Victor Wooten Thumb Exercise Part 2! Bass Tabs - Bass Lessons @ BigBassTabs.com


*note— before looking at this you should check Victor Wooten 
Thumb Exercise bass tab to fully understand what is said in 
this lesson

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

This is part two of the Victor Wooten Slap Style Lesson. The first 
bit was to learn how to play fast without the need for a pick. There 
are also a couple of other things you should know to really grasp 
the concept of this really useful technique.

First you want to apply the Thumb up and Thumb down technique 
into going up scales so your left hand can get used to the technique 
like such

G—————————————————————————————————————————4———4———6———6———7———7———|
D—————————————————4———4———5———5———7———7———————————————————————————|
A—5———5———7———7———————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
  1   e   +   a   2   e   +   a   3   e   +   a   4   e   +   a
  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu

Then work your way back down like such

G—7———7———6———6———4———4———————————————————————————————————————————|
D—————————————————————————7———7———5———5———4———4———————————————————|
A—————————————————————————————————————————————————7———7———5———5———|
E—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
  1   e   +   a   2   e   +   a   3   e   +   a   4   e   +   a
  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu

After youve worked on this for a bit, youre going to want to 
learn how to apply this with a pluck with your index finger like 
such

G———————7————————7————————7————————7——|
D—————————————————————————————————————|
A—5——5—————5——5—————5——5—————5——5—————|
E—————————————————————————————————————|
1e  a  2  e  a  3  e  a  4  e  a
Td Tu Pi Td Tu Pi Td Tu Pi Td Tu Pi

After youve worked that your going to take both thumb attacks 
and both your middle finger and index finger, and hit every attack 
with a different note like this

G—————————————————————————————————————————————————5———6———7———8———|
D—————————————————————————————————5———6———7———8———————————————————|
A—————————————————5———6———7———8———————————————————————————————————|
E—5———6———7———8———————————————————————————————————————————————————| 
  1   e   +   a   2   e   +   a   3   e   +   a   4   e   +   a
  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu  Td  Tu

And thats basically it. This is a great technique to use for 
both slaps and playing really fast.

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 Part 2! bass tabs