Bass Independence Bass Tabs - Bass Lesson @ BigBassTabs.com

This tab illustrates the concept of "Bass Independence"
This term is basically a way of giving the bass it's own "Voice,"
While still working with the rest of the band.
(It's not as fancy as it sounds.)

Let's take a look at a simple chord progression:

  |D major         |A major         |B minor         |G major         |
E||2———2—————2—2—2—|————————————————|2———2—————2—2—2—|3———3—————3—3—3—||
B||3———3—————3—3—3—|2———2—————2—2—2—|3———3—————3—3—3—|3———3—————3—3—3—||
G|o2———2—————2—2—2—|2———2—————2—2—2—|4———4—————4—4—4—|0———0—————0—0—0—o|
D|o0———0—————0—0—0—|2———2—————2—2—2—|4———4—————4—4—4—|0———0—————0—0—0—o|
A||————————————————|0———0—————0—0—0—|2———2—————2—2—2—|2———2—————2—2—2—||
E||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|3———3—————3—3—3—||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Your first instinct might be to match the rhythm with root notes:

  |D major         |A major         |B minor         |G major         |
G||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o0———0—————0—0—0—|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
A|o————————————————|0———0—————0—0—0—|2———2—————2—2—2—|————————————————o|
E||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|3———3—————3—3—3—||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

while that does "Work," There are many other things you can do.

I've noticed that someimtes you want to let the notes "Breathe."
Here's what i mean:

  |D major         |A major         |B minor         |G major         |
G||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
A|o5———————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
E||————————————————|5———————————————|7———————————————|3———————————————||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Letting the root notes ring out is the start of giving the bass its own "Voice."
When you match the rhythm of the guitar exactly,
The two instruments loose their independence.
They sound like one thing.
While this is good to do in some cases,
it's not always the best thing to do.

Let's look at another common chord progression:

  |G major         |G major         |C major         |C major         |
E||3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—||
B||3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—||
G|o0—0———0—0—0———0—|0—0———0—0—0———0—|0—0———0—0—0———0—|0—0———0—0—0———0—o|
D|o0—0———0—0—0———0—|2—2———2—2—2———2—|2—2———2—2—2———2—|2—2———2—2—2———2—o|
A||2—2———2—2—2———2—|2—2———2—2—2———2—|3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—||
E||3—3———3—3—3———3—|3—3———3—3—3———3—|————————————————|————————————————||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

One really common trick that works very well is putting the Root Note on 1,
And the 5th of the chord on 3.

  |G major         |G major         |C major         |C major         |
G||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————5———————o|
A|o————————5———————|————————5———————|3———————————————|3———————————————o|
E||3———————————————|3———————————————|————————3———————|————————————————||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

This is a very simple and very effective trick.

Let's introduce what I like to call "Lead In's"

  |A major     |F# minor    |B minor     |E major     |
E||————————————|2—2—2—2—————|2—2—2—2—————|0—0—0—0—————||
B||2—2—2—2—————|2—2—2—2—————|3—3—3—3—————|0—0—0—0—————||
G|o2—2—2—2—————|2—2—2—2—————|4—4—4—4—————|1—1—1—1—————o|
D|o2—2—2—2—————|4—4—4—4—————|4—4—4—4—————|2—2—2—2—————o|
A||0—0—0—0—————|4—4—4—4—————|2—2—2—2—————|2—2—2—2—————||
E||————————————|2—2—2—2—————|————————————|0—0—0—0—————||
  |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |

First I'll do a Diatonic Example:
(Diatonic = All notes used are in one key)
(this progression is in A major)

  |A major     |F# minor    |B minor     |E major     |
G||————————————|————————————|————————————|————————————||
D|o————————————|————————6—7—|9———————————|————————————o|
A|o——————————7—|9———————————|——————————9—|7———————————o|
E||5——————/9———|————————————|————————————|————————2—4—||
  |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |

Here's a Chromatic Example:

  |A major     |F# minor    |B minor     |E major     |
G||————————————|————————————|————————————|————————————||
D|o————————————|————————————|————————————|————————————o|
A|o————————7—8—|9———————————|————————9—8—|7———————————o|
E||5———————————|————————9—8—|7———————————|————————7—6—||
  |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |1 + a 2 + a |

Notice how in both examples
the notes before the next root note "Lead In."

Let's say the guitarist is playing something like this:

  |A minor         |A minor         |D major         |D major         |
E||————5—5—————5———|————5—5—————5———|————2—2—————2———|————2—2—————2———||
B||————5—5—————5———|————5—5—————5———|————3—3—————3———|————3—3—————3———||
G|o————5—5—————5———|————5—5—————5———|————2—2—————2———|————2—2—————2———o|
D|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
A||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
E||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

You can use arpeggios to create a line:

  |A minor         |A minor         |D major         |D major         |
G||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o————————————————|7———————————————|——————————7—————|————————————————o|
A|o————————————7———|——————7—————————|5—————5/9—————9—|5—5—5———————————o|
E||5—5———5—8———————|————————5—5—8———|————————————————|————————2——(3—4)||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

The notes in ()'s are just chromatic notes
Aside from that, 
using arpeggios is great way to create an independent "Voice."

If you have a guitarist play these examples with you,
(or you can loop the chords if you have a pedal)
You'll notice that even though you're not playing the same rhythms,
There is an interaction that is still happening between the two parts.
The independence of both parts really brings out each instrument.

I hope that this has been helpfull.
Message me for any questions.
Thanks,
—Just3boyz

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|
            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|
            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

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Bass Lesson — Bass Independence bass tabs