About Fall Out Boy

Fall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist-rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, bassist Pete Wentz and drummer Andy Hurley.

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! 🎸

Comments

chelseafcforlife

8 years, 9 months ago
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how about you make yourself useful and create a bass tab instead of whining about music you don't like.

hey_moon

4 years, 6 months ago
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It'd be nice if you actually tried to help people learn how to play bass for songs that they're interested in, instead of sharing your unwanted opinion that doesn't help anyone. People searched this tab so they could learn how to play a song, not to see you complain about a talented band because you're not interested in their music. If you don't like their music, grow up and shut the radio off instead of insulting Fall Out Boy and the people who like their music. No one asked for your thoughts. It doesn't bother me that you don't like their music (Not everyone likes it, and I can accept that. People have their own lives and it's not my business to tell people what bands they should and shouldn't listen to) so much as it does that you decided to insult them, their music, and their fans instead of moving on with your life. It's not your place to tell people what bands are good and bad. We have brains, and I can tell perfectly fine what bands I do like and what bands I don't. The difference is, I don't call the ones I don't like “garbage”, “a joke”, and “a shameful scar”. I say that I'm not that interested in that artist, or I skip the song. It's not that hard to do. You should try it instead of disrespecting artists you don't like with offensive comments that clearly aren't true.

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