Export formats

PDF

Best for: printing, sharing with bandmates, archiving.

The PDF export renders your tab as a formatted page with title, tempo marking, and standard notation above the tab staff (if enabled in settings). Choose page size (A4 or Letter) and orientation (portrait or landscape).

MusicXML

Best for: importing into notation software (MuseScore, Sibelius, Finale, Dorico).

MusicXML preserves both notation and playback data. Open the exported file in your notation software to get a fully editable score with standard notation and tab. This is the format to use if you plan to arrange, transpose, or create professional-looking charts.

MIDI

Best for: DAW import, virtual instrument playback, tempo mapping.

The MIDI export contains note pitches, velocities, and timing. Import into any DAW to trigger a bass virtual instrument. The MIDI file includes tempo information so your DAW project syncs to the transcription.

Plain text tab

Best for: forums, emails, text messages, anywhere that can't handle file attachments.

Renders as monospaced ASCII tab:

G|----------------|----------------|
D|------------5---|3---------------|
A|3---3---5-------|----5---3---5---|
E|----------------|----------------|

Simple, ugly, universally readable. The format of Ultimate Guitar since 1998.

Settings

Before exporting, check:

• Include standard notation — adds a notation staff above the tab
• Include chord symbols — adds chord names above the staff
• Page size and margins — for PDF exports
• Font size — for readability on printed pages