Great For Beginners Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com


i'll start with some scales. the ones that are the most common 
are major and minor. to play a major, play this pattern anywhere 
on the fretboard. this particular one is in D 

————————————————————
————————————4—6—7———
——————4—5—7—————————
——5—7———————————————

and to play minor, play this pattern anywhere on the fretboard. 
this is also in D

————————————————————
———————————————5—7——
—————————5—7—8——————
——5—7—8—————————————

scales are useful because when you play a song, it is in a certian 
key. so when somebody wants to play a song in D major, you would 
write a line using notes from the D major scale.

to help with knowing which position plays what note, a good thing 
to know is the musical alphabet. for example, on the A string, 
the notes will go as follows.

A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#

another thing to remember is that sharps(#) and flats(b) can 
be the same thing. for example, a A# is the same as a Bb.

a good fingering exercise to start out with is the 2 finger exercise. 
you will use 2 fingers and play this using only your first 2 fingers.
——5—6———————————————
——————5—6———————————
——————————5—6———————
——————————————5—6——— 
then play again, but reverse this time.

after you do that for a while, try with the first and third fingers, 
like this
——5—7——————————————————
——————5—7——————————————
——————————5—7——————————
——————————————5—7——————
and again, play back up the neck.

and finally you use your first and fourth fingers, like this
—5—8———————————————————
—————5—8———————————————
—————————5—8———————————
—————————————5—8———————
then play back in reverse. and you don't need to start at the 5th 
fret, play wherever's comfortable.

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 — Great For Beginners bass tabs