1. Tablature Notation
The earliest known printed example of German lute tablature: Sebastian Virdung, ‘Musica getutscht’ (1511)

2. Notations and Musical Worlds
System 1
Western staff notation
representing sounds
aural (ideal)  manual  aural (real)
unified tradition
System 2
tablatures: instrumental, pop…
representing actions
manual  aural
parted traditions, transcription may helps to bridge

3. Tablature Notation
from Latin tabula, table, score; It. intavolatura, Ger. Tabulatur
use 2 systems of letters, numerals, diagrams or signs to indicate playing actions that produce the desired pitch and rhythm
used since the early 14th c. mainly for organ and lute, and also for folk instruments—easy to learn

4. Lute Tablature Rhythm note stems with beams above the notes for rhythm
usually barred regularly
consecutive rhythm may be abbreviated
valid for all voices
only the shortest of the notes are notated
only the points of attack are notated, not the duration
polyphony to be reconstructed
rhythm: | =  (shorten to )

5. German Lute Tablature
Virdung, Musica getutscht, 1511

6. German Lute Tablature invented in 15th c. for 5-course (string) lute
usual 16th-c. tuning: in A

7. German Lute Tablature system open + 1 2 3 4 5 first fret: A a b c d e
second fret: B f g h i k etc.
fifth fret: E x y z & 9 (con) etc.
red letter=pitch

8. German Lute Tablature r x e small cross
Hans Neusidler, “Ich klag den tag,” Ein neues Lauttenbüchlein (Nürnberg, 1540)

9. Hans Neusidler, “Ich klag den tag”
extras
small cross (+) = tone held longer
dot = plucked with index finger
T = general pause
1≠l (be musical!)
Sample of Transcription (first 5 bars):

10. Transcription: Steps meter, key function: for music or for playing
voice-leading
number of staff
transposition

11. Italian Lute Tablature
Intabulatura de Lauto, Libro primo (Venice: Petrucci, 1507)

12. Italian Lute Tablature
with 6 lines for the 6 courses, bass on top!
usual 16th-c. tuning: in G

13. Italian Lute Tablature
system: 0 (open) x
extras: dot = plucked with index finger
Sample of Transcription:

14. French Lute Tablature usual 16th-c. tuning: 4-4-3-4-4 in G
“nouveau ton” 1650: A-d-f-a-d’-f’ + several bass courses
system: a (open) b c d e f

15. French Lute Tablature
appoggiatura c e
Ennemond Gaultier (1575–1651): “Tombeau de Mezangeau,” Livre de Tablature des Pieces de Luth (Paris, 1664)

16. French Lute Tablature: Sample of Transcription

17. French Lute Tablature

18. John Dowland (1562–1626): Flow, my tears (1600)

19. Chinese Qin Jianzipu
Simplified character notation for the seven-string zither; part of the piece “Waters and Clouds of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers,” 1722
columns 1–4 contain the title and programme notes, and columns 5–8 and 10–12 give tablature symbols.