Self Control Bass Tabs - Laura Branigan @ BigBassTabs.com

Song: Self Control
Artist: Laura Branigan
Album: Self Control (1984)
Bassist: Nathan East
Tabbed by LoudLon for BigBassTabs.com

5—string standard (BEADG)

PERFORMANCE NOTE: You'll notice all the verses, pre—choruses
and choruses are the exact same riff, all played staccato.
As such, rather than copy and paste the same four measures over
and over, I chose instead to simply provide the riff up front,
and then indicate how many times to play it in each section.
Any other riffs will be provided as they appear in the song.

LEGEND:
h = hammer on
. = staccato (appears above bar)


THE RIFF:
    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .     .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————4———————4———————4———————4———|—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————————————|—————4———————4———————4———————4———|
E |—2———————2———————2———————2———————|—————————————————————————————————|
B |—————————————————————————————————|—2———————2———————2———————2———————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .     .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————4———————4———————4———————4———|—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————————————|—————4———————4———————4———————4———|
E |—2———————2———————2———————2———————|—————————————————————————————————|
B |—————————————————————————————————|—2———————2———————2———————2———————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .     .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|—————9———————9———————9———————9———|
A |—————7———————7———————7———————7———|—————————————————————————————————|
E |—————————————————————————————————|—7———————7———————7———————7———————|
B |—5———————5———————5———————5———————|—————————————————————————————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .     .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|—————7———————7———————7———————7———|
A |—————5———————5———————5———————5———|—————————————————————————————————|
E |—————————————————————————————————|—5———————5———————5———————5———————|
B |—3———————3———————3———————3———————|—————————————————————————————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

And now on to the song...


INTRO:
              (Rest x10)
G |—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————————————|
E |—————————————————————————————————|
B |—r———————————————————————————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE—VERSE (x2):

G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————0———————|—————————————————————————————————|
E |—2—————2—0———2———————0h2—————————|—————————————————————————0———————|
B |—————————————————————————————————|—2—————2—0———2———————0h2—————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


VERSE 1 — THE RIFF x1

VERSE 2 — THE RIFF x1

PRE—VERSE — THE RIFF x1

VERSE 3 — THE RIFF x1

CHORUS 1 — THE RIFF x2

BRIDGE (x2):
                                 ( x2 )                                            (Rest x4)
G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————||—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————||—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————||—————————————————————————————————|
E |—r———————2———————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————||—————————————————————————————————|
B |—————————————————————————————————|—r———————2———————————————————————||—r———————————————————————————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &      1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

VERSE 4 — THE RIFF x1

PRE—CHORUS — THE RIFF x1

CHORUS 2 — THE RIFF x2

PRE—OUTRO (x2):

G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
E |—r———————2———————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
B |—————————————————————————————————|—r———————2———————————————————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


OUTRO (Repeat to fade—out):
    .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .     .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .
G |—————————————————————————————————|—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————4———————4———————4———————4———|—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————————————|—————4———————4———————4———————4———|
E |—2———————2———————2———————2———————|—————————————————————————————————|
B |—————————————————————————————————|—2———————2———————2———————2———————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

Follow along with the song:

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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Laura Branigan — Self Control bass tabs