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Misc — 12 Bar Walking Bass Scale bass tabs



Nothing too hard, good for beginers, and once you master it there are many variations

Its really just one motion in 3 different places along the bass.

G|————————— |—————————|
D|———————4— |—7—4—————| X2
A|———4—7——— |—————7—4—|
E|—5——————— |—————————|

G|———————4— |—7——————|
D|———4—7——— |——4—7———| X1
A|—5——————— |——————4—|
E|————————— |————————|

(repeat first 2 bars)

G|————————— |—————————|
D|———————4— |—7—4—————| X1
A|———4—7——— |—————7—4—|
E|—5——————— |—————————|

G|———————6—|
D|———6—9———| X1
A|—7———————|
E|—————————|

(repeat of the same motion 2 frets over)

G|———————4—|
D|———4—7———| X1
A|—5———————|
E|—————————|

(repeat first 2 bars again)

G|————————— |—————————|
D|———————4— |—7—4—————| X1
A|———4—7——— |—————7—4—|
E|—5——————— |—————————|

There are many variations for this 12 bar riff. one variation is to play the same peice
only backwards. it still has the same base notes, and will work to the same song, only
sounds a little different. you could also change the first note in the second bar to the
5th fret, which would look like this:
G|————————— |—————————| which sounds a little different, but once again, would still
D|———————4— |—5—4—————| work in a blues scale. another thing that you can change is the
A|———4—7——— |—————7—4—| last 2 bars to make a different closing to the scale. there are
E|—5——————— |—————————| a lot of different ones, but this is my opinion is the easiest:
(play the notes as doubles, not individual notes)
G|———————————————————|———————| this is to replace that 11th and 12th bars only. when you
D|———————————————————|———————| play it, pause after the first bar, and play the last 3
A|—————4—4—5—5—6—6—7—|—5—6—7—| notes quickly. and now you are a masta of the 12 bar blues
E|—5—5———————————————|———————| scale.
Tablature player for this song:
Misc - 12 Bar Walking Bass Scale  Bass Tab

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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