Band:Creedence Clearwater Revival
Song:Fortunate Son
Tabbed by:Mablung

Tuning (D A D G) — 'Dropped D'
 
I've been playing this song live for 2 years now and just sat down to listen
to the recording. This is a slight correction on John Speas's 
([email protected]) earlier tab. I can hear that the D note in the 
chorus is actually an open D and not a 5th fret on the A—String. Give it a 
listen and hear for yourself. 

 4/4
  Intro                             x5
  E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E
|—————————————————|——————————————————|
|—————————————————|—————————————————0|
|—————————————————|—————————————————0|
|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5——|

Verses 1,2,3 (x2)
  E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
|—————————————————|———————————0—1—2—|—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—|—————————————————|
|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|—3—3—3—3—3———————|—————————————————|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|

Chorus
  E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—|—————————————————|
|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—|—————————————————|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|

Chorus (Sometimes)
  E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E   E E E E E E E E
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
|—————————————————|—————————————————|—3—3—3—3—3———————|—————————————————|
|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—|———————————2—3—4—|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|

Guitar Solo
                            x2                             x2
  Q  Q  Q  Q    Q  Q  Q  Q    Q  Q  E E Q    Q  Q  E E Q
|—————————————|——————————————|——————————————|———————————————|
|—————————————|—————————————0|——————————————|——————————————0|
|—————————————|—————————————0|——————————————|——————————————0|
|—5——5——5——5——|—5——5——5——5———|—5——5——5—5—5——|—5——5——5—5—5———|

Comments? [email protected]

About Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival (often abbreviated CCR) was an American rock band that gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a number of successful singles drawn from various albums.

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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Creedence Clearwater Revival — Fortunate Son bass tabs