
The solo is a series of 1/16th notes played with triplet
emphasis

You may have heard that the last half of the solo is the front
part played backwards.  That's mostly true —— the first
three notes of the second measure are not repeated.
(The "X" at the end of the first measure may or may not be
included, but it's hard to tell).

Given this, there is no "right" way to play this as it sounds
on the recording.  I have included the second measure with
its dynamics.  Surprisingly, it is playable, and probably
really good practice for your slap bass "chops".


First measure (played as recorded):

       P     S  S      S  s      S   S      S  S

|——————3—h5———————————————————————————————————————————|
|————————————0——3——h5—————————————————————————————————|
|——————————————————————0——3——h5—————————————0——X——————|
|————————————————————————————————X———3——h5————————————|
  1    +     2     +      3      +      4      +

Second measure :

   S  S   S  S  S      S  S      S  S      S  S      P     S 

|————————————————————————————————————————————————h5——3——|——————
|—————————0——X—————————————————————————h5——3——0—————————|——3———
|——3——h5————————0————————————h5——3——0———————————————————|——————
|——————————————————h5——3——5—————————————————————————————|——————
   1      +     2      +     3      +      4     +         1


If you go back and listen to the original recording, the bass
player plays this so fast and clearly it's amazing.

By the way, I spent hours looking at this with SlowGold; I
would bet my life on the accuracy of the non—"x" notes in
this transcription (not the fingering, though... who knows
that the original bass player really did).

Regards,
Dean Matsen

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 — You Can Call Me Al (the Real Bass Solo) bass tabs