Since I began playing, before I knew any music theory or whatsoever, I always used my ears to find out the notes to play. I really am not a fan of the tablature system and I feel that it always falls short for such an expressive music like Yes, for example. That is not to say TAB is bad. It’s a valid learning tool and it may help many players. I developed my own way of extracting melodies, rhythms and, of course, several basslines just by listening so I don’t have really any tabs because I don’t use them.
Miguel Falcão (miguelbass) 