From the album _Birds of Fire_

FIG. 1 (intro/main riff)

G—————————————————————————————————————————
D—————————————————————————————————————————
A———————————————————0—2—2—0———2—2—2—0—2———
E———5—5—3—0—5—5—5—3—————————2—————————————

FIG. 2 (play eight times during John's guitar solo and then go back to fig. 1)

G—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
D—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
A———0—0—0—0—————0—0—0—0———0—2—2—2—2—0—1—2—2—2—2—0—2———
E———————————3—4—————————3—————————————————————————————

FIG. 3 (ride—off, once finished, start the riff again)

G———
D———2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—
A———
E———

G———————————————————————————
D———————————————————————————
A———3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—1—3—4———
E———————————————————————————

A great fusion riff. If you have friends who play guitar, keys, drums and violin, just 
let them jam over it, just like Rick Laird did. Have fun!

About Mahavishnu Orchestra

The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz-rock fusion group, led by John McLaughlin, that debuted in 1971, dissolved in 1976 and reunited from 1984 to 1987.

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! 🎸

Forum

Mahavishnu Orchestra — Birds Of Fire bass tabs