Beginners Lesson 2 Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com

Hammer on
————————

Hammers are used in many songs. They are 2 tabs together so its one sound but
sounds like 2 . They are written like 0H1.

Now heres how you do it. Place one of your fingers on the fourth fret and at
the split second after you pluck the E string stick you other finger on the
fifth fret this makes 2 sounds in one pluck. Keep trying

G|——————————————————————————————————|
D|——————————————————————————————————|
A|——————————————————————————————————|
E|——4H5———4H5———4H5———4H5———4H5—————|

Good look into more of my lessons :D

Here are some slapping tips

Slaps
——————

A slap is a sound made from hitting the strings it is a very hard techniquie
which is mostly used into Jazz so we should start learning now. The sound
is very ahrd to get you may not get ti because either your guitar doesn't have
the right sound controls or amp.

But you can try so start off with something easy . I like to hit any where past
the magnets towards the frets. fold your fingers and use your thumb to slap
the strings. start from fret 1 on the E strings and work your way up through
all strings. Yuo probably wont get a good sound from DG unless you ahve good
technique or guitar volumes.

Gently slap these over and over you'll get the hang of it. You can try Strinsg
D And G but i would practice D and A First.

G|————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————|
A|1—2—3—4—5—6—7—8—9—10—11—12—13—14—15—|
E|1—2—3—4—5—6—7—8—9—10—11—12—13—14—15—|

A song thats good to practise slaps is MY NAME IS MUD by Primus it goes like
this. Use light slapping. Try to do ti fast. This will also help your hammers.

G|———————————————————————————|
D|———————————————————————————|
A|————————————2———————————2~—|
E|———2H3—2H3—————2H3—2H3—————|

Look into more of my lessons and rpactices.

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 Lessons — Beginners Lesson 2 bass tabs