--- /dev/null
+\version "2.11.53"
+
+\header {
+ lsrtags = "staff-notation,fretted-strings"
+
+ texidoc = "Tablature can be formatted using letters instead of
+numbers."
+ doctitle = "Letter tablature formatting"
+}
+
+#(define (letter-tablature-format str context event)
+ (let*
+ ((tuning (ly:context-property context 'stringTunings))
+ (pitch (ly:event-property event 'pitch)))
+ (make-whiteout-markup
+ (make-vcenter-markup
+ (string (integer->char
+ (+ (char->integer #\a)
+ (- (ly:pitch-semitones pitch)
+ (list-ref tuning (- str 1))))))))))
+
+music = \relative c {
+ c4 d e f
+ g4 a b c
+ d4 e f g
+}
+
+<<
+ \new Staff {
+ \clef "G_8"
+ \music
+ }
+ \new TabStaff \with {
+ tablatureFormat = #letter-tablature-format
+ } {
+ \music
+ }
+>>