This tab is off the live recording of 
Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness"

Tabbed by Reda Woodcock ([email protected])

"This is a song that I want to dedicate to all the miniskirts" —Otis


Oh, she may be weary...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D—————7——7——5———————————7——7————————————
A—7————————————8——7——7——————————————————
E—————————————————————————————8——9——10——


Try a little tenderness...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D———————————7—————5————————5————————————
A————————7—————5—————7——5—————8——7——7——7
E—10——7—————————————————————————————————


But while she's there waiting...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D—7——7————————5—————5——5————————————————
A———————5——5——————————————8——7——5———————
E————————————————8—————————————————8————


Now it might be a little sentimental...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D————————————————7——7———————————————————
A——————————7——7—————————————————————————
E—8——7——7——————————————8——8——7——7——5—5—5


It makes it easier to...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D————5——5————————7——7————————5——————————
A—5————————7——7————————5——5—————8——7——7—
E———————————————————————————————————————


But it's all so easy...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D—7——7——————————————————————————————————
A———————5——5———————————9——8——7—7—7—7/———
E—————————————7——7——7———————————————————


OUTRO:

You gotta hold her...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D———————————————————————————————————————
A—0—0——2—2——3—3——4—4——5—5——6—6——7—7——8—9
E———————————————————————————————————————


Tenderness...
G———————————————————————————————————————
D———————————————————————————————————————
A—10—10—10——8—8—8——7—7—7—7——9/2—2———————
E———————————————————————————————————————

(repeat outro, breaking at A—5 while Otis goes nuts)

About Otis Redding

Otis Ray Redding, Jr. (September 9, 1941 December 10, 1967) was an American soul singer. Often called the "King of Soul", he is renowned for an ability to convey strong emotion through his voice. According to the website of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (where he was inducted in 1989), Redding's name is "synonymous with the term soul, music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm and blues into a form of funky, secular testifying." In addition, rock critic Jon Landau said in 1967, "Otis Redding is rock & roll". Redding died in a plane crash at the age of 26, one month before his biggest hit, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay", was released.

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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Otis Redding — Try A Little Tenderness bass tabs