Optical Tablature Recognition (OTR) system: Using Fourier Descriptors as a recognition tool

This paper presents an optical recognition system for the guitar tablature. Images of guitar tablature are fed as input to the system whereby each image undergoes four main stages of processing to produce a music output in MIDI format. Algorithms both existing and self-devised were used. Each input image was first cropped to the desired region, followed by a process for removal of the string lines and detection of the numbers. Recognition of the numbers was carried out using Fourier Descriptors based on 8 selected feature points. Once completed, the numbers were matched to their corresponding chords and then rearranged and played. The algorithms and methods used within the system are presented here with a justification on the selection of Fourier Descriptors as the recognition tool.