He was educated at a local state school and as a choir boy at a St Kilda Anglican church, and learned music under Marshall Hall.
Tate had fewer pupils than he might, however, for he would not encourage a child with no talent, and did not believe in coaching children for music examinations.
Tate contributed verse to The Bulletin and other journals, and wrote a weekly chess column for a Melbourne newspaper.
His 16-part cycle "The Australian" is scored for solo piano, except for the final part, written for unaccompanied four-part male chorus.
Thanks to the efforts of Tate's brother-in-law, Ivan Mercer, many of his scores and other papers were donated to the Grainger Museum in Melbourne.