ABC Format

Subject: ABC Format
From: McMusic
Date: 30 Nov 98 - 12:41 AM

Does anyone know of a book, something like "ABC Format For Dummies" that I could get my hands on? Anything to make it make sense to me! A while back, someone cited a past thread dealing with it, but I swear, it confused me. Am I alone in feeling this way, or is there anyone out there as lost as I am? It really looks like a handy thing to know. HELP!!!!!!! Signed, The Computer Neanderthal

Subject: RE: ABC Format
From: Songbird
Date: 30 Nov 98 - 03:11 AM

for useful tips try the ABC Homepage at http://www.gre.ac.uk/~c.walshaw/abc/index.html

where I learnt all about it.

Subject: RE: ABC Format
From: McMusic
Date: 30 Nov 98 - 05:27 AM

Thanks a lot, Songbird. I'll give it a shot. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Subject: RE: ABC Format
From: Paul Jay
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 07:43 PM

McM I'm with you. I got on the abc site and was more confused than ever. Look WAY to hard for me! Can anyone suggest a really user frindly place to find out about using this program?

Subject: RE: ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 01:11 AM

Click here for a thread we had on this topic a while back. Bruce Olson posted a concise explanation there that finally gave me at least a limited understanding of ABC. I usually make a MIDI on Noteworthy Composer, and then convert it using Alan Foster's MIDITXT, but I figured I oughta learn ABC. I did, but I still don't like it.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: ABC Format
From: Paul Jay
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 09:45 PM

Joe Thanks for the response. I tried to understand the info on the thread link you gave me, but I left most of my "formal" musical skills in High school. The stuff we all (I assume) play is FOLK MUSIC much of which was communicated through the oral tradition. Even though I have been playing for most of my life I can't seem to get the hang of this ABC XYZ Midi stuff. Are they the same? What in the world is ASCII? Everytime someone gives an "explanation" it's like reading the Microsoft Help pages where they use the word being defined in the explanation. Does anyone out there know of a MIDI or ABC or whatever site for dummies?

Subject: RE: ABC Format
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Dec 98 - 06:16 AM

I dunno, Paul. The explanation Bruce gave me was enough for me to be able to enter a tune that worked. However, it was a very tedious process for me. I prefer entering tunes on a staff on a MIDI program, and then using MIDITXT to convert it to ASCII (plain text - American Standard Code for Information Interchange). some people seem to be able to type ABC tunes in their sleep, but not me. I got MIDI down, though.
-Joe Offer-