Slap Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com


Slaps Bass For Beginners
Bass Lessons

Hey I wrote this tab to help people who are learning slaps bass. 
I did really right this
I wrote it again because my other good account and all my tabs 
got deleted somehow. 
I changed a few things and added a few more exercises in. I did 
NOT copy this
from a book its just set up like one. Play the first bar twice then 
the second
twice. Feel free to play around with the timing

Slaps bass is using your right thumb (if left handed then left) to 
'slap' the strings. To slap use your right thumb to hit the string. 
Try and do this close 
to the fretboard. Twist your wrist and release the thumb after 
contact with the string.
This is one of the methods used to play slap bass. Do not hit
the string with force, it will only make background noises and wont
have a clear sound. Make sure that your slapping is accurate 
and firm.
Slapping is represented with an 'S' or a 'T'

Exercise 1

——————————————————————————————|——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|—0———————0———————0———————0————
0———————0———————0———————0—————|——————————————————————————————
S       S       S       S       S       S       S       S        

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 2

——————————————————————————————|——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|—0———————0———————0———0———0———0
0———————0———————0———0———0———0—|——————————————————————————————
S       S       S   S   S   S   S       S       S   S   S   S

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Ghost notes or dampened notes are notes that have no distinguishable 
pitch
and are shown with an 'x' This is rythm techique or is used to stop 
a note 
from ringing. You place your left fingers lightly over the string.
This should not produce any ringing sound. Be careful not to 
hammer—on 
either. These are muted (not palm muted)

Exercise 3 

——————————————————————————————|——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|—0———————0————————————————————
0———————0———————x———x———x———x—|—————————————————x———x———x———x
S       S       S   S   S   S   S       S       S   S   S   S 

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 4 (with sixteenth notes)
————————————————————————————————|————————————————————————————————
————————————————————————————————|————————————————————————————————
————————————————————————————————|—0———x———0———x———0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0
0———x———0———x———0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—|————————————————————————————————
S   S   S   S   S S S S S S S S   S   S   S   S   S S S S S S S S

1   +   2   +   3 e + a 4 e + a   1   +   2   +   3 e + a 4 e + a

Popping is a techinque used in slap bass. Using your index or 
middle finger pull
the string you are popping then release it. The string should 
snap back.
Slapping and popping should be done in one movement. The popping 
should
sound clear and loud and in time. Popping is shown with a 'P'
  
Exercise 5
——————————————————————————————|—————————2———————————2———————2
————————2———————————2———————2—|——————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|—0———0———————0———0———————0————
0———0———————0———0———————0—————|——————————————————————————————
S   S   P   S   S   P   S   P   S   S   P   S   S   P   S   P

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 6
————————————————————————————————|—————2—————2—————2———2—————2———2—
————2—————2—————2———2—————2———2—|—————————————————————————————————
————————————————————————————————|—0—0———0—0———0—0———0———0—0———0———
0—0———0—0———0—0———0———0—0———0———|—————————————————————————————————
S S P S S P S S P S P S S P S P   S S P S S P S S P S P S S P S P 

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a   1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a  

Hammer—Ons are notes that you dont pick. You use your right hand 
fingers to strike the 
note. Pull—Offs are the same only they are in reverse. Hammers 
are shown with a 'H' or 
h then the note. Pull—Offs are shown with a 'PO' or p then the note

Exercise 7
——————————————————————————————|——————————5—h—7———————————7—p—5—
————————5—h—7———————————7—p—5—|————————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|——7———7———————————7———7—————————
7———7———————————7———7—————————|————————————————————————————————
S   S   P       S   S   P       S   S   P       S   S   P 

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 8
————————————————————————————5h7——|————————————————5h7———————————————
————————————————————————5h7——————|—————————————————————5h7——————————
7———7———7———7———————5h7——————————|—7———7———7———7———————————5h7——————
————————————————5h7——————————————|—————————————————————————————5h7——
S   S   S   S   S   S   P   P      S   S   S   S  P    P   S   S

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + e a  1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + e a  

Double Stops are popping two strings at once. Use your index 
and middle fingers
to pop them. They are shown with a 'P' or a 'p' Slides are also used. 

To slide 
Hold your finger and 'slide' Your fingers stay in contact with 
the strings
until you have reached the note. Slides are shown with an '/' 
or an '\' 

Exercise 9
————————————————————————7—/—9—|—————7———5———————————————7—/—9———
————7———5———————————————5—/—7—|—————————————7———5———7———5—/—7———
————————————7———5———7—————————|—5———————————————————————————————
5—————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————
S   P   P   S   S   S   P   P   S   P   P   S   S   S   P   P

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

The following are some random exercises

Exercise 10
——————————————————————————————|——————————5—h—7———————————7—p—5——
————————5—h—7———————————7—p—5—|—————————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|——7———7———————————7———7——————————
7———7———————————7———7—————————|—————————————————————————————————
S   S   P       S   S   P       S   S   P       S   S   P 

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +   1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 11
——————————————————————————————|——————2———————3———————4———————5——
————2———————3———————4———————5—|—————————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|——0———————1———————2———————3——————
0———————1———————2———————3—————|—————————————————————————————————
S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P    S   P   S   P   S   P   S   P

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +    1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 12
————————————————2—————————————|——————————————————2——————————————
————————2—h—4———————4———2—h—4—|——————————4—p—2———————4———4—p—2——
0———0—————————————————————————|——0———0——————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————
S   S   S       P   S   S        S   S   S       P   S   S 

1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +    1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +

Exercise 13
——————————————————————————————————|——————5h7—————————5h7————————————
——————5h7—————————5h7—————————————|5———7———————5———7—————7—7—7—x—x—x
5———7———————5———7—————7—7—7—x—x—x—|—————————————————————————————————
——————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————
S   S P     S   S P   S S S S S S  S   S P     S   S P   S S S S S S

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + e a  1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + e a

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 — Slap bass tabs