Charlotte Sometimes Bass Tabs - Cure @ BigBassTabs.com

"Charlotte Sometimes"——bassline——by the Cure from "Staring at the Sea——The Singles"


This bassline is interesting cuz it's constantly moving & the pattern changes somewhat 
unexpectedly, but once you learn it, it comes along alot easier. The pattern may be hard 
to follow, so just learn the figures first, then listen to the song a few times, & then 
try & fit in the patterns. I hope I have all the strokes right, there might be a couple more 
strokes missing, but all the notes should be right.
Tabbed by: Raq; created December 20, 1998


figure 1——play 4 times during the intro


G——————————————————|—————————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
D——————————————————|—————————————————————|—————————————————|—————————————————|
A—5——5—5—5—5——5/—|—7—7——7/8—8/10—10—|—3——3—3—3—3——3—|—1—1——1—————————|
E——————————————————|—————————————————————|—————————————————|—————————1—1—3—3—|


figure 2——play 3 times during the 1st verse
D——————————————————|—————————————————————|—————————————————|———————————————|
A—5——5—5—5—5——5/—|—7—7——7/8—8/10—10—|—————————————————|———————————————|
E——————————————————|—————————————————————|—5——5—5—5—5——5/—|7—7——7—8—8——8—|


figure 3


D—————————————————|————————————————|—————————————————|——————————————————|
A—5——5—5—5—5——5—|3—3——3—1—1——1—|—7——7—7—7—7——7—|—8—8——8—————————|
E—————————————————|————————————————|—————————————————|—————————8—8——8—|


figure 4—repeat 4 times


A—————————————————————3—3—2—2—|—————————————————————————————|
D——————————————————————————————|—0——0—0—0—0—0—0—0—3—3—————|
E—1——1—1—1—1——1—1—1——————————|————————————————————————3—3—|


figure 5—play in replace of 2nd measure of figure 4 on 4th repeat only


A——————————3—3—2—2—|
D———————————————————|
E—3—3——3———————————|


back to figure 2 —— 3 times
figure 4 —— 4 times
figure 2
figure 4
repeat figure 1 until end

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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Cure — Charlotte Sometimes bass tabs