Band: THE BETA BAND
     Song: THE BETA BAND RAP!
    Album: THE BETA BAND
Tabbed by: Craig G Telfer

This song is in three parts: BARBERSHOP QUARTET, HIP—HOP and ROCK 'N' ROLL.


This is the BARBERSHOP QUARTET part.  I am sure there are other notes here, 
but I cannot pick them out.
G|—————————————————|—————————————————|
D|—————————————————|—————————————————|
A|—5—5—4—4—6—6—2—2—|—5—5—4—4—6—6—2—2—|
E|—————————————————|—————————————————|


HIP—HOP part.  This is pretty simple, and sounds like The New Pollution by 
Beck.  It uses some sort of effect, for I cannot recreate them on my Bass.
G|——————————————|——————————————|
D|———8————6———6—|———8————6———6—|
A|—————6h8—6h8——|—————6h8—6h8——|
E|—6————————————|—6————————————|


The ROCK 'N' ROLL section.  Pretty simple as well.
G|—————————————————|—————————————————|
D|———————2—5—2—————|———————2—5—2—————|
A|—0—4—5———————5—4—|—0—4—5———————5—4—|
E|—————————————————|—————————————————|

The ROCK 'N' ROLL part when the chord changes.  Very easy.
G|—————————————————|—————————————————|
D|—————————————————|—————————————————|
A|———————2—5—2—————|———————2—5—2—————|
E|—0—4—5———————5—4—|—0—4—5———————5—4—|


The parts are repeated again and again for how many times, I do not know.

To understand the song, play it slowly then pick up speed as you improve.  
Listen to the CD to hear where the parts are, and how to play them (speed, 
rhythm etc.)

This song is from THE BETA BAND, not as good as THE 3EP's, but still 
brilliant.  It uses a man called Kingsley on vocals.

If anybody likes THE BETA BAND like me, or has any corrections, comments 
absolutely anything related to music, the bass, or current affairs and 
amusing anecdotes you can e—mail me on:  [email protected]

Cheers, man

Craig G Telfer

About Beta Band

The Beta Band were a British musical group who received much critical acclaim and have achieved cult status amongst avid followers of the underground and experimental music scene. Their style was described as being "folktronica", a blend of folk, electronic, rock, trip hop, and experimental jamming.

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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Beta Band — The Beta Band Rap bass tabs