Song: Falling
Artist: The Cat Empire
Album: Cinema
Key: D#

I absolutely love the Australian band Cat Empire. I keep holding out that they will
come play a show in my home town. Their song writing is tight and the bass player
really knows how to lay down a funky track. I'll tab the idea for all the parts, and
I'll let you experiment with adding new fills and hooks. He really goes crazy towards
the end, let me know if you want me to tab that part out note—for—note.


Listen for timing:

Main verse riff:
G|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|——6————6—6—6———6———6—————8————10———10—10—10———10———10—————8————————|
E|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|

Verse Variation:
G|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|——6————6—6—6———6———6———————————5————5—5—5————5————5————————————————|
E|—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————6—————|

Chorus:
G|—————————————————————————————————|
D|—————————————————————————————————|
A|—————————6—6—————————————————————|
E|——3—3——————————6—6————1—1——2—————|


Bridge:
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|——5—5————5—5—————5—5—————5—5——————5—5————5—5————|
E|———————————————5————————————————5———————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|——/17—17—17—17—17—17—17—17—17——————17——————17———|
E|————————————————————————————————17——————17——————|


Play variations on this until the end:

G|——————————————————|———————————8—7———————————|
D|——————————————————|————————8————————7———————|
A|——10——————————5———|——10———————————5—————————|
E|——————8———6———————|——————8——————————————————|

Ryan Monro mixes it up with sick lines and fills for the big finish, but it's all
variations on this chord progression and open to a lot of interpretation. Like I
said, send me a line if you want me to tab out the end note—for—note!



 bigbasstabs.

About Cat Empire

The Cat Empire is an Australian eclectic band from Melbourne, Australia. Currently, the Cat Empire is comprised of Felix Riebl (percussion and vocals), Harry James Angus (trumpet and vocals), Ollie McGill (keyboard and backing vocals), Ryan Monro (bass and backing vocals), Will Hull-Brown (drums) and Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala (decks, percussion). They are also commonly backed by the Empire Horns, a brass duo, and have recurring guest musicians.

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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Cat Empire — Falling bass tabs