0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Elvis Presley — Blue Suede Shoes (ver 2) bass tabs



Title:      Blue Suede Shoes
Artist: Elvis Presley
Tabbed by: Stephane Lapointe ([email protected])
Date: July 2003

The King is dead but not his music!
Every bass player should have played at least one time
in his life such a song based on a very common blues riff.

I found no instance of a bass tab for this song on the Web.
The timing is correctly tabbed.

Thanks to email any corrections, improvements or comments
to [email protected]
Also, feel free to tell me if you like this tab.

VERSE 1
=======
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G|————————————————|————————————————|
D|————————————————|————————————————|
A|————————————————|————————————————|
E|——————3—5—————3—|5———————5—3—5—3—|

CHORUS
======
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G|——————4—7—4—————|————————————————|——————6———————4—|————————————————|
D|——4—7———————7—4—|——————4—7—4—————|——6—9—————4—7———|7—4—————7—4—————|
A|5———————————————|——4—7———————7—4—|7———————5———————|————7—4—————7—4—|
E|————————————————|5———————————————|————————————————|————————————————|

VERSE 2
=======
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G|————————————————|
D|————————————————| 3 times, then
A|————————————————|
E|5—————3—5—————3—|

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G|————————————————|
D|————————————————|
A|————————————————|
E|5———————5—3—5—3—|

CHORUS
======

SOLO 1
======
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G|————————————————|————————————————|
D|7—4—————7—4—————|7—4—————7—5—4———|
A|————7—4—————7—4—|————7—4———————7—|
E|————————————————|————————————————|

then play the chorus riff once

VERSE 3: Same as VERSE 2
=======

CHORUS
======

SOLO 2
======
I didn't try to figure out the bass riff during the second guitar solo.
You can simply play the one below which is very similar to the one played
during the first guitar solo.

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G|————————————————|
D|——————4—7—4—————| twice
A|——4—7———————7—4—|
E|5———————————————!

then play the chorus riff once

VERSE 4
=======
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
G|————————————————|————————————————|
D|————————————————|————————————————|
A|————————————————|————————————————|
E|——————3—5—————3—|5———————5.5.5.5.|

CHORUS
======

OUTRO: Same as SOLO 2 except for the last bar on which you may improvise.
=====


Tablature player for this song:
Elvis Presley - Blue Suede Shoes (ver 2) Bass Tab

About Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron (or Arona) Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".

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! 🎸

Other versions of Blue Suede Shoes

Comments

No comments for this song yet. Go ahead and write something!

Post a comment