bass solo from Paul Simon's Call me Al (off of Graceland)
                        transcribed by me [email protected]

this bass solo is two measures long, but the bassist (Bakithi Kumalo) only
played the first measure. The engineer flipped the tape and recorded the first
measure backwards, forming a musical palindrome.  this is a close
approximation of the solo.  It's what Bakithi played on the live versions

it's played slapstyle on a washburn fretless 4string. The first measure is
four triplets. using a slap—hammer on—pop approach.  the second measure
consists of three triplets using a slap—pulloff—pop approach.  The last beat
of measure two is straight sixteenth notes
listen to the solo and see if you can hear the backwards sounding delay on the
last beat that tips off the this busy lick's studio—processed genesis

G:——3——5—|——————————3—————————————————————————————————————|———————————————————
———————————————————————————5——3——|
D:—————————|——3——5——————————————3——————————————————————————|——————————————————
———————————————X———5——3——————————|
A:—————————|——————————————3——5———————————————3——————————1—|—————————X—————————
—X———5——3——————————————————————|
E:—————————|———————————————————————————3——5———————1——3————|——3——1——————5——3———
———————————————————————————————|

Remember—know matter how impossibly busy a riff sounds, it was played by a
mortal, and can be figured out.

About Paul Simon

Yamaha PS Signature Models

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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Paul Simon — Call Me Al bass tabs