ABC Transcription Tools

[Michael Eskin]

I'm finally at a point where I feel like I'm complete with this first major release of the tool and can get back to my normally scheduled life.
 

A huge thank you to everyone who tested it out, gave feedback, or reported bugs.

ABC Transcription Tools is a free, web-based, open-source tool for converting music in ABC format to standard notation and tablature.

It runs 100% client-side in your browser. You can even copy the source code from the GitHub link below and run it locally on your computer. No server required.

It can generate PDF files as well as URL Share links and QR Codes for sharing your tune sets with others.

The demonstration video below shows:

Importing an ABC tune set
Tablature options
Exporting to PDF files
Generating a QR Code for sharing

ABC Transcription Tools is available at:

http://michaeleskin.com/abc

Examples:    

Launch the tool with "The Kesh" and "The Lilting Banshee" pre-loaded:

http://michaeleskin.com/abctools/abctools.html?lzw=BoLgBAjAUAKuMAsCmYDSSDOCoCVwCkBLAcygFlwA2AegA4oAZcCOqVcAcQFsBDAKygAfEBwCCHMGIBCg0VNFg5AE0FIlSsMXWqlUsLtGCoYidNnzFUlWo1aZ4gGKSAzCCPD5e3deIoDgz30pDnMFcUMoQO9VXyCVYgAzYjAeYh5BMAAjYmTiV0EAXTAoKFAwACZYeGQwBkIAGwAXQgA7ZKkeFqwkJFwCEnIqViZIVnZFJQB7ACchEABRUQVFw0COctWesDUZA0l5gBEjFbAVgLlJDYCtncEIILD88ofFcpV3ECQeHhTfQT31oYwFIbrp-kgEpokkYvj9Ukh-hZAdcULd7ntRG83M8Mc5CsUgA&w=50&format=noten

Launch the tool with the Michael Coleman set ("The Tarbolton" - "The Longford Collector" - "The Sailor's Bonnet") pre-loaded:    

http://michaeleskin.com/abctools/abctools.html?lzw=BoLgjAUAKiUBYFMAEUCGAnARgewDYBdsA7CAWRAGEAfCAaRAFEATbdCAIQQSaQQCZ2AQSoBxIQDEkI8Q3FUAIkyYBjJEz6CRVcZoZIZ8uRAZceCAGYBzBFXPdzvAcJGD2I-S7lvBkkQwZ8IDRUIJZ2DtaYNpHIYQjKVOrmPIJMyVTKTJr68rI0Lm4ePlQBFkhxTFTsmexIgnw6VZ5S-oE0EKB80LCISAAyxGGsPBR4uPGEbOTUdCAiEAB+IgDMgkjVTJZUCOwL7Hy8lkzsouIu6zVUgspCLbn5Z2sbWzt7B+oWVJZ8qBHcJ2A6jc1n5ckEDtdbqC+FRgqErKhytwXrt9mo+J9vr8kccrsC7jDFpZlojrJttqj3hjzF9MNiyQCgVCGPI2hD8aCGLCIABSHlEBAAdwADqhrBAOiBlt14MgAMqoACWuFYAHIAM7rYgC-BkSg0ejyCD1HRqcwLcwwtJlY5vK4NNZpOyJITucTyeQnY0Os0WmG-G2U+2mp02Y7Zd2s7khVB8BaxpC-NJUAMOW37WyYOlIOnmVBUTB5hx2T4QQt+xPmy0p8JqIMmx3mZ2A8OSQQetl1nx1D0ndpAA&w=50&format=noten  

Launch the tool with a transcription of "Muireann's" jig ( by Niall Vallely) for Anglo Concertina pre-loaded:    

http://michaeleskin.com/abctools/abctools.html?lzw=BoLgBAjAUAKuCyBXAlgJwKYEMB22DkAzlAMLgByymANlWAGrVXpUCeUASuAFLIDmU8cADYA9AA4oAGXARxUANLgAQgFtk2KAB8QAEyUBBMAG8dAXwNLNO9ADNjN0+muaj6UzYBM6Y7cfObmHZYIjYi6JpQeoYWVrb2fuE2AEaYYDZOLm6e3kYOTkogEdoWxmboAMwuZiVGmO62mkopaRmu7l7x+RE1ZR6WJub6SmmVKXaYHkmaASFhnXqFWiAGAGLGAOKmAKIe6y76pisAIltgx1uaK-qGQ5ZKOjrzllADqxvbu-uHJ2cnl0Ngaw2TQQNKhdAiR65PwFTQeMFhSFgWy8TRFEC1ep2JLlESTERTTHpca4jyYESYabNdI6TLtHK+JzhKDEsBJDzAmzQuITAAU5QhoXJmjGYAmU1BoV4IQZeWshXhUplT00AF0wFAoEA&w=50&format=noten

GitHub repo with full source code:

https://github.com/seisiuneer/abctools

Demonstration Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gngn0Yd24-c
 

Here are a bunch of tune set QR codes to play with:
 

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjArRJZ

 

Edited October 24, 2023 by Michael Eskin

[Michael Eskin]

You can now save both tune sets as well as Share URL to a file!

[Michael Eskin]

I've replaced the transpose functionality with a completely new implementation leveraging the  native transpose capability in abcjs.  
 

As a result, you can now transpose up or down in semitone increments.

The new version is much more robust and handles chords much better than the original.

This demonstration video shows loading a couple of tunes, and transposing them up and down one octave a semitone at a time.

https://youtu.be/8x5vSWCe4Rs

The first tune "The Kesh", has no chord markings.

The second tune, "The 30,000 ft. Rag" by Paul Gitlitz, has extensive chord markings.  

Both files transpose perfectly with the new implementation!   

ABC Transcription Tools is a free, web-based, open-source tool for converting music in ABC format to standard notation and tablature.

It can generate PDF files as well as URL Share links and QR Codes for sharing your tune sets with others.

ABC Transcription Tools is available at:

http://michaeleskin.com/abc

GitHub Repo:

https://github.com/seisiuneer/abctools

[Michael Eskin]

My ABC tool doesn't have the ability to play the tunes.

For now, I suggest you use the following site to play your ABC files:

https://editor.drawthedots.com/

It can also export MIDI and audio files of tunes.

You can copy your ABC from my ABC tool and paste it in the drawthedots tool to test playback.

Once you are happy with the playback, copy the ABC from the drawthedots tool and paste it back into my ABC tool.

 

Edited February 18, 2023 by eskin

[Michael Eskin]

A huge bunch of updates and a complete UI rework this weekend to make the ABC tool much easier to use, particularly with larger sets of tunes.

 

New features added 19 Feb 2023 include full screen mode, ability to show/hide the controls while editing, a much better experience viewing and editing tune sets with many tunes (ABC editor and controls now stay at the top, with tunes scrolling below), and capo fret offset control for stringed instrument tablature.

 

ABC Transcription Tools is a free, web-based, open-source tool for converting music in ABC format to standard notation and tablature (with optional capo offset for stringed instruments).

 

It can generate PDF files as well as URL Share links and QR Codes for sharing your tune sets with others.

 

You can also transpose tunes up or down in semitone increments.

 

This demonstration video shows:

 

Importing an ABC tune set

Full screen display

Tablature options

Exporting notation to a PDF File

Generating a QR Code for sharing

 

ABC Transcription Tools is available at:

 

http://michaeleskin.com/abc

 

GitHub Repo:

 

https://github.com/seisiuneer/abctools

 

Examples:

 

Launch the tool with "The Kesh" and "The Lilting Banshee" pre-loaded:

 

http://michaeleskin.com/abctools/abctools.html?lzw=BoLgBAjAUAKuMAsCmYDSSDOCoCVwCkBLAcygFlwA2AegA4oAZcCOqVcAcQFsBDAKygAfEBwCCHMGIBCg0VNFg5AE0FIlSsMXWqlUsLtGCoYidNnzFUlWo1aZ4gGKSAzCCPD5e3deIoDgz30pDnMFcUMoQO9VXyCVYgAzYjAeYh5BMAAjYmTiV0EAXTAoKFAwACZYeGQwBkIAGwAXQgA7ZKkeFqwkJFwCEnIqViZIVnZFJQB7ACchEABRUQVFw0COctWesDUZA0l5gBEjFbAVgLlJDYCtncEIILD88ofFcpV3ECQeHhTfQT31oYwFIbrp-kgEpokkYvj9Ukh-hZAdcULd7ntRG83M8Mc5CsUgA&w=50&format=noten

 

Launch the tool with the Michael Coleman set ("The Tarbolton" - "The Longford Collector" - "The Sailor's Bonnet") pre-loaded:

 

http://michaeleskin.com/abctools/abctools.html?lzw=BoLgjAUAKiUBYFMAEUCGAnARgewDYBdsA7CAWRAGEAfCAaRAFEATbdCAIQQSaQQCZ2AQSoBxIQDEkI8Q3FUAIkyYBjJEz6CRVcZoZIZ8uRAZceCAGYBzBFXPdzvAcJGD2I-S7lvBkkQwZ8IDRUIJZ2DtaYNpHIYQjKVOrmPIJMyVTKTJr68rI0Lm4ePlQBFkhxTFTsmexIgnw6VZ5S-oE0EKB80LCISAAyxGGsPBR4uPGEbOTUdCAiEAB+IgDMgkjVTJZUCOwL7Hy8lkzsouIu6zVUgspCLbn5Z2sbWzt7B+oWVJZ8qBHcJ2A6jc1n5ckEDtdbqC+FRgqErKhytwXrt9mo+J9vr8kccrsC7jDFpZlojrJttqj3hjzF9MNiyQCgVCGPI2hD8aCGLCIABSHlEBAAdwADqhrBAOiBlt14MgAMqoACWuFYAHIAM7rYgC-BkSg0ejyCD1HRqcwLcwwtJlY5vK4NNZpOyJITucTyeQnY0Os0WmG-G2U+2mp02Y7Zd2s7khVB8BaxpC-NJUAMOW37WyYOlIOnmVBUTB5hx2T4QQt+xPmy0p8JqIMmx3mZ2A8OSQQetl1nx1D0ndpAA&w=50&format=noten

 

Launch the tool with "Muireann's" jig (by Niall Vallely) for Anglo Concertina pre-loaded:

 

http://michaeleskin.com/abctools/abctools.html?lzw=BoLgBAjAUAKuCyBXAlgJwKYEMB22DkAzlAMLgByymANlWAGrVXpUCeUASuAFLIDmU8cADYA9AA4oAGXARxUANLgAQgFtk2KAB8QAEyUBBMAG8dAXwNLNO9ADNjN0+muaj6UzYBM6Y7cfObmHZYIjYi6JpQeoYWVrb2fuE2AEaYYDZOLm6e3kYOTkogEdoWxmboAMwuZiVGmO62mkopaRmu7l7x+RE1ZR6WJub6SmmVKXaYHkmaASFhnXqFWiAGAGLGAOKmAKIe6y76pisAIltgx1uaK-qGQ5ZKOjrzllADqxvbu-uHJ2cnl0Ngaw2TQQNKhdAiR65PwFTQeMFhSFgWy8TRFEC1ep2JLlESTERTTHpca4jyYESYabNdI6TLtHK+JzhKDEsBJDzAmzQuITAAU5QhoXJmjGYAmU1BoV4IQZeWshXhUplT00AF0wFAoEA&w=50&format=noten

 

Here are a bunch of tune set QR codes to play with:

 

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjArRJZ

Demo Video at:

https://youtu.be/dgR0JPdSFms

[Michael Eskin]

Added "New ABC" button to create a new skeleton tune

Edited February 20, 2023 by eskin

[DaveRo]

On 2/18/2023 at 4:17 AM, eskin said:

My ABC tool doesn't have the ability to play the tunes.

For now, I suggest you use the following site to play your ABC files:

https://editor.drawthedots.com/

That site looks useful. When I find a tune that I might be able to play or arrange (I use the word loosely) for my 42 button Hayden I start by playing it. I often use David Zemsky's Music Scanner app on Android. If I have the ABC I can use EasyABC on a desktop, but I'd like to do it on my Android tablet.

 

I'd like to be able to play one voice, or maybe 2 voices out of three. For example, with this tune (which I just randomly selected because it has three voices) how does the melody alone go? How does it sound with melody plus voice 2, or plus voice 3? Maybe I can mash 2 and 3 together - but I always want to hear just the melody first.

http://www.rudemex.co.uk/library/RM_arrangements/Albert Farmer's Bonfire Tune (3-pt).pdf

 

 

Here's the ABC (it's on the same site)

%Rude Mechanicals tune library: www.rudemex.co.uk
%Chords and arrangements by the Rude Mechanicals unless otherwise acknowledged
X:1
T: Albert Farmer's Bonfire Tune
M:4/4     %Meter
L:1/8     %
K:D
V:1
"D"f2 dB AG F2 |"G"G2 GF G4 |"A"edcA B2 c2 |"D"defd A2 de |"D"f2 d2 A2 F2 |"Em"G2 GF G4 |
"A"edcA B2 c2 ||1"D"d4 d4 :|2"D"d4- d2 e2 |:"D"f2 fd f2 df |"Em"gefd e4 |"A"gfed cABc |
"D"defd A4 |"Bm"f2 dB AG F2 |"Em"G2 GF G4 |"A"edcA B2 c2 ||1"D"d4 e4 :|2"D"d2 z2 [F4d4] |]
V:2
d2 AG FE D2 |DCB,A, B,DCB, |A,2 GF G2 E2 |F2 D2 F2 A2 |ABAF D2 A,2 |B,EGB e2 B2 |
c2 A2 G2 A2 ||1A2 g2 f2 e2 :|2A2 F2 DEFG |:A2 DF Adfa |EGBA GABG |EDCB, A,2 G2 |
F4 D2 A,2 |B,2 B2 d2 B2 |G2 B2 d2 ef |gfec d2 e2 ||1dAFA GABG :|2fdAF [A,4D4] |]
V:3
D2 F4 D2 |B,2 B4 D2 |C2 E4 A,2 |D2 A,2 D2 A2 |d2 A2 F2 D2 |E2 B,2 E2 D2 |
A,2 E2 D2 G2 ||1F2 A,2 B,2 C2 :|2F2 A2 A,2 C2 |:D4 A4 |E4 G2 E2 |A,3 G E2 C2 |
A,2 D2 F4 |D2 F4 D2 |B,2 E4 B,2 |A,2 G2 E2 G2 ||1F4 A,4 :|2A2 F2 [D4A4] |]
     %End of file

 

I can add midi commands into the ABC, such as

%%MIDI program 23

%%MIDI gchordoff (after a V:n)

 

But - and finally the question - I can't find a way of suppressing a voice, short of excising the whole voice section. Does anyone know a command I can add to do it. There isn't a midi program for 'silent' AFAICS.

 

My idea is to add buttons to it using an addon which edits the ABC. (That's easier than interfering with its javascript which is all obfuscated.) I can cut sections of ABC out if necessary, and reinsert them, but just adding lines in would be simpler.

 

And I could add a button to send the result to Michael's abc tool for transposition.

 

Edited: I discovered a solution. The player has a limited range, so can add, e.g.

%%MIDI transpose 60

which it cannot play.

 

Edited again to add: Although that works it does generate some network activity - 404s - when it tries to fetch these high notes. Also a ton of warnings. So use sparingly, and preferably don't program it into a tool for release.

Edited February 24, 2023 by DaveRo

[Michael Eskin]

Can now add optional page numbers. On by default:

[Roger Hare]

16 hours ago, DaveRo said:

...

Edited: I discovered a solution. The player has a limited range, so can add, e.g.

%%MIDI transpose 60

which it cannot play.

Neat! That one has gone straight into my 'General-purpose ABC toolbox'!

 

Here's one of my own: If you want to get rid of the duplicated Volta brackets on the 1st and 2nd plays in voices 2 and 3, simply add:

 

%%score 1|2|3
 

to your ABC script (I usually place it before the K: line). Not documented anywhere, as far as I know, but 'useful'?

Edited February 23, 2023 by lachenal74693

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

I have to applaud you Mr.Eskin, for your very commitment to your technical stuff; myself I stick to writing it ( music) down, by hand, and then can scan it on computer to keep a copy. But I do admire your enthusiasm over the very complex issue.🌝

[mathhag]

I would like to thank you publicly for the help you gave me on cleaning up ABC notation for my needs. It works really well and I started exploring doing more then i saw the option you have for making the PDF of the music with the note names. This is really perfect for me. 

[Roger Hare]

3 hours ago, mathhag said:

I would like to thank you publicly for the help you gave me on cleaning up ABC notation..

I'd like to endorse that, and I'm a hard-core (Easy)ABC user! Three weeks ago (or however long ago), this wasn't there, and now it is, and it's already like it's always been there. I've run out of superlatives...

Edited February 23, 2023 by lachenal74693

[Michael Eskin]

My work here is done!   🙂

I also use EasyABC on my Mac, but I prefer a quick and dirty way to generate my lesson handouts, do a screen shot of a tune, etc. I can do all of that so much faster on the web tool than on EasyABC. 

I used to use the mandolintab.net converter for all my ABC to notation conversion needs nearly daily, and when it went down, really wanted a true web-based alternative, particularly for my 50+ page instructional books.

 

 

[Michael Eskin]

Just to keep things honest, yes, I actually do play Anglo. been playing for about 18 years now. 🙂
 

 

 

[Michael Eskin]

"Eating my own dogfood" today with the tool to come up with that arrangement of "The Gooseberry Bush". 

Felt like the font in the editor is just a tad too tight for my aging eyes. Went to a larger line spacing, now feels like I can breathe.  Of course, one could zoom the browser, and you can resize the ABC entry box, but I wanted the default to feel right.  Any bigger started feeling a bit cartoonish.

There's no end to this kind of CSS tweaking one can do.  Hopefully it's workable for most people with the latest changes.

I also did a lot of work this morning to convey some information about the tune set name when sharing via link or QR code. 

By default, if the set was brought in from a file, the share URL name will use that same name.

If it was just copied and pasted and there is one tune, it will use that tune's name, or if there are multiple tunes, it will use the first tune's name followed by "_Set" as the shared name.

[Roger Hare]

11 hours ago, eskin said:

...I also use EasyABC on my Mac, but I prefer a quick and dirty way to generate my lesson handouts, do a screen shot of a tune, etc. I can do all of that so much faster on the web tool than on EasyABC...

I know several folks who are ABC users, but not to the extent that I am. They want a quick-and-easy way to work with ABC without becoming 'geeks'. I've been unable (with a clear conscience) to recommend anything for them to use - until now, that is...

[DaveRo]

I added a caveat to my earlier post:

 

On 2/22/2023 at 12:53 PM, DaveRo said:

%%MIDI transpose 60

 

Edited again to add: Although that works it does generate some network activity - 404s - when it tries to fetch these high notes. Also a ton of warnings. So use sparingly, and preferably don't program it into a tool for release!

 

I'll look for a better way.

Edited February 24, 2023 by DaveRo

[David Barnert]

6 hours ago, DaveRo said:

I'll look for a better way.

 

If it’s a small enough file, you could “comment out” the unwanted voices by adding % to the beginning of each line, but that could get tedious after a while. BarFly used to have a menu command that would comment out (or uncomment) whole selections at a time, but BarFly is long gone and I don’t think EasyABC has any such feature.