Adding a Tabber Name in Guitar Pro

To add a tabber name to your Guitar Pro score, open the document properties panel and enter the name in the "Tabber" field. In Guitar Pro 7 and later, go to File > Score Information, then locate the Tabber field in the dialog box that appears. Type the name of whoever transcribed the tabs — usually yourself or the person who created the file — and click OK. The name will then appear in the score metadata and print on the document if your layout includes it.

This field serves as a credit line for transcription work. Unlike the composer or artist name, the tabber field specifically identifies who converted the music into tablature format. If you are sharing the file with others or publishing it, filling this field makes clear who did the transcription work and helps avoid confusion about authorship.

Key Takeaways

  • The Tabber field is found in File > Score Information and holds the name of whoever transcribed the tabs into Guitar Pro format.
  • This metadata appears in the document properties and can be printed on the score if your page layout includes it.
  • Adding a tabber name is optional but recommended when sharing files or collaborating with other musicians.
  • The tabber name is separate from composer, artist, and album fields, each of which serves a different purpose in the score header.

Where the Tabber Name Appears

The tabber name shows up in two places: the file metadata (visible when you check document properties) and the printed score itself, if your layout template includes it. Most default layouts in Guitar Pro do not print the tabber field by default, so you may need to edit your page setup to display it.

To make the tabber name visible on printed output, go to File > Page Setup and look for the header or footer options. You can add a custom text field or use the built-in metadata tags to include the tabber name. Different layout templates handle this differently, so check your current template's settings if you want the name to appear on every page.

Difference Between Tabber, Composer, and Artist

Guitar Pro distinguishes between three different name fields: Composer (who wrote the original music), Artist (who performed it), and Tabber (who transcribed it into tab format). These are separate fields because a single score often involves three different people. For example, a file might credit Jimi Hendrix as the composer, Eric Clapton as the artist, and yourself as the tabber.

Filling all three fields correctly gives credit where it belongs and makes the file more useful to other musicians. If you are transcribing a cover version, the composer field should still list the original writer, not the artist who performed the version you transcribed from. The tabber field is always the person who did the Guitar Pro transcription work.

Editing Tabber Information After Creation

You can change the tabber name at any time, even after the score is finished. Open the file, go to File > Score Information, and update the Tabber field with a new name. This is useful if you initially left it blank or if you want to add a collaborator's name after they helped with the transcription.

Save the file after making changes, and the updated tabber name will be stored in the document. If you have already printed copies or shared the file, those versions will still show the old information, so update early if you plan to distribute the file to others.

Including Tabber Name in Shared Files

When you share a Guitar Pro file with bandmates, students, or online communities, the tabber name travels with the file in the metadata. This means anyone who opens the document in Guitar Pro will see who transcribed it, even if they do not print it. It is a straightforward way to get credit for your work without cluttering the visible score.

If you are uploading to a tab-sharing site or music forum, some platforms read the tabber field automatically and display it alongside the file. Check the site's documentation to see whether it pulls metadata from Guitar Pro files or requires you to enter the information separately in a form.

Printing the Tabber Name on Your Score

To print the tabber name on your score, you need to modify the page layout. Go to File > Page Setup and look for header and footer sections. Most templates allow you to add text or insert metadata fields. Look for an option to insert "Tabber" or similar metadata tags, which will pull the name from your Score Information automatically.

If your template does not support metadata insertion, you can type the tabber name directly into the header or footer as static text. For example, you might add "Tabbed by [Your Name]" in the footer. This approach is less flexible if you share the file and want others to update the name, but it works if you are creating a final printed version for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I leave the tabber field blank?

The score will still work normally. The tabber field is optional metadata. If you leave it blank, no tabber name will appear in the document properties or on printed pages that reference it. You can fill it in later without affecting the musical content of the file.

Can I add multiple tabber names if more than one person worked on the transcription?

The Tabber field is a single text box, so you cannot create separate entries for multiple people. You can type multiple names separated by commas or slashes — for example, "Sarah Okafor / James Chen" — and Guitar Pro will display them as written. Some users add names in parentheses to clarify roles, like "Sarah Okafor (lead), James Chen (rhythm)".

Does the tabber name affect how the file plays back or sounds?

No. The tabber name is metadata only and has no effect on playback, sound, or any musical content in the file. It is purely informational and used for crediting the person who did the transcription work.

Will the tabber name show up if someone opens my file in a different music notation program?

It depends on the program. Guitar Pro files opened in other software may or may not display the tabber field, since it is specific to Guitar Pro's metadata structure. Some programs ignore it entirely, while others may display it in their own properties panel. If you need the information to transfer, export the file as a different format and check whether the tabber credit is preserved.