Bass Tapping Lessons For Beginners Bass Tabs


For starters, do an open hammer on on your G string. Good , you 
just tapped your first note. Now practice making it sound clear 
and defined, and get used to trying to stop the note. Now, since 
U has a different right hand approach, I'll give you mine and 
with time you will develop your own. I usually wear my bass low, 
but when it comes time to tap, the strap goes up. Not super high, 
just a comfortable high.

Now position your right arm almost parrallel to the strings, 
and find a position where you will note be muting them. Go ahead 
and tap the 9th fret on the G string, and practice starting, holding, 
and ending the note properly. It should be as clear and controlled 
as note played conventionally. Take the time to make sure you 
have this written down, most players like to skip this part and 
then never learn to tap correctly. This part is crucial, so if 
it takes you a weeks to get it perfect, practice for two before 
moving on.





G——9———9———9——9——|
D——————————————————|
A——————————————————|
E——————————————————|


 Probably the technique most used in tapping is a pull—off. RIght 
now you're going "I already know how to do a pull—off,  Well, you 
can if you want to, but you will be a little lost later on, because 
pulling off from a tapped note is a lot different than pulling 
off a fretted note. When you pull off a tapped note, you want to 
slide the tapping finger (RH) off the string, in order to give 
the note more volume. So practice catching pull—offs, and the 
finger slide, (the 15 is right hand, 12 is left hand)


G——14p11—14p11—14p11——|
D—————————————————————|
A—————————————————————|
E—————————————————————|





G——14p11h13p11—14p11h13p11——|
D———————————————————————————|
A———————————————————————————|
E———————————————————————————|


Again, really simple, but that riff right there will be impressive 
once you get it up to speed, and will provide a basis for you to 
get your own riffs going.

Practice really is key to getting tapping down, just like you 
had to build up muscles to slap, and even play fingerstyle, your 
hands have to get used to tapping. Eventually, you will find 
it coming naturally, and after that your playing ability will 
multiply. Hope this was helpful..

One more thing, once you get tapping down, and I don't recomend 
this while learning because it will hide your mistakes, is turning 
on some distortion, nothing comletes a tapping line like some 
fuzz to blend it all together. I personally prefer to set my EQ 
flat, with a moderate amount of disortion , and tap away. Have fun.

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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