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Misc — Jazz Band Solo bass tabs

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When I the in the 8th grade Jazz Band, my brothers pressured me
into writing and playing an eight measure solo to play as a fill
during the part that was suppose to be a sax solo but had been left
unfilled. I was desperate for a good part because this was my
first time playing any kind of solo piece in front of an audience.
I wasn't that good at the time and messed it up during the concert
but I got down in time to play it at three more concerts later that
year. It is still one of my favorite non—slapped solos.


————————3——————————————3———————————————————————————————————
——5\3—5———5——————5\3—5———5——5\3——3/5——3————————————————————
————————————345————————————————————————————————————————————
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

——————8——————10——14h15p14———————————————————————————————
————8——————10——————————————————12———————————————————————
——6—————8——————————————————10—————10—8—10——10\8—8/10—8——
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

——————12—10————10/12———————————10————————————————————————
————————————12———————10——11——12——————————————————————————
——10—————————————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

—————12/15—12—10—12——12\10——10/12—10————15————10—10h12—10————10————
—————————————————————————————————————13————13—————————————12———————
—10————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

——————————————————15\———————————————————
——5——3————————————15\———————————————————
———————5—3————————15\———————————————————
———————————6—4————15\——————————————————— Strike 15th fret with palm and slide down neck.
Tablature player for this song:
Misc - Jazz Band Solo 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! 🎸

Comments

7 years, 8 months ago
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Do you have chords that go with them?

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