diff --git a/libmscore/beam.cpp b/libmscore/beam.cpp
index 33bf7b8f1d..15adece710 100644
--- a/libmscore/beam.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/beam.cpp
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ void Beam::layout1()
             //TABULATURES: all beams (and related chords) are:
             //    UP or DOWN according to TAB duration position
             //    slope 0
-            _up   = !((StaffTypeTablature*)staff()->staffType())->durationBelow();
+            _up   = !((StaffTypeTablature*)staff()->staffType())->stemsDown();
             slope = 0.0;
             cross = isGrace = false;
             foreach(ChordRest* cr, _elements) {
@@ -1549,14 +1549,14 @@ void Beam::layout2(QList<ChordRest*>crl, SpannerSegmentType, int frag)
 
       if (staff()->isTabStaff()) {
             qreal y;
-            if( ((StaffTypeTablature*)staff()->staffType())->durationBelow() ) {
+            if( ((StaffTypeTablature*)staff()->staffType())->stemsDown() ) {
                   _up   = false;
                   y     = (staff()->staffType()->lines() - 1) * staff()->staffType()->lineDistance().val()
-                              + STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN;
+                              + STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN_DN;
                   }
             else {
                   _up   = true;
-                  y     = STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY - STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN;
+                  y     = STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY_UP - STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN_UP;
                   }
             y *= _spatium;
             py1 = y;
diff --git a/libmscore/chord.cpp b/libmscore/chord.cpp
index 174d3e3cfa..c5186e733c 100644
--- a/libmscore/chord.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/chord.cpp
@@ -300,8 +300,8 @@ QPointF Chord::stemPos() const
       if (staff() && staff()->isTabStaff()) {
             qreal                   sp    = spatium();
             StaffTypeTablature*     tab   = static_cast<StaffTypeTablature*>( staff()->staffType() );
-            qreal                   y     = ( tab->durationBelow() ?
-                      upString() * tab->lineDistance().val() : STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY);
+            qreal                   y     = ( tab->stemsDown() ?
+                      upString() * tab->lineDistance().val() : STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY_UP);
 
             return QPointF(STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSX*sp, y*sp) + pagePos();
             }
@@ -319,8 +319,8 @@ QPointF Chord::stemPosBeam() const
       if (staff() && staff()->isTabStaff()) {
             qreal                   sp    = spatium();
             StaffTypeTablature*     tab   = static_cast<StaffTypeTablature*>( staff()->staffType() );
-            qreal                   y     = ( tab->durationBelow() ?
-                      downString() * tab->lineDistance().val() : STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY);
+            qreal                   y     = ( tab->stemsDown() ?
+                      downString() * tab->lineDistance().val() : STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY_UP);
 
             return QPointF(STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSX*sp, y*sp) + pagePos();
             }
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ void Chord::computeUp()
       {
       // tablatures
       if (staff() && staff()->isTabStaff()) {
-            _up = !((StaffTypeTablature*)staff()->staffType())->durationBelow();
+            _up = !((StaffTypeTablature*)staff()->staffType())->stemsDown();
             return;
             }
       // pitched staves
@@ -1118,14 +1118,14 @@ void Chord::layoutStem()
             if (!tab->slashStyle() && _stem) {
                   // process stems:
                   QPointF  pos      = stemPos() - pagePos();
-                  qreal    stemLen  = tab->durationBelow() ?
-                              (tab->lines()-1 - upString()) * tab->lineDistance().val() + STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN :
-                              STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN;
+                  qreal    stemLen  = tab->stemsDown() ?
+                              (tab->lines()-1 - upString()) * tab->lineDistance().val() + STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN_DN :
+                              STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN_UP;
                   _stem->setPos(pos);
                   _stem->setLen(stemLen * spatium());
                   // process hook
                   int   hookIdx = durationType().hooks();
-                  if (tab->durationBelow())
+                  if (tab->stemsDown())
                         hookIdx = -hookIdx;
                   if (hookIdx) {
                         _hook->setSubtype(hookIdx);
diff --git a/libmscore/score.cpp b/libmscore/score.cpp
index ab408e2792..64afe94603 100644
--- a/libmscore/score.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/score.cpp
@@ -1237,8 +1237,9 @@ bool Score::getPosition(Position* pos, const QPointF& p, int voice) const
       // TODO: restrict to reasonable values (pitch 0-127)
       //
       Staff* s    = staff(pos->staffIdx);
-      qreal mag = staff(pos->staffIdx)->mag();
-      qreal lineDist = (s->isTabStaff() ? 1.5 : .5) * mag * spatium();
+      qreal mag   = s->mag();
+      // in TABs, step from one string to another; in other staves, step on and between lines
+      qreal lineDist = s->staffType()->lineDistance().val() * (s->isTabStaff() ? 1 : .5) * mag * spatium();
 
       pos->line  = lrint((pppp.y() - sstaff->bbox().y()) / lineDist);
       if (s->isTabStaff()) {
diff --git a/libmscore/stafftype.cpp b/libmscore/stafftype.cpp
index 6bee9f1695..d2c42afed4 100644
--- a/libmscore/stafftype.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/stafftype.cpp
@@ -373,7 +373,6 @@ QList<TablatureDurationFont> StaffTypeTablature::_durationFonts  = QList<Tablatu
 void StaffTypeTablature::init()
       {
       // set reasonable defaults for type-specific members */
-      setDurationBelow(true);
       setDurationFontName(_durationFonts[0].displayName);
       setDurationFontSize(15.0);
       setDurationFontUserY(0.0);
@@ -386,6 +385,7 @@ void StaffTypeTablature::init()
       setLines(6);
       setLinesThrough(false);
       setOnLines(true);
+      setStemsDown(true);
       setUpsideDown(false);
       setUseNumbers(true);
       // internal
@@ -428,8 +428,6 @@ void StaffTypeTablature::read(const QDomElement& de)
 
             if (tag == "durations")
                   setGenDurations(val.toInt() != 0);
-            else if (tag == "durationBelow")
-                  setDurationBelow(val.toInt() != 0);
             else if (tag == "durationFontName")
                   setDurationFontName(e.text());
             else if (tag == "durationFontSize")
@@ -446,6 +444,8 @@ void StaffTypeTablature::read(const QDomElement& de)
                   setLinesThrough(val.toInt() != 0);
             else if (tag == "onLines")
                   setOnLines(val.toInt() != 0);
+            else if (tag == "stemsDown")
+                  setStemsDown(val.toInt() != 0);
             else if (tag == "upsideDown")
                   setUpsideDown(val.toInt() != 0);
             else if (tag == "useNumbers")
@@ -465,7 +465,6 @@ void StaffTypeTablature::write(Xml& xml, int idx) const
       xml.stag(QString("StaffType idx=\"%1\" group=\"%2\"").arg(idx).arg(groupName()));
       StaffType::writeProperties(xml);
       xml.tag("durations",        _genDurations);
-      xml.tag("durationBelow",      _durationsBelow);
       xml.tag("durationFontName", _durationFonts[_durationFontIdx].displayName);
       xml.tag("durationFontSize", _durationFontSize);
       xml.tag("durationFontY",    _durationFontUserY);
@@ -474,6 +473,7 @@ void StaffTypeTablature::write(Xml& xml, int idx) const
       xml.tag("fretFontY",        _fretFontUserY);
       xml.tag("linesThrough",     _linesThrough);
       xml.tag("onLines",          _onLines);
+      xml.tag("stemsDown",        _stemsDown);
       xml.tag("upsideDown",       _upsideDown);
       xml.tag("useNumbers",       _useNumbers);
       xml.etag();
diff --git a/libmscore/stafftype.h b/libmscore/stafftype.h
index a470cd14b4..e148b24101 100644
--- a/libmscore/stafftype.h
+++ b/libmscore/stafftype.h
@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
 #include "mscore.h"
 #include "durationtype.h"
 
-#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN      3.0
-#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMDIST     1.0
+#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN_UP   3.0
+#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMDIST_UP  1.0
 #define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSX     0.75
-#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY     -STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMDIST
+#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMPOSY_UP  -STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMDIST_UP
+#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN_DN   3.0
+#define STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTDOTDIST_X    0.75
 
 class Staff;
 class Xml;
@@ -186,7 +188,6 @@ class StaffTypeTablature : public StaffType {
 
    protected:
       // configurable properties
-      bool        _durationsBelow;        // durations are drawn below the staff (stem-and-beam durations only)
       qreal       _durationFontSize;      // the size (in points) for the duration symbol font
       qreal       _durationFontUserY;     // the vertical offset (spatium units) for the duration symb. font
                                           // user configurable
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ class StaffTypeTablature : public StaffType {
       bool        _genDurations;          // whether duration symbols are drawn or not
       bool        _linesThrough;          // whether lines for strings and stems may pass through fret marks or not
       bool        _onLines;               // whether fret marks are drawn on the string lines or between them
+      bool        _stemsDown;             // stems are drawn downward (stem-and-beam durations only)
       bool        _upsideDown;            // whether lines are drwan with highest string at top (false) or at bottom (true)
       bool        _useNumbers;            // true: use numbers ('0' - ...) for frets | false: use letters ('a' - ...)
 
@@ -247,7 +249,6 @@ class StaffTypeTablature : public StaffType {
       qreal durationBoxH();
       qreal durationBoxY();
 
-      bool  durationBelow() const         { return _durationsBelow;   }
       const QFont&  durationFont()             { return _durationFont;     }
       const QString durationFontName() const   { return _durationFonts[_durationFontIdx].displayName; }
       qreal durationFontSize() const      { return _durationFontSize; }
@@ -263,10 +264,10 @@ class StaffTypeTablature : public StaffType {
       bool  genDurations() const          { return _genDurations;     }
       bool  linesThrough() const          { return _linesThrough;     }
       bool  onLines() const               { return _onLines;          }
+      bool  stemsDown() const             { return _stemsDown;        }
       bool  upsideDown() const            { return _upsideDown;       }
       bool  useNumbers() const            { return _useNumbers;       }
       // properties setters (setting some props invalidates metrics)
-      void  setDurationBelow(bool val)    { _durationsBelow = val;    }
       void  setDurationFontName(QString name);
       void  setDurationFontSize(qreal val);
       void  setDurationFontUserY(qreal val)     { _durationFontUserY = val; }
@@ -276,6 +277,7 @@ class StaffTypeTablature : public StaffType {
       void  setGenDurations(bool val)     { _genDurations = val;      }
       void  setLinesThrough(bool val)     { _linesThrough = val;      }
       void  setOnLines(bool val);
+      void  setStemsDown(bool val)        { _stemsDown = val;         }
       void  setUpsideDown(bool val)       { _upsideDown = val;        }
       void  setUseNumbers(bool val)       { _useNumbers = val; _fretMetricsValid = false; }
 
diff --git a/libmscore/stem.cpp b/libmscore/stem.cpp
index 1ee1e9ae2a..9adeee06bd 100644
--- a/libmscore/stem.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/stem.cpp
@@ -161,8 +161,13 @@ void Stem::draw(QPainter* painter) const
       // TODO: adjust bounding rectangle in layout()
       if (useTab) {
             int nDots = chord()->dots();
-            if (nDots > 0)
-                  symbols[score()->symIdx()][dotSym].draw(painter, magS(), QPointF(spatium(), stemLen()), nDots);
+            if (nDots > 0) {
+                  qreal sp = spatium();
+                  qreal y = stemLen() - ( ((StaffTypeTablature*)st->staffType())->stemsDown() ?
+                              (STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTSTEMLEN_DN - 0.75) * sp : 0.0 );
+                  symbols[score()->symIdx()][dotSym].draw(painter, magS(),
+                              QPointF(STAFFTYPE_TAB_DEFAULTDOTDIST_X * sp, y), nDots);
+                  }
             }
       }
 
diff --git a/mscore/editstafftype.cpp b/mscore/editstafftype.cpp
index 5ff0b2fb66..788afac1dc 100644
--- a/mscore/editstafftype.cpp
+++ b/mscore/editstafftype.cpp
@@ -199,14 +199,14 @@ void EditStaffType::saveCurrent(QListWidgetItem* o)
                         StaffTypeTablature*  stt = static_cast<StaffTypeTablature*>(st);
                         stt->setSlashStyle(true);                 // assume no note values
                         stt->setGenDurations(false);
-                        stt->setDurationBelow(false);
+                        stt->setStemsDown(false);
                         if (noteValues1->isChecked())
                               stt->setGenDurations(true);
                         if (noteValues2->isChecked())
                               stt->setSlashStyle(false);
                         if (noteValues3->isChecked()) {
                               stt->setSlashStyle(false);
-                              stt->setDurationBelow(true);
+                              stt->setStemsDown(true);
                               }
                         stt->setDurationFontName(durFontName->currentText());
                         stt->setDurationFontSize(durFontSize->value());
@@ -315,8 +315,8 @@ void EditStaffType::typeChanged(QListWidgetItem* n, QListWidgetItem* o)
                         else {
                               noteValues0->setChecked(false);
                               noteValues1->setChecked(false);
-                              noteValues2->setChecked( !(tab->durationBelow()) );
-                              noteValues3->setChecked(tab->durationBelow());
+                              noteValues2->setChecked( !(tab->stemsDown()) );
+                              noteValues3->setChecked(tab->stemsDown());
                               }
                         }
                   updateTabPreview();
@@ -526,11 +526,11 @@ void EditStaffType::updateTabPreview()
             stt->setGenDurations(true);
       if (noteValues2->isChecked()) {
             stt->setSlashStyle(false);
-            stt->setDurationBelow(false);
+            stt->setStemsDown(false);
             }
       if (noteValues3->isChecked()) {
             stt->setSlashStyle(false);
-            stt->setDurationBelow(true);
+            stt->setStemsDown(true);
             }
       stt->setDurationFontName(durFontName->currentText());
       stt->setDurationFontSize(durFontSize->value());