringNotesText, contentWidth); const notesHeight = splitNotesText.length * 6; if (currentY + notesHeight > pageHeight - bottomMargin) { doc.addPage(); currentY = topMargin; doc.setFontSize(11); doc.setTextColor(0, 0, 0); } doc.text(splitNotesText, leftMargin, currentY); currentY += notesHeight + 5; } } if (!anyNotesFoundInPdf) { const noNotesMessage = "No playable notes were detected from the provided tablature. Please ensure the format is correct (e.g., has string labels like 'e|', 'B|', and contains fret numbers)."; const splitNoNotes = doc.splitTextToSize(noNotesMessage, contentWidth); const noNotesHeight = splitNoNotes.length * 6; if (currentY + noNotesHeight > pageHeight - bottomMargin) { doc.addPage(); currentY = topMargin; } doc.text(splitNoNotes, leftMargin, currentY); currentY += noNotesHeight + 5; } currentY += 15; // Space before limitations // Limitations Section doc.setFont('helvetica', 'bold'); doc.setFontSize(14); doc.setTextColor(0, 77, 153); doc.text("Important Notes & Limitations:", leftMargin, currentY); currentY += 10; doc.setFont('helvetica', 'normal'); doc.setFontSize(9); doc.setTextColor(0, 77, 153); const limitationsList = [ "Simplified Conversion: This tool converts fret-string combinations to individual notes and octaves (e.g., 'E4'). It does not interpret rhythm, duration, or complex musical symbols found in full standard notation.", "Standard Tuning (EADGBe): Assumes standard 6-string guitar tuning. Conversions for other tunings will be inaccurate.", "String Labels Required: Each line of tablature should ideally start with its string label (e.g., 'e|', 'B|'). If labels are missing, the order of input lines will be assumed for standard tuning from top (high e) to bottom (low E).", "Basic Parsing: Only numeric fret values and hyphens are processed. Other characters (like 'p' for pull-off, 'h' for hammer-on, 'b' for bend, '/' for slide) are ignored.", "Open Strings: '0' represents an open string." ]; const highlightedLimitation = "This tool is a basic aid for understanding note relationships in tablature, not a full musical transcription service. For precise musical notation, specialized software is recommended."; limitationsList.forEach(item => { const splitItem = doc.splitTextToSize(`• ${item}`, contentWidth - 5); const itemHeight = splitItem.length * 4.5; if (currentY + itemHeight + footerHeight > pageHeight - bottomMargin) { doc.addPage(); currentY = topMargin; doc.setFontSize(9); doc.setTextColor(0, 77, 153); } doc.text(splitItem, leftMargin, currentY); currentY += itemHeight + 3; }); // Add highlighted limitation doc.setFont('helvetica', 'bold'); doc.setTextColor(217, 83, 79); const splitHighlight = doc.splitTextToSize(highlightedLimitation, contentWidth); const highlightHeight = splitHighlight.length * 4.5; if (currentY + highlightHeight + footerHeight > pageHeight - bottomMargin) { doc.addPage(); currentY = topMargin; doc.setFontSize(9); doc.setTextColor(217, 83, 79); } else { currentY += 10; } doc.text(splitHighlight, leftMargin, currentY); // Footer doc.setFontSize(10); doc.setTextColor(150, 150, 150); doc.text("Generated by Guitar Tablature to Standard Notation Converter", doc.internal.pageSize.getWidth() / 2, pageHeight - footerHeight, { align: 'center' }); doc.save("Guitar_Tab_Conversion_Summary.pdf"); } // --- Event Listeners --- convertButton.addEventListener('click', handleConversion); downloadPdfButton.addEventListener('click', downloadPdfSummary); // Allow pressing Enter (Ctrl+Enter or Cmd+Enter for textarea typically) to trigger conversion tablatureInput.addEventListener('keydown', function(event) { if (event.key === 'Enter' && (event.ctrlKey || event.metaKey)) { event.preventDefault(); // Prevent new line in textarea handleConversion(); } }); });
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