Quick start

This page is the five-minute tour. Each step links to the in-depth guide if you want more.

1. Sign in

Tabula is invite-only while in beta: your email has to be on the allowlist before you can create an account. If a bandmate invited you, accept their invite link first — that adds you to their band as soon as you sign in. See Inviting members for the whole flow.

When you sign in, Tabula automatically creates a personal band for you, so you always have somewhere to work.

2. Open a band

If you belong to a single band, Tabula drops you straight into it. If you’re in several, you’ll see a grid of band cards — pick one to open its song library. You can switch bands at any time from the breadcrumb at the top of the editor.

3. Create a song

In a band’s song library, click + New song, choose a starting instrument (Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass, Piano, Drum Kit, or Voice), optionally give it a title, and click Create.

You land in the editor with an empty staff ready for input.

4. Type a riff

The editor is keyboard-first. With your cursor on the tab staff:

• Press E to arm a quarter-note duration, then type a fret number (e.g. 0, 3, 5) to place a note. The cursor advances automatically.
• Use the arrow keys to move between beats (left/right) and strings (up/down).
• Standard notation appears above the tab as you go.

The full input model — including pitched instruments and drums — is covered in Entering notes.

5. Play it back

Press Space to play, Space again to pause, and Esc to stop. The first time you play, Tabula loads a small sound font; after that it’s instant. See Playing your song.

6. Bring in the band

Open Settings → Members, invite your bandmates by email, and pick a role for each (owner, admin, editor, or viewer). Once they open the same song, you’ll see their avatars and live cursors, and you can leave comments on specific beats to talk things through.

That’s the whole loop: write, play, discuss, repeat — together, in real time.