Victor Wooten Thumb Exercise Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com


Td— Thumb Downwards 
Tu— Thumb Upwards
Pi— Pluck With Index Finger
Pm— Pluck With Middle Finger

This Is A Great Exercise That I Saw On You Tube And Its A Really 
Great Exercise For Slaps. 

The first thing you do is take your thumb and (Much Like A Pick) 
hit the note in a downwards motion and then take your thumb and 
hit it in a upwards motion which will lokk like this

G—————————————————————————————————|
D—————————————————————————————————|
A—5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———|
E—————————————————————————————————|
  1   +   2   +   3   +   4   +
  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu

Then work this with a Pluck with your index finger like such.

G—————————————————————————————————————|
D—————————————————————————————————————|
A—5——5——5——5——5——5——5——5——5——5——5——5——|
E—————————————————————————————————————|
  1  e  a  2  e  a  3  e  a  4  e  a
  Td Tu Pi Td Tu Pi Td Tu Pi Td Tu Pi

After that exercise throw in a pluck with your middle finger as well

G—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A—5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———5———|
E—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
  1   e   +   a   2   e   +   a   3   e   +   a   4   e   +   a
  Tb  Tu  Pi  Pm  Tb  Tu  Pi  Pm  Tb  Tu  Pi  Pm  Tb  Tu  Pi  Pm

If you work this with some scales it helps, but the main point 
of this exercise is to learn how to play fast with out having the 
need to use a pick.

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 — Victor Wooten Thumb Exercise bass tabs