Green Onions — Booker T. And The MG's
repeat this 12 bar blues pattern throughout the song.
(x4) (x2) (x2) (x2)
G|—————————|—————————|—————————|——————————————————|—————————|
D|—————————|—————————|—————————|——————————————————|—————————|
A|—————————|1—1—14—6—|—————————|3—3—36—8—1—1—14—6—|—————————|
E|1—1—14—6—|—————————|1—1—14—6—|——————————————————|1—1—14—6—|
tabbed by Achilles ([email protected])
Booker T. & the M.G.'s are an instrumental R&B band that was influential in shaping the sound of Southern Soul and Memphis Soul. In the 1960s, as members of the house band of Stax Records, they played on hundreds of recordings by artists such as Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Carla and Rufus Thomas and Johnnie Taylor. They also released instrumental records under their own name, such as the 1962 hit single "Green Onions". As originators of the unique Stax sound, the group was one of the most prolific, respected, and imitated of their era. By the mid-1960s, bands on both sides of the Atlantic were trying to sound like Booker T. & the M.G.'s.
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:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your 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.
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
G|-------------------| D|-------5h7---------|
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
G|-------------------| D|-------7p5---------|
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
G|-------------------| D|-------5/7---------|
G|-------7b9---------|
G|-------7~----------|
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.
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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