Arobas Music GUITAR PRO 4 User Manual

Name: Arobas Music GUITAR PRO 4
Brand: Arobas Music
SKU: 9561
Rating: 4 (1 reviews)

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Guitar Pro 4

User Manual

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Part I	General Information	4
1	Introduction...................................................................................................................................	4
2	Installation...................................................................................................................................	5
3	Improvements...................................................................................................................................and New Features	7
4	Technical ...................................................................................................................................Support	8
5	Understanding...................................................................................................................................Notation	9
6	Main Screen...................................................................................................................................	11
Part II Using Guitar Pro		13
1	Write a Score...................................................................................................................................	13
	Create a New.........................................................................................................................................................Score	13
	Add Tracks.........................................................................................................................................................	15
	Manage Bars.........................................................................................................................................................	17
	Enter Notes.........................................................................................................................................................	19
	Add Symbols.........................................................................................................................................................	22
	Insert Parameter.........................................................................................................................................................Changes	27
	Add Lyrics.........................................................................................................................................................	28
	Add Markers.........................................................................................................................................................	30
	Use Cut/Copy/Paste.........................................................................................................................................................	31
	Use Wizards.........................................................................................................................................................	34
	Percussion.........................................................................................................................................................	36
2	Work with...................................................................................................................................the Score	38
	Find Tablatures.........................................................................................................................................................	38
	Move in the.........................................................................................................................................................Score	40
	Configure.........................................................................................................................................................the Display	41
	Configure.........................................................................................................................................................the Sound	43
	Play the Score.........................................................................................................................................................	45
3	Print a Score...................................................................................................................................	47
	Configure.........................................................................................................................................................the Printing	47
	Print Preview.........................................................................................................................................................	48
	Print .........................................................................................................................................................	49
4	Import a Score...................................................................................................................................	50
	MIDI Importation.........................................................................................................................................................	50
	ASCII Importation.........................................................................................................................................................	52
	Import Other.........................................................................................................................................................Formats	54
5	Export a ...................................................................................................................................Score	55
	MIDI Exportation.........................................................................................................................................................	55
	ASCII Exportation.........................................................................................................................................................	56
	WAVE (audio).........................................................................................................................................................Exportation	57
	BMP (image).........................................................................................................................................................Exportation	59
	Guitar Pro.........................................................................................................................................................3 Exportation	60
Part III Tools for the Guitarist		62
1	The Chord...................................................................................................................................Diagram Tool	62
2	The Scales...................................................................................................................................Tool	65

Table of Contents

3	The Fretboard...................................................................................................................................	67
4	The Keyboard...................................................................................................................................	69
5	The Metronome...................................................................................................................................	70
6	The Digital...................................................................................................................................Tuner	71
Part IV	Reference	73
1	Menus ...................................................................................................................................	73
	The File Menu.........................................................................................................................................................	73
	The Bar Menu.........................................................................................................................................................	75
	The Track.........................................................................................................................................................Menu	77
	The Note .........................................................................................................................................................Menu	78
	The Effects.........................................................................................................................................................Menu	81
	The Markers.........................................................................................................................................................Menu	83
	The Tools.........................................................................................................................................................Menu	84
	The Sound.........................................................................................................................................................Menu	86
	The View .........................................................................................................................................................Menu	88
	The Options.........................................................................................................................................................Menu	90
	The Help .........................................................................................................................................................Menu	91
2	Keyboard...................................................................................................................................Shorcuts	92
Index		94

I General Information

General Information

Introduction

I General Information

I.1 Introduction

Welcome to Guitar Pro!

Guitar Pro is the ultimate workshop dedicated to the beginner as well as the advanced guitar player. It is aimed to helping the user to progress, to compose, or simply to accompany himself with the guitar. Guitar Pro has been designed for 4 to 7 strings instruments (guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, ...).

Here is what Guitar Pro offers you:

nA multitrack score editor focused on tablature. It's easy to use, includes most notation symbols and it's specifically designed for stringed instruments.

nIt allows you to view and listen to the song, with an accurate rendering of guitar effects, and an optimized display for the computer screen.

nTools aimed to assist the user on a day to day basis, such as the digital guitar tuner, the chord diagram engine, the scales tool, the fretboard display and more.

nMidi and ASCII Import/Export: Midi and ASCII Import/Export gives you the opportunity to take advantage of the thousands of scores available on the Internet in other formats.

Important Points:

nCustomizable screen

In Guitar Pro, the screen display is fully customizable and independent of the paper view. This allows you to use the space available on the screen in the best way by selecting the tracks on which you want to work.

nCustomizable printing

Guitar Pro's printouts are fully user-customizable and the printing style can be changed with a few clicks.

nSynchronization

Guitar Pro automatically adds the bars and provides synchronization between the tracks of the score. This strict synchronization is needed for proper sound rendering of the score and it can also be educational at the same time.

nInteractive tools

Each tool within Guitar Pro is closely linked to the active track properties. For example, if you opened the guitar tuner, it would give you the tuning chosen for that specific track. This makes Guitar Pro very powerful, and easy to use.

General Information

Installation

I.2 Installation

Before installing Guitar Pro:

If you had installed a demo version of Guitar Pro before purchasing the complete version, we advise you to uninstall the demo version by using the Start > All Programs > Guitar Pro 4 Demo > Uninstall Guitar Pro 4 Demo menu.

If you have purchased an updated version of Guitar Pro (from the v3 for example), it is not necessary to install the previous version to install Guitar Pro 4. Also, version 4 is able to open every file created using a previous version, so you may want to uninstall the previous version.

The minimum requirements in order to install Guitar Pro 4 is:

nPentium 500 MHz (or equivalent)

n64 Meg of RAM

nSound card

n10 Meg of free space on the hard drive

Installing Guitar Pro:

Insert the Guitar Pro CD-ROM in your drive.

If the setup program does not start, open "My Computer", open the CD-ROM drive (named GP4FULL), and then double click on the Start.exe (or Start) file.

The setup program will allow you to:

nInstall Guitar Pro 4

nStart the Video Presentation

nOpen the User Manual (PDF)

nInstall Adobe® Reader® (needed to open PDF)

The installation of Guitar Pro will ask you to accept the terms of the license of use and will allow you to select the setup directory of the software.

The installation of Guitar Pro creates a shortcut to the software on the desktop as well as in the Start > Programs > Guitar Pro 4 menu of Windows®.

Initial Startup:

To start Guitar Pro, double click on the Guitar Pro shortcut on the desktop, or use the menu Start >

Programs > Guitar Pro 4 > Guitar Pro 4.

During the first strartup of Guitar Pro, you will have to:

nSelect the language you wish to use in Guitar Pro. You may change this choice later by using the Options > Language menu. The language chosen automatically sets the help language. However, you still have the choice to change it by using the Options > Help Language menu.

nEnter you licence number. This licence number is either given with the software in its box, or sent to you by email according to your choice. Important: keep your licence number in a safe place, you will need it each time you will install Guitar Pro.

nSet the MIDI parameters. Make sure to set it correctly, or else you will have no sound when using the software. You may change these parameters later by using the Options > MIDI Setup menu.

nFinally, the software will ask you to register your licence online. This registration is highly advised, because it is needed to access the technical support, to download the free 4.x updates, and to be granted a special discount on future versions of Guitar Pro. If you deactivate the window which asks you to register your licence, you will still be able to access the registration procedure by using the Help > Register your Copy! menu.

General Information

Installation

Uninstall Guitar Pro:

In order to uninstall Guitar Pro, use the Start > All Programs > Guitar Pro 4 > Uninstall Guitar Pro 4 menu.

Guitar Pro Updates:

The Guitar Pro 4.x updates are free for the registered customers of the Guitar Pro 4 version. If you registered your licence on the web site, you will be notified by email of each update available. You may verify there is no update available by checking the Help > GP Online (check for new versions). To download the latest version of Guitar Pro, go to the Help Center, Registered Customers section. It is of no use to register each update.

Some updates may replace the whole program. In this case, your settings will be erased, and you will be asked your licence number again. You can save your settings by making a backup of GPro400.ini in the /data directory before installing the new version, and then replacing the file installed by the one you backed up.

General Information

Improvements and New Features

I.3 Improvements and New Features

Here are the Main Improvements and New Features of Version 4:

nStandard Notation 19 (displaying, capturing and printing)

nDrum Notation 36

nNew Notation Items 22 :various harmonics, stressed Notes, staccato, rasgueado, pickstroke, left and right hand fingering

nNew Effects 22 : advanced tremolo bar, trill, palm mute, various slides, tremolo picking

nMultitrack Printing 47

nFretboard 67 & Keyboard 69

nLyrics 28

nScales Tool 65

nDigital Guitar Tuner 71

nChord Diagrams 62 for 4 to 7 strings with fingering and management of barred chords

n WAVE 57 and BMP 59 exportations

nUndo/Redo Buttons

nCut/Copy/Paste 31 between 2 Guitar Pro sessions

nSearch Engine 38 for finding tabs on the Internet

nAuto Backup/Restore

nPossibility to add Custom Tunings

nImproved Interface

n...

General Information

Technical Support

I.4 Technical Support

Before contacting tech support, be sure to read this User Manual. It was designed to answer every question asked by users.

If you have problems installing or using Guitar Pro, go to the Help Center on the Guitar Pro Internet site. The latest version of the User Manual will be downloadable there, and you will be able to contact the technical support team by e-mail.

To gain access to the Technical Support, you have to:

nRegister your license on the Guitar Pro's Internet site;

nUse the latest 4.x version available on Guitar Pro's Internet site (updates are free for v4 customers). To know which version of Guitar Pro you are using, use the menu Help > About.

Please note: The distributor of your country may propose additional technical support by Internet, telephone or postal mail. In this case, a document is included in the software's package, with the instructions to access this support.

Please note: The technical support for a given version of Guitar Pro is guaranteed for one full year after the end of the distribution of this version.

General Information

Understanding Notation

I.5 Understanding Notation

In order to get the most out of Guitar Pro, you need to:

nKnow how to read tablature

nHave some knowledge of Rhythm Notation

Here is a rapid introduction to these notions:

1.Reading Tablature

Tablature notation was created to make music reading easier on stringed instruments. It can be learned quickly, and you do not need to know any music theory. It shows which string to play, which is quite important since the same note can be played on several strings.

Each string of the guitar is represented by a line. Numbers indicate the fret the finger has to press. The 0 means the string has to be played open - that is without pressing any fret. The lowest line is the fat string (low E), while the upper line is the high E string (thin string). This is what you see when you are playing the guitar, and not when you are in front of it.

2.Rhythm Notation

Notes can have different durations. A note duration is not expressed in seconds, but as a multiple of the tempo. A quarter note is one beat. The tempo is expressed in bpm (beats per minute). So if the tempo is 60, a quarter note lasts 1 second. If the tempo is 120, the quarter note is ½ second. The other notes are defined in terms of quarter notes:

= = = = ...

When a note is dotted, its duration is one time and a half its original one (x1.5):

= +

General Information

Understanding Notation

n-tuplets (triplets, quintuplets, sextuplets...) consists of playing a certain number of notes in a defined time. For example, a triplet of eighth notes (3 x ½ beat = 1.5 beat) is played on one beat:

The Time Signature:

The time signature sets the number of beats per bar. For example, for a time signature of 3/4: the 4 indicates that the reference time is the quarter note, and the 3 indicates that there are 3 beats per bar. In this case, there are 3 quarter notes in a bar.

General Information

Main Screen

I.6 Main Screen

Toolbars can be moved, detached (floating), and can be visible or invisible according to the user choice.

The View > Menu & Toolbars menu offers the possibility to choose which toolbars are visible, to replace them to their default position, and possibly to use Guitar Pro 3 style buttons.

Each zone of the screen can be resized using the splitters (1) and (2).

The status bar at the bottom of the screen shows information about the active score such as the title, the author, the position (bar and track), the name of the active track, and an indication on the active bar duration.

II Using Guitar Pro

Using Guitar Pro Write a Score

II	Using Guitar Pro
	Write a Score
II.1	Write a Score
II.1.1 Create a New Score
	In order to create a new score in Guitar Pro, you have to follow the following steps:
	1. New Score
	Use the File > New [Ctrl+N] menu..
	This menu closes the current score, then creates a new one and opens the Score Information
	[F5] window.
	This window allows you to enter information like the title, the artist,

	.... You can enter the Lyrics		28	too.
	.... You can enter the Lyrics		28	too.
	The Shuffle rhy	checkbox allows you to indicate a triplet
	feel. So you do not have to indicate Triplets everywhere.

The Default Properties tab allows you to define default values used when you create a new score.

Click on the OK button to continue.

2.Key Signature

Use the Bar > Key Signature menu to open the Key Signature window.

Select the key and the Mode (major or minor) of the score. If you do not know these information, you can leave the default value (C major), because they do not change the standard notation display.

Click the OK button to continue.

3.Clef

The clef (Bass or Treble) is automatically chosen from the Track Tuning 15 (guitar or bass).

4.Time Signature

Use the Bar > Time Signature menu to open the Time Signature window.

Select the time signature of the partition (default value is 4/4). The time signature determines the number of beats in a bar.

Click the OK button to continue.

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5.Track Settings

Use the Track > Properties [F6] menu to open the Track Properties window.

This window allows you to enter the Track Information 15 like the name, the color, the tuning, ...

Click the OK button to continue

Audio parameters are set directly from the Mix Table 45 . You can choose which MIDI instrument

to use, set the volume and the panoramic, ...

6.Display Settings

Set the Display Settings 41 to your liking.

Use the View > Vertical Scrolling and View > Horizontal Scrolling menus to set the scrolling mode. If you want to enter a single track, the vertical scrolling is best. However, for more tracks, the horizontal one is better.

If you do not use the standard notation, you can remove it by using the View > Standard Notation.

You are now ready to Enter the Score 19 . You can Add New Tracks 15 too.

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II.1.2 Add Tracks

Guitar Pro handles up to 256 tracks at the same time. Tracks can be of two types:

nInstrumental (guitar, bass, piano, ...)

nPercussion

To insert a new track, use the Track > Add [Shift+Ctrl+Ins] menu. Select the track type and its position compared to other tracks, and then click on the OK button.

The Track properties window opens, in order for you to set the track parameters:

nName of the track

nColor in the global view

nNumber of strings

nTuning from the library (use + and - buttons to change the library)

nCustomized tuning

nFret number

nCapo position (0 if no Capo)

n12 stringed guitar option

n5th string banjo option (this string starts at the 6th fret)

Audio parameters are set directly on the Mix Table 45 .

Empty bars are automatically created on the added track, because in Guitar Pro, each track has the same number of bars to keep the musical coherence.

In order to delete a track, use the Track > Delete [Shift+Ctrl+Del] menu.

For more information about percussion, consult the Percussion 36 topic.

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Tip: If you modify the number of strings of an already existing track, Guitar Pro will allow you to transpose the notes for the new settings. This unique functionality allows you to enter a banjo track to convert it to a guitar track.

Tip: To move a track, you just have to create a new track at the desired position with the same settings as the track you want to move, and then use the Copy/Paste functions on the new track. After that, you can delete the old track

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II.1.3 Manage Bars

In Guitar Pro, each bar has the same properties on all tracks. So a bar will have the same time signature on the track 1 as on track 2. When adding a repeat open, a repeat close is automatically made on all the tracks.

The musical coherence of the score is therefore guaranteed, and playing the score will give the desired result.

On the other hand, you must define each track completely. It's not possible to create a hundred-bar guitar track, and a percussion track with only one bar played looped. You will have to reproduce the percussion bar on the 100 bars by using Copy/Paste.

The use of the Bar > Insert [Ctrl+Ins] or Bar > Cut [Ctrl+X] menus will insert or remove bars on all tracks. To force the insertion or the removal of a bar on a single track, consult the Use Cut/Copy/Paste 31 topic.

The Bar > Clear menu allows you to empty one or more bars on the active track or on all tracks.

Bar Lines:

Guitar Pro automatically manages bar lines.

When you move the edition cursor to the right, it changes bar automatically is the duration of the current bar corresponds to the time signature chosen (for example 4 beats for a 4/4 time signature, see Understanding Notation 9 ). If the bar is not full, Guitar Pro creates a new beat, with the same duration as the previous one.

If a bar is not full or too long Guitar Pro display this bar in red except when it is the currently edited bar.

The status bar displays the real duration of the active bar, its duration, and a symbol indicating if it is complete , too short or too long .

The Bar > Double Bar replace the bar line at the end of the active bar by a double line. A double line indicates a new section in the score and has no incidence on the play, in contrary to repeats as explained below.

Repeats:

The Bar > Repeat Close menu replaces the bar line at the end of the active bar by a repeat close, and asks you the number of time it should be repeated. A repeat close sign indicates that the score has to go to the previous Repeat open sign for the number of times specified.

This menu is always used in conjunction with the Bar > Repeat Open. For example:

Bar play order is 1 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3.

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The Bar > Alternate Endings adds a repetition symbol at the beginning of the active bar. An alternate ending allow you to indicate if the bar has to be played, depending on the number of times the bar has been repeated. This menu is used in conjunction with repeats. For example:

Bar play order is 1 - 2 - 1 - 3.

Time Signature and Key Signature Changes in the Middle of the Score:

The Bar > Key Signature and Bar > Time Signature allow you to set the key signature and the time signature at the beginning of the score, but also to modify them in the middle of it.

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II.1.4 Enter Notes

In Guitar Pro, you can enter notes either on the tablature or on the standard notation display. Each note added in a notation is automatically added in the other one.

The edition cursor is the yellow rectangle.

When it is on a note, the corresponding note in the other notation is surrounded by a grey rectangle.

The TAB (tabulation) key allows you to switch notation.

Tip: The [Shift+Down/Up] buttons allow you to move a note from one string to another one without changing its pitch. These shortcuts also work when you use the standard notation, so you do not have to switch notation everytime.

Clicking on the score does not add any note, but moves the edition cursor to the position pointed. So you can not modify the score by mistake.

There are many ways to enter notes on a score:

§Using the Computer Keyboard

Almost everything is done from the number pad:

∙Arrow keys move you around the score ;

∙Number keys enter notes ;

∙The + and - keys modify note duration ;

∙The Insert and Delete keys add or remove notes.

More information: Keyboard Shortcuts 92

§Using the Mouse

If you prefer to use the mouse, you will use the following elements:

∙The fretboard ( View > Fretboard) to enter the notes ;

∙The Note > 0 to 30 menu (popup menu - right click on the tablature) ;

∙The and buttons of the fretboard to move in the score ;

∙The Duration buttons to modify note duration ;

∙The Note > Insert a Beat [Ins] and Note > Delete a Beat [Ctrl+Del] menus to insert or delete beats.

More information: The Fretboard 67 - The Keyboard 69

§Importing Files

The File > Import > MIDI and File > Import > ASCII Tab menus allow you to import external music files directly into Guitar Pro.

More information: MIDI Importation 50 - ASCII Importation 52

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Tip: The [C] key copies the selected beat to the end of the bar. This can be very handy to reproduce an arpeggio.

The View > Fixed Spacing between Notes menu allows you to force a fixed spacing between notes in the currently edited bar, independently from the rhythm. This function can be handy in case if very short notes hinder the visibility.

Here are some important tips to help you enter notes:

Beat Duration and Note Duration (bass line):

It is important to understand these two terms to best use Guitar Pro:

§Beat Duration sets the space between notes on the selected beat and for the next notes ;

§Note Duration sets the proper duration of each note.

By default, each note duration is equal to the beat duration. It is only necessary to alter this when the note duration is different from the beat duration. It is the case when you write a bass line. Here is an example:

Durations are managed using the Note > Beat Duration [+/-] and Note > Note Duration [Ctrl +/-] menus or using the corresponding toolbars:

Beat duration

Note duration

For more information about rhythm, consult the Understanding Notation 9 topic.

Please Note: if you want to let a note ring (for an arpeggio for example), you can use the

Let Ring 22 effect instead of setting the note duration to a longest value, making the score musicaly incorrect.

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Managing the Triplets and n-Tuplets:

To regroup notes, you only have to set the same n-tuplet (-3-, -5-, ...) to each beat of the group. Guitar Pro will automatically link them as soon as their total duration is a multiple of the chosen n-tuplet:

N-tuplets are managed using the Note > Beat duration [+/-] and Note > Note duration [Ctrl +/-] menus or using the coresponding toolbars.

For more information about n-tuplets, consult the Understanding Notation 9 topic.

Rests:

In Guitar Pro, a rest is automatically defined for a full beat. Rests on only one voice (the melody for example) must not be used. This limitation will be removed in the next evolutions of Guitar Pro by a multivoice system (replacing the time/note duration system).

Use the Note > Rest [R] menu to add a rest.

Ties:

A tie is a note which is not played. It only indicates that the tied note duration is added to the previous note. A tie is displayed on the standard notation as a normal note, but is not displayed on the tablature notation. Some tablature writing conventions represent tied notes between round brackets, but there may be confusion with Ghost Notes 22 which are true notes played lower.

Use the Note > Tied note [L] to add a tie with the preceding note on the same string. Use the Note > Lier le temps [Ctrl+L] to add ties to all preceding notes.

Accidentals (sharp, flat, natural) in Standard Notation:

To add or remove accidentals from the standard notation, you have to use the Note > Up one

semitone [Shift +] et Note > Down one semitone [Shift -] menus. Accidentals are automatically added in compliance with the chosen key signature.

Rhythm Display:

Guitar Pro automatically manages rhythm display and note tail direction, from note durations and time signature.

Tip: The Options > Preferences [F7], menu, General tab allows you to set an automatic save after every n actions done. This save is done in a temporary file and allows Guitar Pro to recover the file in case of abnormal termination.

Tip: The Options > Preferences [F7], menu, General tab allows you deactive the Undo/Redo function. This function may slow down some older computers.

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II.1.5 Add Symbols

Guitar Pro allows you to insert many musical symbols in the score, and particularly those specific to the guitar. Most of these symbols are taken into account during the play of the score.

The following symbols are available in the Note and Effects menus:


Dynamic				22						Accentuated Note							22		Tremolo Bar							22
Dynamic				22						Accentuated Note							22		Tremolo Bar							22

Grace note						22				Dead Note				22					Slides			22
Grace note						22				Dead Note				22					Slides			22

Staccato			22							Let Ring			22						Vibrato					22
Staccato			22							Let Ring			22						Vibrato					22

Fade In		22								Harmonics				22					Wide Vibrato								22
Fade In		22								Harmonics				22					Wide Vibrato								22

Left Hand Fingering								22		Tapping		22							Trill	22
Left Hand Fingering								22		Tapping		22							Trill	22

Right Hand Fingering									22	Slapping (bass)						22			Tremolo Picking									22

Stroke	22									Popping (bass)					22				Palm Mute						22
Stroke	22									Popping (bass)					22				Palm Mute						22

Pickstroke					22					Hammer On / Pull Off								22	Text		22
Pickstroke					22					Hammer On / Pull Off								22	Text		22

Ghost Note							22			Bend	22								Chords				22
Ghost Note							22			Bend	22								Chords				22

Dynamic

This option allows you to set the dynamic of the note.

The buttons allow you to choose the dynamic of each note, from very faint to very strong .

The button allows you to set the dynamic for the whole chord, so that you do not have to set it for each note.

The button allows you to set the current dynamic as the default for every new note.

Dynamics are not displayed on the score to lighten it. However, the View > Show 'Dynamic' Notes menu allow you to display the note using a gradient of color: the lighter the fainter, the darker the stronger.

The Tools > Dynamic Options menu allows you to set the dynamic for each string for a given range of bars.

Grace Note [G]

A Grace note is an ornamentation which consists in a very short note played before another one. In Guitar Pro, you can add a grace note for each string. However, it is not possible to set several grace notes on the same string. A grace note does not count for the bar duration and for the rhythm display.

The Grace note window allows you to select:

§The grace note pitch (fret or "x")

§The grace note duration

§The grace note dynamic

§The transition type (slide, bend, ...). This transition cannot be heard in Guitar Pro.

Staccato

A staccato indicates a very short note, not linked to the note duration on the score. The note is displayed topped by a dot.

Fade In [F]

The Fade In effect applies to the whole chord and indicates that the volume of the notes will progressively go up. This can be done on a electric guitar by turning the volume potentiometer directly on the guitar, or by using a volume pedal.

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Left Hand Fingering

The left hand fingering (for a right-handed person) sets the finger that presses the string on the fretboard. "T" is for the thumb, "0" for the forefinger, "1" for the middle finger,

The left hand fingering is displayed circled under the tablature.

Right Hand Fingering

The right hand fingering (for a right-handed person) sets the finger that plays the string. "T" is for the

thumb, "I" for the forefinger, "M" for the middle finger, ...

The right hand fingering is displayed under the tablature.

Stroke [Ctrl+D] [Ctrl+U]

The stroke effect consists in stroking the strings one after the other instead of playing them all together. The downstroke goes from the bass string to the highest string, and the upstroke from the highest string to the bass string.

The Stroke window allows you to select the duration for the stroke. This duration must be shorter than the stroked notes duration or the notes may be displayed incorrectly.

The checkbox in the Stroke window allows you to set a rasgueado. The rasgueado is a flamenco technique which consists in stroking the strings consecutively with several fingers of the right hand. The "R" letter is added under the stroke arrow.

Pickstroke

The pickstroke allows you to set the direction for the pick. "^" indicates that the movement is from the bass string to the highest string.

Ghost Note [O]

A ghost note is a faint note. When a note is ghosted, its dynamic is automatically set to "mp" (mezzo piano). The note is displayed between round brackets on the tablature.

Warning: Other tablature writing conventions use round brackets to indicates ties. Ties are displayed differently in Guitar Pro (see the Ties 19 topic).

Accentuated Note

Contrary to a ghost note, an accentuated note is played loudly. When a note is accentuated, its dynamic is automatically set to "fff" (forte fortissimo). The ">" symbol is added above the score.

Dead Note [X]

A dead note is short and more faint than a normal one. These notes are used with the Guitar to give a particular rhythmic effect. To make notes be dead notes, you have to put the right hand palm (for a right-handed person) on the strings near the bridge, or else just put the left hand fingers (for a righthanded person) on the string without pressing it.

Let Ring [I]

The let ring effect consists in letting the notes ring more than usual. It is often used with arpeggios.

There is no specific notation for a let ring note. However, the View > Show 'Let Ring' notes menu adds (...) after the let ring notes.

The Tools > Let Ring Options menu allows to set the let ring effect for each string and a given range of bars.

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Harmonics

Using a specific finger placement, harmonics allow you to obtain a very high sound in comparison with the played note.

A harmonic is indicated by a little diamond (full or empty) before a note on the tablature. A symbol (for example "N.H" for an natural harmonic) is added on the tablature. On the standard notation, the head of the note is changed to a diamond.

Several harmonics are available:

Natural Harmonic

The natural harmonic consists of playing the string open while you lightly touch it with the left hand (for a right-handed person) above a fret. The left hand finger has to be taken off at the same time that the right hand plays it. 5th, 7th and 12th frets harmonics are very commonly used, while the others are quite difficult to obtain.

Artificial Harmonic (+5/+7/+12)

For the artificial harmonic, the left hand finger presses the string like a normal note. It is the forefinger of the right hand that lightly touches the string 5,7 or 12 (octavado) frets higher. The right hand has to play the note too, so it may be difficult.

Tapped Harmonic

The tapped harmonic is an artificial harmonic obtained by tapping quickly on the string 12 frets higher.

Pitch Harmonic

The pitch harmonic is done with a pick, and consists in playing the string by letting the thumb that holds the pick lightly touch the string. This harmonic is best obtained with distortion effect.

Semi Harmonic

The semi harmonic is similar the pitch harmonic, except you keep the natural resonance of the string in addition to the harmonic.

Tapping

The tapping effect consists of playing a note by tapping the corresponding fret with a finger of the right hand or of the left hand (often both). The string is not played like it is usually.

The "T" symbol is displayed above the tablature to indicate a tapping effect. In Guitar Pro, a tapping effect is set for the whole chord. This effect is not rendered by Guitar Pro.

Slapping (bass)

The slapping effect consists in slapping the string with the right hand thumb (for a right-handed person) while you rotate your wrist to obtain a percussive sound. The slapping effect is often followed by a popping effect (see below).

Popping (bass)

The popping effect consists in popping one of the two highest strings with amplitude with the right hand forefinger (for a right-handed person). The popping effect is often preceded by a slapping effect (see above).

Using Guitar Pro

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Hammer On / Pull Off [H]

The hammer on (Ho) / pull off (Po) is a transition between two notes played on the same string. The first note is played normally while the second one is not played by the right hand (for a right-handed person).

For a hammer on, the second string, higher than the first one, is played by tapping with a finger on the string, while keeping the finger corresponding to the first note on the fretboard.

For a pull off, the second note, lower than the first one, is played by removing the finger of the first note, after having pressed the fret corresponding to the second one.

Guitar Pro automatically determines if the effect is a hammer on or a pull off.

It is common for hammer on / pull off to be linked together for two notes:

Bend [B]

The bend effect consists of pushing the fretted string sideways with the left hand (for a right-handed person) to bend it, so the pitch of the note changes. The Bend window allows you to precisely set the type of the bend you want. It is also possible to set the amount of bend and add vibrato effects on some sections.

The Bend, Bend/Release, ... buttons allow you to define the base type of the bend. This choice is also reflected by a different symbol on the tablature.

You can set the maximum level of the effect from ¼ to 3 tones. The "Full" term is for a full tone. This choice is displayed on the tablature.

The curve can be modified by clicking on the grid. To delete a point, just click on it. a right click adds a vibrato. Several successive right clicks change the vibrato level (3 levels are available). The vibrato effect can also be obtained on the whole bend effect using the vibrato effect (Effects > Vibrato menu) as a complement to the bend effect. This method has the advantage of adding a vibrato symbol on the tablature.