Each note will have a specific position on the musical staff.ĭetermine the octave: Look for the clef symbol (treble clef, bass clef, etc.) at the beginning of the staff to determine the octave range. Identify the notes: Read the sheet music notation and determine the pitches of the melody. Here's an example of how you could approach tabulating a simple melody from sheet music: However, it is possible to create a basic tabulation by determining the pitches and finding corresponding positions on the instrument's fretboard or keyboard. 'Tabulating music from standard sheet music notation can be a bit more challenging since tablature is primarily designed for stringed instruments.