Locking In With The Drums Bass Tabs - Bass Lesson @ BigBassTabs.com

This tab illustrates how to lock in with different drum grooves.
There's nothing worse than a bassist that's not listening to the drummer.
Here's a couple ways to avoid being that bass player...

My biggest peice of advice is this...
ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE RHYTHM THE BASS DRUM IS DOING!
the bass drum is your guide. 
if you're locked into that rhythm, you're golden!

Let's look at some different grooves...

The x's over the E string represents the bass drum. 
The x's over the D and G string represent the snare drum. 

*try practicing each example at 80 bpm*

Example 1) 

In this first example, we're going to strictly follow the bass drum pattern.

Here's the drum groove:

G||————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———||
D|o————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———o|
A|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
E||x—x———x—x—x———x—|x—x———x—x—x———x—|x—x———x—x—x———x—|x—x———x—x—x———x—||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Here's the easiest way to lock into the drum groove:

  |B minor         |                |G major         |                |
G||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
A|o2—2———2—2—2———2—|2—2———2—2—2———2—|————————————————|————————————————o|
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 + |

Here's an embellishment that still locks into the groove:

  |B minor         |                |G major         |                |
G||————————————————|————————4———————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o——————————4—————|————————————————|————————5———————|————————————————o|
A|o2—2—x—2—5———x—0h|2—2—x—2———2—x———|————————————————|————————4h5—x—0ho|
E||————————————————|——————————————2—|3—3—x—3———3—x—3—|3—3—x—3—————————||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Notice how you can elaborate on a simple root note groove and still lock in.
as long as all those extra notes follow the rhythm of the bass drum,
you're golden!
also notice that you can mimic the snare by playing dead notes on 2 and 4.

Example 2)

In this example, we'll put some notes in between where the bass drum hits start and end.

Here's the drum groove:

G||————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———||
D|o————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———o|
A|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
E||x—x————xx—x——x—x|x—x————xx—x——x—x|x—x————xx—x——x—x|x—x————xx—x——x—x||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Here's a Bass Line that follows the exact Bass Drum Groove: 

  |B minor         |                |E minor         |                |
G||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
A|o————————————————|———————————————5|7—7————57—7——5—5|7—7————57—7——7——o|
E||7—7————57—7——5—5|7—7————57—7——7——|————————————————|———————————————5||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Here's a Bass Line that has notes between the start & end of the Bass Drum's phrases: 

  |B minor         |                |E minor         |                |
G||————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————||
D|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
A|o—————————5——————|—————————5—————5|757————57—7——5—5|757————57—7——7——o|
E||757————57—7——5—5|757————57—7——7——|—————————7——————|—————————7—————5||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

notice how the bass line weaves in between the start and end of each bass drum phrase.
if you're going to sneak in extra notes, this is the best way to do it.

Example 3)

In this example, we're going to react with the snare drum as well.

Here's the Drum Groove:

G||————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———||
D|o————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———|————x———————x———o|
A|o————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————o|
E||x———————x—x—————|x———————x—x—————|x———————x—x—————|x———————x—x—————||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Here's a Bass Line that follows the exact Bass Drum Groove: 

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

Here's a Bass Line that reacts to the Snare Drum as well as the Bass Drum Groove: 

  |B minor         |                |A major         |                |
G||————————————————|————7———————————|————6———————————|————————————————||
D|o————————————9———|————————————9———|————————————7———|——————————7/9———o|
A|o————9———————————|————————————————|————————————————|————7———————————o|
E||7———————7—7—————|7———————7—7—————|5———————5—5—————|5———————5———————||
  |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + |

Notice how the other notes besides the root notes hit with the snare.
I've noticed that octaves and fifths work very well over this concept.
other big intervals like 9ths and 10ths work well to.

I hope this tab has been helpful.
Send me a message for any questions.

Thanks,

—Connor Larkin

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 — Locking in with the Drums bass tabs