h=hammer
p=pull
r=let ring
                     Intro
G|—————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|———5r————5r————5r————5r——————————————————————————————|
A|—————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|——————3r————3r————3r————3r———————————————————————————|



                    Riff #1
G|——————————————————————————————————————————0——————————|
D|———————0—0——2——3——2——3——2———2h3—3—3—3—2—3————————————|
A|—————2———————————————————————————————————————2———————|
E|———3—————————————————————————————————————————————————|

                     Riff #2
G|———————————————————————————————————————————3——————————|
D|———————0—0——2——3——2——3——2——2h3—3—3—3—2——035—5—————————|
A|—————2————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|———3——————————————————————————————————————————————————|

________________________________________________________

Then later on there is something like this for a little while, but the first two riffs 
would work fine too:
                       Riff #3
G|——————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|———————0—0——2——3——2——3——2——3—3—3—2—3—2—3h5————————————|
A|——————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|———3—3————————————————————————————————————————————————|
_______________________________________________________________

You alternate Riffs #1 and #2 for most of the song.
Then around 2:22 in the 4:10 version of the song, it changes to Riff #3.
At 2:39, it goes back to the alternating Riffs #1 and #2.


The rhythm is the most important part of the line and the only way you can really know what 
it is is by listening to the song a bunch of times. Since it's pretty funky, you're not 
going to play it like that by just playing the notes above as straight eighth notes.

About James Brown

James Joseph Brown, Jr. (May 3, 1933 December 25, 2006) was an American singer and entertainer. Eventually referred to as "The Godfather of Soul", Brown started singing in church groups and worked his way up. He has been recognized as one of the most influential figures in the 20th century popular music and was renowned for his vocals and feverish dancing. He was also called "the hardest working man in show business".

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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James Brown — Get Up Offa That Thing bass tabs