Gary Numan — Cars
AWESOME song, listening to it one day boppin' me head
and thought "In by the Platforms of Botsy, That bass line must be PLAYED!"
SO HERE IT IS, MOTHALICKAS!  My first tab, and what better way to
start than with some oldies lol.
Tuning: EADG
Tabbed by: Sambo ([email protected])
Difficulty: Beginner
() — Numbers inside brackets are ghost notes.  I use ghost notes like
"Optional notes" if you will, ones that aren't necessary but make the
bassline sound a hell of a lot cooler (yet sometimes more complex).
The timing is kind of illustrated here, I assume you know the song well or
have it available for reference listening, so you can nail the timing.
Note: Unlike a lot of musicians I still remember what it's like to be
a beginner and what you need to help you learn, so there will be some
tips on how to play some sections of the song.
Synth time!
Main riff

G|————————————————————|
D|————————————————————|
A|—5—4————————————————|
E|—————3—5—(5)—(5)(5)—| x 4

G|————————————————————|
D|————————————————————|
A|——————2—————————2———|
E|—0—h3———3——0—h3———3—| x 1
Play this twice, then

G|——————|
D|——————|
A|—175—|
E|——————|  Do this (QUICKLY, and in time, of course) as you go into the
Chorus.  Then just repeat the main riff twice again.
Bounce time!
{A}

G|————————————————————————————————————|
D|————12———————————————12————1514—————|
A|———————12——141514———————12——————————|
E|—10———————————————10————————————————|
{B}                         1  2  1

G|——————————————————————————————————————| The bit in  is played really fast.
D|————12———————————————————|——————12|———| the 1 2 1 above it is your fingers
A|———————12——141514————————|10—12———|———| to use (index is 1, middle is 2)
E|—10———————————————10—10———————————————| for all you players like me who
use fingers.  Also I bar the 12 to
hit both the notes without having
awkward hand positions.
Play {A} again
{C}

G|———————————————————————————————————————|
D|————12———————————————12—————————————12—|
A|———————12——141514———————12————10—12————|
E|—10———————————————10———————10——————————|
Now you know all the parts, blast yourself/audience back to the 70's/80's
Well, My first tab is done.
So, this is my first tab.  It's correct as far as I can hear, But any
suggestions/corrections would be greatly appreciated.  (I'm only 16 with a years
and tabbed this song in 4 minutes at 12:30 AM! So there has GOT to be a mistake somewhere lol)
Sayonara!
— sambo ([email protected])

About Gary Numan

Gary Numan (born Gary Webb on 8 March 1958) is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" (with Tubeway Army) and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.

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

muncy

9 years, 11 months ago
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I think the second part of the intro sounds like this

G|————————————————————|
D|————————————————————|
A|——————2—————————2———|
E|—2—h3———3——2—h3———3—| x 1

I could be wrong, though. Playing by ear was never my strong point!

Midnightcoffeeaddiction

6 years, 10 months ago
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Thanks with your help I can totally nail this now

Jor-El

4 years, 9 months ago
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5353 not (5) (5)(5)

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Gary Numan — Cars bass tabs