Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo Bass Tabs - Bela Fleck And The Flecktones @ BigBassTabs.com

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| Artist: Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (Bass: Victor Wooten) |
| Title: Flight of the Cosmic Hippo                           |
| Album: Flight of the Cosmic Hippo                           |
|                                                             |
| Tabbed by Andrew Ker ([email protected])                  |
| A Member of the BTA Army — http://www.basstabarchive.com    |
|                                                             | 
| You may distribute this as long as you include this header. |
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Notes:

This is a great piece to play, as long as you have a fretless to play it on 
(it doesn't work on a fretted bass...) The bad news is that it really needs 
a 5—string. For people like me who can't afford one, this is arranged for 
4—string but with *Drop C# Tuning* (i.e. C#ADG from bottom up). You have to
be able to slide up to the bottom D, but this isn't a great tuning to play
in so you might prefer C#G#C#F# — in which case you'll just have to work out
the differences yourself.

Please send me any corrections! Enjoy.

Key: .      = short note (all others are long, listen to the song for exact lengths)
      or / = slide down or up (see below)
     h      = hammer on
     x      = ghost note or some note too short to work out

This piece is all about slides! You'll need to listen to the song to see what
sort of slides go where. "/8" means slide up to the 8th fret (quite quickly) 
and back down, generally starting and finishing one fret (i.e. one semitone) 
lower. Sometimes the slide off goes further down. "/8//" means you slide up 
to the 8th fret and then up and down between 7th and 8th frets. Sometimes you
have to play a note, let it ring for a long time, and then slide up or down as
it is fading away.

Introduction:

G |———————————————|————————————————|——————————————|—————————————|
D |———————————————|————————————————|——————————————|—————————————|
A |———————————————|————————————————|——————————————|—————————————|
C#|/1————/8————/|1————/8//———|1————/8————/|1————/8————/|



First verse:

G |——————————————|————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
D |——————————————|————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
A |——————————————|————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
C#|1————/8————/|1————/8//———|1————/8————/|1————/8———8——|

G |——————————————|——————————————|————————————————|——————————————————|
D |——————————————|——————————————|————————————————|——————————————————|
A |——————————————|——————————————|————.———————.———|—————.————————————|
C#|1————/8————/|1————/9—————/|8———8——/9———9——/|10———10——/11———12|

G |——————————————|————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
D |——————————————|————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
A |——————————————|————————————————|——————————————|——————.—.—.—.—|
C#|1————/8————/|1————/8//———|1————/8————/|1————8—6—4—3—|

G |——————————————|——————————————|————————————————|——————————————————|
D |——————————————|——————————————|————————————————|——————————————————|
A |——————————————|——————————————|————.———————.———|—————.————————————|
C#|1————/8————/|1————/9—————/|8———8——/9———9——/|10———10——/11———12|



Interlude:

G |——————————|——————————|——————————|——————————|
D |——————————|——————————|——————————|——————————|
A |—————5————|4————3————|2————1————|——————————|
C#|6—————————|——————————|—————————/|7———/6———|

G |——————————|———————————|———————————————|——————|
D |——————————|———————————|———————————————|——————|
A |——————————|———————————|———————————————|——————|
C#|4————8————|9————7————/|6———5—4————3——2|——————|

G |———————————|———————————|                 |———————————|———————————|
D |———————————|———————————| (3 times) then  |———————————|———————————|
A |———————————|———————————|                 |———————————|———————————|
C#|1———/3————/|4————/3———|                 |1———/3————/|4————8———8—|

                                         (slowly slide up towards the 5th fret)
G |——————————|———————————|———————————————|————————————|
D |——————————|8————6—————|———————————————|————————————|
A |5————6————|——————————/|5———4—3————2——1|————————/———|
C#|——————————|———————————|———————————————|————————————|
                                          (quietly slide off at the end of the bar)
G |——————————|———————————|————————————————|———————————|
D |——————————|8————6—————|————————————————|———————————|
A |5————6————|———————————|————————————————|———————————|
C#|——————————|——————————/|6———5—4————3——/2|——————————|



Second verse:

This is the really fun bit. Lots of slide and vibrato,
and enjoy the low notes. Make that fretless sing!

G |——————————————————|————————————|——————————————————|——————————|
D |——7—3———5————————|————————————|——7—3———5———————|——————————|
A |—————————————7—/8—|————5—/7————|—————————————7—/8—|——————————|
C#|——————————————————|————————————|——————————————————|——————————|

G |——————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
D |——7—3———5————————|——————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
A |—————————————7—/8—|————12———/15———13|12——1211——11|10——108——7——5|
C#|——————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|

G |——————————————————|————————————|————————————————|——————————|
D |——————————————————|————————————|————————————————|——————————|
A |——————————————————|————————————|——————.———.—————|——————————|
C#|——8—4———6————3—/4—|————1—/3———|/8————6—x—4—3———|——————————|
         .
G |——————7———————————|—————————————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
D |———7————75———————|—————————————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|
A |——————————————————|———————15————13(h15)(h13)|12——1211——11|10——108——7———|
C#|————————————————3/|4———————————————————————|——————————————|——————————————|

Then repeat the interlude as above.



End:

G |———————————————|—————————|                |———————————————|————
D |———————————————|—————————| (3 times) then |———————————————|————
A |———————————————|—————————|                |———————————————|————
C#|/1————/8————/|1———————|                |/1—————/8———8|————

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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Bela Fleck And The Flecktones — Flight Of The Cosmic Hippo bass tabs