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Johnny Cash — Ring of Fire (ver 3) bass tabs



(submitted by lark_z)
Recording is in G, it's in cut time with some one beat measures thrown in.  This can really mess with your timing.  

I couldn't have done this without the video from oldschoolbassplayer. Thanks! I've got this close, hope it helps you.


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



Verse

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

"And it Makes..."
G |————————|————————|————————|————|————————|————————|
D |5———————|5———————|5———————|————|5———————|5———2—4—|
A |————5———|————5———|————5———|5———|————5———|——5—————|
E |————————|————————|————————|————|————————|————————|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &

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


Chorus (ok — this is the Chorus intro and the chorus, but the intro always comes first)

"I fell Into...."
G |————————|————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
D |5———————|————|5———————|5—5—4—2—|————————|————————|————————|5———————|
A |————5———|5———|————5———|————————|5———————|5—————5—|3—————3—|——2—3—4—|
E |————————|————|————————|————————|————5———|————5———|————3———|————————|
1 & 2 & 1 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &


G |————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
D |————————|————————|————————|————————|5———————| Repeat G root and fifth for awhile
A |5———————|5—————5—|3———————|————5———|————5———|
E |————5———|————5———|————3———|3———————|————————|
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &

Repeat Intro twice, then chorus, then Verse 2, then Chorus.

Tablature player for this song:
Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire (ver 3) Bass Tab

About Johnny Cash

John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003), born J. R. Cash, was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Although he is primarily remembered as a country music artist, his songs and sound spanned many other genres including rockabilly and rock and roll—especially early in his career—as well as blues, folk, and gospel. Late in his career, Cash covered songs by several rock artists, among them the industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails and the synthpop band Depeche Mode.

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 Ring of Fire

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