Blues Scale (And Examples Of It In Popular Music) Bass Tabs


A Blues Scale

This is a very common blues scale, and a handy little one to know. 
Not only does it sound cool, but many songs are also based off of it.

Heres the general pattern:

G———————————0—2—
D—————0—1—2—————
A—0—3———————————
E———————————————

The real magic happens when you play it backwards:

G—2—0———————————
D—————2—1—0—————
A———————————3—0—
E———————————————

Sounds pretty bluesy, eh? You can play this same combination 
of notes anywhere on the fretboard. For example, here it is further 
down:

G———————————————
D———————————5—6—
A—————5—6—7—————
E—5—8———————————

That above combination will produce the same sound as the general 
pattern above, but you can play this same pattern anywhere to 
produce almost any pitch you want.

Now, heres the important part: the blues scale in popular music. 
There are many songs that utilize this blues scale; most of which 
date around mid— to late—60s, but its used in some popular music 
today. Here are some examples of famous riffs that use this blues 
scale:

Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin):

G—————————————
D—————0—1h2———
A—0—3—————————
E———————————3—

Sunshine of Your Love (Cream):

G—2—2—0—2—————————————
D—————————2—1—0———————
A———————————————0—3—0—
E—————————————————————

(Note: the above examples may not be the actual notes used in 
the song, but are rather examples of the blues pattern in popular 
music, shown through the incarnation of the blues pattern that 
I tabbed above.)

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 — Blues Scale (and Examples Of It In Popular Music) bass tabs