Mixing It Up Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com


This is intended to give you ideas on how to create bass lines 
and riffs. I
suppose anybody could benefit from this, but it's really targeted 
at beginners
needing help.

Okay, onto the tab. What you want to do is think of any pattern 
that you play
and try to expand on it. Here's a simple pattern to start with. 
I know, it seems
way too easy, right? Don't worry...

G|————————|
D|—————9——|
A|——7—————|
E|————————|

Now add another note.

G|————————9——|
D|—————9—————|
A|——7————————|
E|———————————|

Still easy, right? Well, now strum all the notes at the same time.

G|——9——|
D|——9——|
A|——7——|
E|—————|

Now strum and play the 7 (A string) and the 9 (D string) back and 
forth.

G|——9———————————————————————————|
D|——9————9———9———9———9———9———9——|
A|——7——7———7———7———7———7———7————|
E|——————————————————————————————|

Sounding better? Now we can expand on that some more. Take the 
very same
pattern and move it down 2 frets. So instead of "7—9—9", it'll 
be "5—7—7".

G|——7———————————————————————————|
D|——7————7———7———7———7———7———7——|
A|——5——5———5———5———5———5———5————|
E|——————————————————————————————|

Now move it down 2 more frets so it'll be "3—5—5".

G|——5———————————————————————————|
D|——5————5———5———5———5———5———5——|
A|——3——3———3———3———3———3———3————|
E|——————————————————————————————|

Now play the whole thing together.

G|——9———————————————————————————9——|
D|——9————9———9———9———9———9———9——9——|
A|——7——7———7———7———7———7———7————7——|
E|—————————————————————————————————|

G|——7———————————————————————————7——|
D|——7————7———7———7———7———7———7——7——|
A|——5——5———5———5———5———5———5————5——|
E|—————————————————————————————————|

G|——5———————————————————————————|—5—7—|
D|——5————5———5———5———5———5———5——|—5—7—|
A|——3——3———3———3———3———3———3————|—3—5—|
E|——————————————————————————————|—————|

The little section at the end is a small fill so you can play the 
pattern
over again. Mixing shit up is fun and easy, and best of all, simple.

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 — Mixing It Up bass tabs