Tab without bar lines

[RobSm]

I'm not too good with tab. Belive it or not I prefer to read dots.....

I need help with Black Dog. I can play the notes & solo etc but I cannot consistently nail the start each time the riff starts. the singing has no backing and it's here that dots & time signatures would be really useful.

Would someone please tell me such things as the time sig of Black Dog, How to nail the start of the riff each time and how in general do I infer timing from tab?

Thanks, RobSm (newbie)

[Led Zeppelin]

Turn the CD down low and play along

[RobSm]

Thanks for the reply.

The problem I have doing this with Black Dog is that there are lots of long passages with no discernable beat even behind the vocal.

So I wondered whether there were any odd bars like in Jeff Beck pieces or exactly what the time sig was anyway.

RobSm

[AndyP]

The way I hear it (corrections are more than welcome) Page is using a technique called displacment. This simply means that the same phrase is beginging at different points of the bar. As far as I can tell the black dog riff is being played a 16th note later each time it is repeated which is what is throwing you off. It's very difficult to get the hang of and all I can advise that you do is to play it slowly taking careful note of which notes fall on down beats which will hopefully help you get the feel of it.

As for how to get timing from tab- unfortunately that is one of the disadvatages of tab and you have to try and figure it out yourself (as far as I can tell!). Most professional tabs will also have the musical notation though.

Hope that is of some use.

AndyP

[RobSm]

Thanks Andy.

I thought it had to be some 'artificial' contrivance. I had trouble believing I could be that dumb!....then again...

:o)