99 Red Balloons (Ver 3) Bass Tabs - Goldfinger @ BigBassTabs.com

99 Red Balloons
Covered by Goldfinger
from the album "Stomping Ground"

This is an incredibly simple song...most of the song is just
these 4 notes in the "Main riff"...it does many things here which
you can time for yourself, like when it does the bass ska—beats,
staccatos and in one part it does shots; but it's all the same notes.
It's still a kickass song though.

Kelly LaMieux plays this song with a pick...if you care to emulate
his style on this song, you should too...also, the bass has a more
deep, full, sound for those with cool tone controls.  No distortion or
effects, except for a bit of a wah effect at the ending on the bass (no
big deal if you don't have a wah, it sounds fine without it too).

Bass tacit all through "...You and I at a little toy shop...99 Red
Balloons go..."; then guitar starts up a bit.

Intro:  (on the word "...by", rests 2 bars, then)

G: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
D: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
A: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
E: ———0————————————————————————————————0—————————

Bridge:  (For want of a better word!)

G: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
D: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
A: —————7—7——————7———————————————————————————————
E: ———————————9——————9———2——h—4—p—2——0———————————

G: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
D: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
A: ——————7—7———————7—————————————————————————————
E: —————————————9————————9———7——7——7——9——————————

Main riff:  (i.e. through verses and mini—solos)

G: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
D: ——————————————————————————————————————————————
A: —————————————0—————2——————————————————————————
E: ——0————2——————————————————————————————————————
(hit each note 5 times)

At the ending it goes through the main riff quietly
without a pick, and only plays each note once
instead of 5 times.  Piece of cake.  Enjoy!!

Any comments/marvels at the amasing bass skills needed
to tab this complex piece, send to [email protected]

Tabbed by Lord Whitey the Omniscient

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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Goldfinger — 99 Red Balloons (ver 3) bass tabs