Why You Shouldn’t Use Tab

Well I some time ago learnt to read sheetmusic . I can translate it into different keys to avoide too many sharps for the chromatic button to push. My problem is that I can’t read and translate to the harp hole quickly enough. So I write my own form of TAB with marks showing the quick notes, the 1/8 th notes ,draw and blow. I really need to see the printed music to play from my own TABs. That’s the only way i know the rhythm. Other printed TABs require that I know the song. Playing chromatic where there can be a lot of sharps/flats I underline my TaB with a red line. My memory not good enough to know when to push the button. That’s why I often change the key to F or G. My thought is published tabs can help but we should put some time into learning to read music. There is so much more can be done.

I say it all depends on the system that the tabber is using. I used to use a plus sign for blow and a minus sign for draw, meanwhile my teacher uses a B for blow and D for draw. That another disadvantage of learning through tabs. You have to learn all of these tabbing systems and it can make your head spin. I'll learn by ear occasionally if I know the song well enough that I can play it by just picking it up.

Yes, Keith’s problem is real. Play by ear could be OK for a diatonic harmonica 10 holer. But for chromatic it’s frustrating. If playing a song in Ab where I’d play the notes,then with the button in, then to find 4 notes requiring the button pressed in. Seeing the music or tabs I’d be playing in no time.
However, my ear is valuable when iv’e learnt to play a song, if i hit a wrong note I know instantly.

Ab plays just like G on a chromatic. Just hold the button in for everything but the 7th degree of the scale. Have to let the button out for that. G needs the button pushed for the seventh, Ab needs it let out for the 7th. You can do something similar with C#/Db. Just hold the button in and play like you would in C. 
After practicing scales on the chromatic, I now find I can play a lot of tunes by ear. And in 10 keys. B and F# are the only keys I don't use on the chromatic. 

Isn't Dm supposed to be the most miserable key. I keep meaning to get one as I love miserable tunes.