LEARNING HOW TO PLAY GUITAR OR BASS

CONTENTS - Part I

------------------

1.0 What is TAB

1.1 What TAB will tell you

1.2 What TAB won't tell you.

Reading Tab :

--------------

2.0 TAB notation - The Basics

2.1 Other symbols used in TAB

2.2 Hammer ons and pull offs

2.3 Bends

2.4 Slides

2.5 Note length information

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*****************************

*** 1.0 WHAT IS TAB ***

*****************************

TAB or tablature is a method of writing down music played on guitar or bass. Instead of using symbols like in standard musical notation, it uses ordinary ASCII characters and numbers, making it ideal for places like the internet where anybody with any computer can link up, copy a TAB file, and read it.

****************************************

*** 1.1 WHAT TAB WILL TELL YOU ***

****************************************

TAB will tell you what notes to play - it will tell you which string to hit

and which fret to fret it at. TAB will tell you where hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, slides, harmonics and vibrato are used. TAB will tell you what tuning the piece is in. If this isn't given explicitly, assume normal tuning. TAB should also give you information on use of capos etc. TAB will give you an indication of the ryhthm of the piece - i.e it will tell you which are the long notes and which are the short notes. However it will not tell you exactly how long or how short they are. This leads me on to ...

******************************************

*** 1.2 WHAT TAB WILL NOT TELL YOU ***

******************************************

TAB will (usually) not tell you the note lengths of the notes - so in most cases you will *have* to listen to the song yourself, with the TAB in front of you to work out the ryhthm of the notes. TAB will not tell you which fingers you use to fret which note. TAB will (usually) not tell you anything about picking and strumming - you will have to decide for yourself where to use upstrokes/downstrokes and so on.

*******************************************

*** 2.0 TAB NOTATION - THE BASICS ***

*******************************************

TAB is simple to read, and should be simple to write if you want to submit

a song you have worked out yourself. The idea is this : You start out with 6 lines (or four for bass). These correspond to the strings of the instrument. The top line is the highest pitch string, and the bottom line is the lowest pitch string. Below is a blank bit of TAB with the string names at the left.

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B----------------------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

Numbers are written on the lines to show you where to fret the string with the left hand. If a zero appears , this means play the open string. Like standard musical notation, you read from left to right to find out what order to play the notes. The following piece of TAB would mean play the sequence of notes (E F F# G G# A) on the bottom E string by moving up a fret at a time, starting with the open string.

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B----------------------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E---0--1--2--3--4--5---------------------------------------------

OK so far ?

Here we have notes being played one at a time. If two or more notes are to be played together, they are written on top of one another, again just like standard notation. In the next example we have a G bar chord.

Code:

E----3------------------------------------------------------------

B----3------------------------------------------------------------

G----4------------------------------------------------------------

D----5------------------------------------------------------------

A----5------------------------------------------------------------

E----3------------------------------------------------------------

So this means play all these notes together as a chord. You might see the same chord written like this :

Code:

E--------3--------------------------------------------------------

B-------3---------------------------------------------------------

G------4----------------------------------------------------------

D-----5-----------------------------------------------------------

A----5------------------------------------------------------------

E---3-------------------------------------------------------------

Which would mean strum the same shape starting at the bottom string, so that each string is hit slightly later than the last string, but all notes will ring together. Below is am example of the same shape again, but now the gaps between the notes are bigger - so you would probably pick the strings separately instead of slowly strumming the shape.

Code:

E------------------3----------------------------------------------

B---------------3-----3--------------------------------------------

G------------4-----------4-----------------------------------------

D---------5-----------------5--------------------------------------

A------5-----------------------5----------------------------------

E---3-----------------------------3--------------------------------

You might ask - How do I know how fast or slow to play this ? Are all the notes supposed to be the same length ? This is where TAB differs from standard notation. Most often TAB will *not* give you any information on the note lengths. It is usually left up to you to listen to the song to pick up the rhythm. However - don't despair. TAB should give you some indications of timing. In the example above all the notes are evenly spaced so you can reasonably assume that the notes are the same length (maybe all eighth notes or quavers) but this may not always be true - it depends on who wrote the TAB. As a general rule, the spacing of the notes on the TAB should tell you which notes are the long ones, and which are the short and fast ones, but obviously it won't tell you if a note is a triplet or anything like that. Again, this will depend strongly on the person who wrote the TAB. As an example, here are the first few notes of the American National Anthem in TAB. You should see fairly clearly that the different spacing corresponds to the different note lengths.

Code:

E-----------------------0--------4--2-0--------------------------

B---0--------------0---------------------------------0-----------

G------1------1----------------------------1----3----------------

D--------2-------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

Obviously it will be a lot easier to play the TAB for a song you know well than for a song you've never heard of because you will already be familiar with the ryhthms of the familiar song.

*****************************************

*** 2.1 OTHER SYMBOLS USED IN TAB ***

*****************************************

So far I've looked at what notes to play : which string to hit, and where to fret it. I've mentioned how to get an idea of note lengths by looking at the spaces between notes on the TAB, but this can only be a rough guide. You will always have to check with the original track to work out details of the rhythm. A lot of other imprtant information can be included in a piece of TAB. This includes hammer-ons, pull offs, slides, bends, vibrato and so on. The standard practice is to write extra letters or symbols between notes to indicate how to play them. Here are the letters/symbols most often used :

h - hammer on

p - pull off

b - bend string up

r - release bend

/ - slide up

\ - slide down

v - vibrato (sometimes written as ~)

t - right hand tap

x - play 'note' with heavy damping

For slides, s is sometimes used to indicate either an up or down slide. Symbols for harmonics are explained below in Section 3.2 That last one, the x, is used to get a choppy, percussive sound. You usually use your fretting hand to lightly damp the strings so that when you pick the note it sounds dead. Note that the use of 'x' is *totally* different from the use of an 'x' when giving chord shapes. For example if you wrote the chord of D, you would see :

EADGBE

xx0232

where the 'x's mean do not play this string. In tab it is implicitly assumed that a string is not played if it is not marked. So the same chord in TAB would be :

Code:

E-----2-----------------------------------------------------------

B-----3-----------------------------------------------------------

G-----2-----------------------------------------------------------

D-----0-----------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

with no 'x'. The x is is only used in TAB to represent a heavily muted string which is picked/strummed to give a percussive sound. There are a number of other symbols for things like whammy bar bends, pick scrapes and so on. There seems to be no particular standard way of writing these - details should be given in the TAB to explain what the symbols mean. Bass TAB will probably need a few extra symbols to cope with the different techniques used in bass playing - for example slapping and 'popping' the string with thumb or middle finger. You could use 's' for slap and 'p' for pop as long as you wrote them *underneath* the lines of tab to distinguish them from slide and pull off which would be written *on* the lines of tab.

****************************************

*** 2.2 HAMMER ONS AND PULL OFFS ***

****************************************

With hammer-ons and pull-offs you might find things like these :

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B----------------------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A---------5h7-----------5h7--------------------------------------

E---0--0----------0--0-------------------------------------------

which would mean play the open E twice, then hit the A string at the 5th fret and hammer on to the 7th fret. Pull offs look very similar :

Code:

E----3p0------------------------------------------------------------

B---------3p0-------------------------------------------------------

G--------------2p0--------------------------------------------------

D-------------------2---------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

Here we have a descending blues scale using pull-offs to the open strings. For each pull off you only pick the first note of the pair with the right hand - so in this example you would pick all the notes on the 3rd and 2nd frets, and the open strings would be sounded by pulling off. Because you give the string an extra bit of energy when you hammer on and pull off, you only need to hit the first note with the picking hand. You could even have a long string of hammer-ons and pull-offs like this :

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B----------------------------------------------------------------

G---2h4p2h4p2h4p2h4p2h4p2----------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

In this case you only pick the first note. Note - you might see other symbols used to mean hammer on or pull off, for example ^ can be use to mean hammer-on and pull-off.

Code:

e.g :

G---2^4^2----

which would mean "hit the note at the 2nd fret, hammer-on to the 4th and pull-off to the 2nd fret". It would make things easier if everyone used the same symbols, so unless you have a strong objection to 'h' and `p` please use those. In any case, for any tab you send you should always explain what your symbols mean so if you use anything 'unconventional' make sure you explain what it means.

**********************

*** 2.3 BENDS ***

**********************

When bends are involved you need to know how much to bend the note up. This is indicated by writing a number after the 'b'. For example, if you see this :

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B------7b9-------------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

it means strike the B string at the 7th fret, then bend the note up two semitones (one whole step) so that it sounds the same pitch as a note fretted at the 9th fret would do. (Sometimes the bend is written with the second part in brackets, like this ---7b(9)--- )

Something like this :

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B------7b9--9r7--------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

means play the note at the 7th fret, bend up two semitones, strike the note again whilst it is still bent, then release the bend so that the note has it's normal pitch. Sometimes a pre-bend is used - this is where the string is bent up *before* the note is struck. After striking the note, the bend is

released. Pre-bends are usually written like this:

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B------(7)b9r7---------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

This means: fret the note at the 7th fret and bend the string up two semitones (without actually playing the note). Now strike the string and release the bend. You sometimes get a note which is bent up only a quarter of a tone or so. In this case it would look a bit strange to write :

Code:

B--------7b7.5--------

if you have to bend it up half a fret's worth. Instead it's written as :

bend up 1/4 tone

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B------7b--------------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

with instructions on how much to bend written above the note.

**********************

*** 2.4 SLIDES ***

**********************

The most common symbols used for slides are / for a slide up and \ for a slide down. You might also see 's' used to mean slide. You don't always need separate symbols for 'up' and 'down' slides since a line of TAB reading :

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B------7/9-------------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

is clearly a slide *up* from 7th to 9th fret. However you might also see things like these :

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B------/7-9-7\---------------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

where the exact start or finish of a slide is not given. Here you have to know whether you're sliding up or down. In these cases use your judgement to choose the starting or finishing fret. The effect usually desired is to have a note 'swooping in' from a lower pitch or dropping suddenly in pitch as the note fades. You could have a whole series of slides running together, like this

Code:

E----------------------------------------------------------------

B------7/9/11\9\7\6\7--------------------------------------------

G----------------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------------

A----------------------------------------------------------------

E----------------------------------------------------------------

which would mean you only strike the first note with the pick using the sustain to produce the other notes.

***************************************

*** 2.5 NOTE LENGTH INFORMATION ***

***************************************

Occasionally you will find TAB which includes information on all of the note lengths. There seems to be no particular 'standard' way of doing this, but it usually involves a line of letters or symbols above the TAB. See below (Section 3.2 part 6) for more details. If the explanation of the timing symbols is not given in the TAB then you've got a problem ! In this case a quick email to the author to ask for enlightenment is the only way forward.

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Common MS-DOS Commands

ATTRIB	displays or changes file attributes
CHDIR or CD	displays the name of the current directory or changes the current directory
CHKDSK	checks the status of a disk and displays a status report; it can also fix disk errors
CLS	clears the screen
COPY	copies one or more files to a destination you specify
DEL	deletes the files you specify
DELTREIE	deletes a directory and all the files and subdirectories that are in it
DIR	displays the files and subdirectories that are in the directory you specify
DISKCOPY	copies the entire contents of one floppy disk to another floppy disk. It writes over the existing contents of the destination disk as it copies the new information on it.
ECHO	displays or hides the text in batch programs when the program is running.
EDIT	starts MS-DOS Editor, a text editor you can use to create and edit ASCII text files.
DEL or ERASE	deletes the files you specify
EXIT	quits the MS-DOS command interpreter and returns to the program that started it, if one exists.
FASTHELP	displays a list of all MS-DOS 6 commands and gives a short explanation of each.
FIND	searches for a specific string of text in a file or files
FORMAT	formats a disk for use with MS-DOS
HELP	starts MS-DOS Help
MKDIR or MD	creates a directory
MEM	displays the amount of used and free memory on your computer
MORE	displays one screen of output at a time
MOVE	moves one or more files to the location you specify
MSBACKUP	backs up or restores one or more files from one disk onto another
MSD	Provides technical information about your computer
PRINT	prints a text file while you are using other MS-DOS commands
QBASIC	starts MS-DOS Qbasic
RD or RMDIR	deletes a directory
REN	changes the name of the file or files you specify
RMDIR or RD	deletes a directory
SCANDISK	starts a disk analysis and repair tool that checks a drive for errors and corrects any problems that it finds.
TREIE	graphicaly displays the structure of a directory
UNDELETE	restores files that were deleted previously by using the DEL command
VER	displays the MS-DOS version number
XCOPY	copies directories , their subdirectories, and files except hidden and system files.

APPEND

(External)

APPEND ;
APPEND [d:]path[;][d:]path[...]
APPEND [/X:on|off][/path:on|off] [/E]

Displays or sets the search path for data files. DOS will search the specified path(s) if the file is not found in the current path.

ASSIGN

(External)

ASSIGN x=y [...] /sta

Redirects disk drive requests to a different drive. 

ATTRIB

(External)

ATTRIB [d:][path]filename [/S]
ATTRIB [+R|-R] [+A|-A] [+S|-S] [+H|-H] [d:][path]filename [/S]

Sets or displays the read-only, archive, system, and hidden attributes of a file or directory.

BACKUP

(External)

BACKUP d:[path][filename] d:[/S][/M][/A][/F:(size)] [/P][/D:date] [/T:time] [/L:[path]filename]

Makes a backup copy of one or more files. (In DOS Version 6, this program is stored on the DOS supplemental disk.)

BREAK

(Internal)

BREAK =on|off

Used from the DOS prompt or in a batch file or in the CONFIG.SYS file to set (or display) whether or not DOS should check for a Ctrl + Break key combination.

BUFFERS

(Internal)

BUFFERS=(number),(read-ahead number)

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the number of disk buffers (number) that will be available for use during data input. Also used to set a value for the number of sectors to be read in advance (read-ahead) during data input operations.

CALL

(Internal)

CALL [d:][path]batchfilename [options]

Calls another batch file and then returns to current batch file to continue.

CHCP

(Internal)

CHCP (codepage)

Displays the current code page or changes the code page that DOS will use.

CHDIR

(Internal)

CHDIR (CD) [d:]path
CHDIR (CD)[..]

Displays working (current) directory and/or changes to a different directory.

CHKDSK

(External)

CHKDSK [d:][path][filename] [/F][/V]

Checks a disk and provides a file and memory status report.

CHOICE

(Internal)

CHOICE [/C[:]keys] [/N][/S][/T[:]c,nn] [text]

Used to provide a prompt so that a user can make a choice while a batch program is running. 

CLS (Clear Screen)

(Internal)

CLS

Clears (erases) the screen. 

COMMAND

(External)

COMMAND [d:][path] [device] [/P][/E:(size)] [/MSG][/Y [/C (command)|/K (command)]

Starts a new version of the DOS command processor (the program that loads the DOS Internal programs).

COMP

(External)

COMP [d:][path][filename] [d:][path][filename] [/A][/C][/D][/L][/N:(number)]

Compares two groups of files to find information that does not match. (See FC command). 

COPY

(Internal)

COPY [/Y|-Y] [/A][/B] [d:][path]filename [/A][/B] [d:][path][filename] [/V]
or
COPY [/Y|-Y][/A][/B] [d:][path]filename+[d:][path]filename[...][d:][path][filename] [/V] 

Copies and appends files.

COUNTRY

(Internal)

COUNTRY=country code,[code page][,][d:][filename]

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to tell DOS to use country-specific text conventions during processing.

CTTY

(Internal)

CTTY (device)

Changes the standard I/O (Input/Output) device to an auxiliary device. 

DATE

(Internal)

DATE mm-dd-yy

Displays and/or sets the system date.

DBLSPACE

(External)

DBLSPACE / automount=drives
DBLSPACE /chkdsk [/F] [d:]
DBLSPACE /compress d: [/newdrive=host:] [/reserve=size] [/F]
DBLSPACE /create d: [/newdrive=host:] [/reserve=size] [/size=size]
DBLSPACE /defragment [d:] ]/F]
DBLSPACE /delete d:
DBLSPACE /doubleguard=0|1
DBLSPACE /format d:
DBLSPACE [/info] [d:]
DBLSPACE /list
DBLSPACE /mount[=nnn] host: [/newdrive=d:]
DBLSPACE /ratio[=ratio] [d:] [/all]
DBLSPACE /size[=size] [/reserve=size] d:
DBLSPACE /uncompress d: 
DBLSPACE /unmount [d:]

A program available with DOS 6.0 that allows you to compress information on a disk.

DEBUG

(External)

DEBUG [pathname] [parameters]

An MS-DOS utility used to test and edit programs.

DEFRAG

(External)

DEFRAG [d:] [/F][/S[:]order] [/B][/skiphigh [/LCD|/BW|/GO] [/H]
DEFRAG [d:] [/V][/B][/skiphigh] [/LCD]|/BW|/GO] [/H]

Optimizes disk performance by reorganizing the files on the disk. 

DEL (ERASE)

(Internal)

DEL (ERASE) [d:][path]filename [/P]

Deletes (erases) files from disk.

DELOLDOS

(External)

DELOLDOS [/B]

Deletes all files from previous versions of DOS after a 5.0 or 6.0 installation.

DELTREE

(External)

DELTREE [/Y] [d:]path [d:]path[...]

Deletes (erases) a directory including all files and subdirectories that are in it. 

DEVICE

(Internal)

DEVICE=(driver name)

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to tell DOS which device driver to load.

DEVICEHIGH

(Internal)

DEVICEHIGH=(driver name)

Like DEVICE, DEVICEHIGH is used in the CONFIG.SYS file to tell DOS which device driver software to use for devices; however, this option is used to install the device driver into the upper memory area.

DIR

(Internal)

DIR [d:][path][filename] [/A:(attributes)] [/O:(order)] [/B][/C][/CH][/L][/S][/P][/W] 

Displays directory of files and directories stored on disk.

DISKCOMP

(External)

DISKCOMP [d:] [d:][/1][/8]

Compares the contents of two diskettes. 

DISKCOPY

(External)

DISKCOPY [d:] [d:][/1][/V][/M]

Makes an exact copy of a diskette.

DOS

(Internal)

DOS=[high|low],[umb|noumb]

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the memory location for DOS. It is used to load DOS into the upper memory area and to specify whether or not the upper memory blocks will be used.

DOSKEY

(External)

DOSKEY [reinstall] [/bufsize=size][/macros][/history][/insert|/overstrike] [macroname=[text]]

Loads the Doskey program into memory which can be used to recall DOS commands so that you can edit them. 

DOSSHELL

(External)

DOSSHELL [/B] [/G:[resolution][n]]|[/T:[resolution][n]]

Initiates the graphic shell program using the specified screen resolution.

DRIVPARM

(Internal)

DRIVPARM= /D:(number) [/C] [/F:(form factor)] [/H:(number)] [/I][ /N][/S:(number)] [/T:(tracks)]

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set parameters for a disk drive.

ECHO

(Internal)

ECHO on|off
ECHO (message)

Displays messages or turns on or off the display of commands in a batch file. 

EDIT

(External)

EDIT [d:][path]filename [/B][/G][/H][/NOHI]

Starts the MS-DOS editor, a text editor used to create and edit ASCII text files. 

EMM386

(External)

EMM386 [on|off|auto] [w=on|off]

Enables or disables EMM386 expanded-memory support on a computer with an 80386 or higher processor. 

EXE2BIN

(External)

EXE2BIN [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename

Converts .EXE (executable) files to binary format. 

EXIT

(Internal)

EXIT

Exits a secondary command processor.

EXPAND

(External)

EXPAND [d:][path]filename [[d:][path]filename[ . . .]]

Expands a compressed file.

FASTHELP

(External)

FASTHELP [command][command] /?

Displays a list of DOS commands with a brief explanation of each. 

FASTOPEN

(External)

FASTOPEN d:[=n][/X]

Keeps track of the locations of files for fast access.

FC

(External)

FC [/A][/C][/L][/Lb n][/N][/T][/W][number] [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename

or (for binary comparisons)
FC [/B][/number] [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename

Displays the differences between two files or sets of files.

FCBS

(Internal)

FCBS=(number)

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the number of file-control blocks for file sharing.

FDISK

(External)

FDISK [/status]

Prepares a fixed disk to accept DOS files for storage.

FILES

(Internal)

FILES=(number)

Used in the CONFIG.Sys file to specify the maximum number of files that can be open at the same time. 

FIND

(External)

FIND [/V][/C][/I][/N] ÒstringÓ [d:][path]filename[...]

Finds and reports the location of a specific string of text characters in one or more files.

FOR

(Internal)

FOR %%(variable) IN (set) DO (command)

or (for interactive processing)
FOR %(variable) IN (set) DO (command)

Performs repeated execution of commands (for both batch processing and interactive processing).

FORMAT

(External)

FORMAT d:[/1][/4][/8][/F:(size)] [/N:(sectors)] [/T:(tracks)][/B|/S][/C][/V:(label)] [/Q][/U][/V]

Formats a disk to accept DOS files.

GOTO

(Internal)

GOTO (label)

Causes unconditional branch to the specified label.

GRAFTABL

(External)

GRAFTABL [(code page)]
GRAFTABL [status]

Loads a table of character data into memory (for use with a color/graphics adapter). 

GRAPHICS

(External)

GRAPHICS [printer type][profile] [/B][/R][/LCD][/PB:(id)] [/C][/F][/P(port)]

Provides a way to print contents of a graphics screen display. 

HELP

(External)

HELP [command] [/B][/G][/H][/NOHI]

Displays information about a DOS command.

IF

(Internal)

IF [NOT] EXIST filename (command) [parameters]
IF [NOT] (string1)==(string2) (command) [parameters]
IF [NOT] ERRORLEVEL (number) (command) [parameters]

Allows for conditional operations in batch processing.

INCLUDE

(Internal)

INCLUDE= blockname

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to allow you to use the commands from one CONFIG.SYS block within another.

INSTALL

(Internal)

INSTALL=[d: ][\path]filename [parameters]

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to load memory-resident programs into conventional memory.

INTERLINK

(External)

INTERLINK [client[:]=[server][:]]

Connects two computers via parallel or serial ports so that the computers can share disks and printer ports. 

INTERSVR

(External)

INTERSVR [d:][...][/X=d:][...] [/LPT:[n|address]] [/COM:[n|address]][/baud:rate] [/B][/V]
INTERSVR /RCOPY

Starts the Interlink server. 

JOIN

(External)

JOIN d: [d:path]
JOIN d: [/D]

Allows access to the directory structure and files of a drive through a directory on a different drive. 

KEYB

(External)

KEYB [xx][,][yyy][,][d:][path]filename [/E][/ID:(number)] 

Loads a program that replaces the support program for U. S. keyboards. 

LABEL

(External)

LABEL [d:][volume label] 

Creates or changes or deletes a volume label for a disk. 

LASTDRIVE

(Internal)

LASTDRIVE=(drive letter)

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the maximum number of drives that can be accessed. 

LOADFIX

(Internal)

LOADFIX [d:][path]filename [parameters] 

Ensures that a program is loaded above the first 64K of conventional memory, and runs the program. 

LOADHIGH

(Internal)

LOADHIGH (LH) [d:][path]filename [parameters] 

Loads memory resident application into reserved area of memory (between 640K-1M).

MEM

(External)

MEM [/program|/debug|/classify|/free|/module(name)] [/page] 

Displays amount of installed and available memory, including extended, expanded, and upper memory.

MEMMAKER

(External)

MEMMAKER [/B][/batch][/session][/swap:d] [/T][/undo][/W:size1,size2] 

Starts the MemMaker program, a program that lets you optimize your computer's memory. 

MENUCOLOR

(Internal)

MENUCOLOR=textcolor,[background] 

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the colors that will be used by DOS to display text on the screen.

MENUDEFAULT

(Internal)

MENUDEFAULT=blockname, [timeout] 

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the startup configuration that will be used by DOS if no key is pressed within the specified timeout period.

MENUITEM

(Internal)

MENUITEM=blockname, [menutext] 

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to create a start-up menu from which you can select a group of CONFIG.SYS commands to be processed upon reboot.

MIRROR

(External)

MIRROR [d:]path [d:] path [...]
MIRROR [d1:][d2:][...] [/T(drive)(files)] [/partn][/U][/1] 

Saves disk storage information that can be used to recover accidentally erased files. 

MKDIR

(MD) (Internal)

MKDIR (MD) [d:]path

Creates a new subdirectory.

MODE

(External)

MODE n
MODE LPT#[:][n][,][m][,][P][retry]
MODE [n],m[,T]
MODE (displaytype,linetotal)
MODE COMn[:]baud[,][parity][,][databits][,][stopbits][,][retry]
MODE LPT#[:]=COMn [retry]
MODE CON[RATE=(number)][DELAY=(number)]
MODE (device) CODEPAGE PREPARE=(codepage) [d:][path]filename
MODE (device) CODEPAGE PREPARE=(codepage list) [d:][path]filename
MODE (device) CODEPAGE SELECT=(codepage)
MODE (device) CODEPAGE [/STATUS]
MODE (device) CODEPAGE REFRESH

Sets mode of operation for devices or communications.

MORE

(External)

MORE < (filename or command)
(name)|MORE

Sends output to console, one screen at a time. 

MOVE

(Internal)

MOVE [/Y|/-Y] [d:][path]filename[,[d:][path]filename[...]] destination

Moves one or more files to the location you specify. Can also be used to rename directories. 

MSAV

(External)

MSAV [d:] [/S|/C][/R][/A][/L][/N][/P][/F][/video][/mouse]
MSAV /video

Scans your computer for known viruses. 

MSBACKUP

(External)

MSBACKUP [setupfile] [/BW|/LCD|/MDA] 

Used to backup or restore one or more files from one disk to another. 

MSCDEX

(External)

MSCDEX /D:driver [/D:driver2. . .] [/E][/K][/S][/V][/L:letter] [/M:number] 

Used to gain access to CD-ROM drives (new with DOS Version 6).

MSD

(External)

MSD [/B][/I]
MSD [/I] [/F[d:][path]filename [/P[d:][path]filename [/S[d:][path]filename

Provides detailed technical information about your computer. 

NLSFUNC

(External)

NLSFUNC [d:][path]filename

Used to load a file with country-specific information.

NUMLOCK

(Internal)

NUMLOCK=on|off

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the state of the NumLock key.

PATH

(Internal)

PATH;
PATH [d:]path[;][d:]path[...] 

Sets or displays directories that will be searched for programs not in the current directory.

PAUSE

(Internal)

PAUSE [comment] 

Suspends execution of a batch file until a key is pressed.

POWER

(External)

POWER [adv:max|reg|min]|std|off] 

Used to turn power management on and off, report the status of power management, and set levels of power conservation. 

PRINT

(External)

PRINT [/B:(buffersize)] [/D:(device)] [/M:(maxtick)] [/Q:(value] [/S:(timeslice)][/U:(busytick)] [/C][/P][/T] [d:][path][filename] [...] 

Queues and prints data files.

PROMPT

(Internal)

PROMPT [prompt text] [options] 

Changes the DOS command prompt. 

RECOVER

(External)

RECOVER [d:][path]filename
RECOVER d:

Resolves sector problems on a file or a disk. (Beginning with DOS Version 6, RECOVER is no longer available ).

REM

(Internal)

REM [comment] 

Used in batch files and in the CONFIG.SYS file to insert remarks (that will not be acted on).

RENAME (REN)

(Internal)

RENAME (REN) [d:][path]filename [d:][path]filename 

Changes the filename under which a file is stored.

REPLACE

(External)

REPLACE [d:][path]filename [d:][path] [/A][/P][/R][/S][/U][/W] 

Replaces stored files with files of the same name from a different storage location.

RESTORE

(External)

RESTORE d: [d:][path]filename [/P][/S][/B:mm-dd-yy] [/A:mm-dd-yy][/E:hh:mm:ss] [/L:hh:mm:ss] [/M][/N][/D] 

Restores to standard disk storage format files previously stored using the BACKUP command.

RMDIR (RD)

(Internal)

RMDIR (RD) [d:]path

Removes a subdirectory.

SCANDISK

(External)

SCANDISK [d: [d: . . .]|/all][/checkonly|/autofix[/nosave]|/custom][/surface][/mono][/nosummay]
SCANDISK volume-name[/checkonly|/autofix[/nosave]|/custom][/mono][/nosummary]
SCANDISK /fragment [d:][path]filename
SCANDISK /undo [undo-d:][/mono] 

Starts the Microsoft ScanDisk program which is a disk analysis and repair tool used to check a drive for errors and correct any problems that it finds. 

SELECT

(External)

SELECT [d:] [d:][path] [country code][keyboard code] 

Formats a disk and installs country-specific information and keyboard codes (starting with DOS Version 6, this command is no longer available).

SET

(Internal)

SET (string1)=(string2)

Inserts strings into the command environment. The set values can be used later by programs.

SETVER

(External)

SETVER [d:]:path][filename (number)][/delete][/quiet] 

Displays the version table and sets the version of DOS that is reported to programs.

SHARE

(External)

SHARE [/F:space] [/L:locks] 

Installs support for file sharing and file locking.

SHELL

(Internal)

SHELL=[d:][path]filename [parameters] 

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to specify the command interpreter that DOS should use.

SHIFT

(Internal)

SHIFT

Increases number of replaceable parameters to more than the standard ten for use in batch files.

SORT

(External)

SORT [/R][/+n] < (filename)
SORT [/R][/+n] > (filename2)

Sorts input and sends it to the screen or to a file.

STACKS

(Internal)

STACKS=(number),(size)

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to set the number of stack frames and the size of each stack frame.

SUBMENU

(Internal)

SUBMENU=blockname, [menutext] 

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to create a multilevel menu from which you can select start-up options.

SUBST

(External)

SUBST d: d:path
SUBST d: /D

Substitutes a virtual drive letter for a path designation.

SWITCHES

(Internal)

SWITCHES= [/K][/F][/N][/W] 

Used in the CONFIG.SYS file to configure DOS in a special way; for example, to tell DOS to emulate different hardware configurations.

SYS

(External)

SYS [source] d:

Transfers the operating system files to another disk.

TIME

(Internal)

TIME hh:mm[:ss][.cc][A|P] 

Displays current time setting of system clock and provides a way for you to reset the time. 

TREE

(External)

TREE [d:][path] [/A][/F] 

Displays directory paths and (optionally) files in each subdirectory. 

TYPE

(Internal)

TYPE [d:][path]filename

Displays the contents of a file.

UNDELETE

(External)

UNDELETE [d:][path][filename] [/DT|/DS|/DOS]
UNDELETE [/list|/all|/purge[d:]|/status|/load|/U|/S[d:]|/Td:[-entries]] 

Restores files deleted with the DELETE command.

UNFORMAT

(External)

UNFORMAT d: [/J][/L][/test][/partn][/P][/U] 

Used to undo the effects of formatting a disk.

VER

(Internal)

VER

Displays the DOS version number.

VERIFY

(Internal)

VERIFY on|off

Turns on the verify mode; the program checks all copying operations to assure that files are copied correctly.

VOL

(Internal)

VOL [d:] 

Displays a disk's volume label.

VSAFE

(External)

VSAFE [/option[+|-]...] [/NE][/NX][Ax|/Cx] [/N][/D][/U] 

VSAFE is a memory-resident program that continuously monitors your computer for viruses and displays a warning when it finds one.

XCOPY

(External)

XCOPY [d:][path]filename [d:][path][filename] [/A][/D:(date)] [/E][/M][/P][/S][/V][/W][Y\-Y]
Copies directories, subdirectories, and files.

Syntax Notes

To be functional, each DOS command must be entered in a particular way: this command entry structure is known as the command's "syntax." The syntax "notation" is a way to reproduce the command syntax in print. 

For example, you can determine the items that are optional, by looking for information that is printed inside square brackets. The notation [d:], for example, indicates an optional drive designation. The command syntax, on the other hand, is how YOU enter the command to make it work.

Command Syntax Elements

1. Command Name

The DOS command name is the name you enter to start the DOS program (a few of the DOS commands can be entered using shortcut names). The DOS command name is always entered first. In this book, the command is usually printed in uppercase letters, but you can enter command names as either lowercase or uppercase or a mix of both. 

2. Space

Always leave a space after the command name.

3. Drive Designation

The drive designation (abbreviated in this book as "d:") is an option for many DOS commands. However, some commands are not related to disk drives and therefore do not require a drive designation. Whenever you enter a DOS command that deals with disk drives and you are already working in the drive in question, you do not have to enter the drive designator. For example, if you are working in drive A (when the DOS prompt A> is showing at the left side of the screen) and you want to use the DIR command to display a directory listing of that same drive, you do not have to enter the drive designation. If you do not enter a drive designation, DOS always assumes you are referring to the drive you are currently working in (sometimes called the "default" drive). 

4. A Colon

When referring to a drive in a DOS command, you must always follow the drive designator with a colon (:) (this is how DOS recognizes it as a drive designation).

5. Pathname

A pathname (path) refers to the path you want DOS to follow in order to act on the DOS command. As described in Chapter 3, it indicates the path from the current directory or subdirectory to the files that are to be acted upon.

6. Filename

A filename is the name of a file stored on disk. As described in Chapter 1, a filename can be of eight or fewer letters or other legal characters. 

7. Filename Extension

A filename extension can follow the filename to further identify it. The extension follows a period and can be of three or fewer characters. A filename extension is not required.

8. Switches

Characters shown in a command syntax that are represented by a letter or number and preceded by a forward slash (for example, "/P") are command options (sometimes known as "switches"). Use of these options activate special operations as part of a DOS command's functions.

9. Brackets

Items enclosed in square brackets are optional; in other words, the command will work in its basic form without entering the information contained inside the brackets.

10. Ellipses

Ellipses (...) indicate that an item in a command syntax can be repeated as many times as needed.

11. Vertical Bar

When items are separated by a vertical bar (|), it means that you enter one of the separated items. For example: ON | OFF means that you can enter either ON or OFF, but not both.