Rolling Stones
Wild Horses
(Mick Jagger / Keith Richards)

This song is a pretty easy song to play on bass just as long as you know where to play all 
the notes. You might want to listen to "Wild Horses" and play it to start out with just 
to get aquainted with everything. This is a slow song so don't try to got too fast. It might 
sound better on an acoustic.

Intro:
———0———0———
———————————
———————————
—0———0———0—

Verse: 
1. Childhood living is easy....
2. I watched you suffer....
3. I know I dreamed you....

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————5—7—5—7(hammer on)9—5(slide)7—7—7———————————5—5—————————————
—2—0—————0—2—5—7———————————————————————————————————2—3—3—5—5—————3(slide)5—3—
—————3—3—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Chorus: 
Wild horses couldn't drag....

———————————————————————————————————————————————
—————————————————————5—5—3—3———————————————————
—0—0—0—2—3—3—3—3—5—5—————————2(slide)3—3—3—2—2—
———————————————————————————————————————————————

Bridge:

—————————4—5—————————4—5—5—5———————————————————————
—0—2—3—5—————0—2—3—5—————————0—0—5—5—5—7—9—7—5———5—
———————————————————————————————————————————————7———
———————————————————————————————————————————————————

The song goes in the following order:

Verse 1
Chorus
Verse 2
Chorus
Bridge
Verse 3
Chorus
Bridge
Chorus

Here are the lyrics if you need them in addition to the tab. I would suggest that if you 
need to know where to play the notes that you go through the song and listen while making 
marks next on the lyrics:

(Intro)

Verse 1:
Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you 
Graceless lady you know who I am 
You know I can't let you slide through my hands

Chorus:
Wild horses couldn't drag me away 
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away

Verse 2:
I watched you suffer a dull aching pain 
Now you decided to show me the same 
No sweeping exits or offstage lines 
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

Chorus:
Wild horses couldn't drag me away 
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away

(Bridge)

Verse 3:
I know I dreamed you a sin and a lie 
I have my freedom but I don't have much time 
Faith has been broken, tears must be cried 
Let's do some living after we die

Chorus:
Wild horses couldn't drag me away 
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away

(Bridge)

Chorus:
Wild horses couldn't drag me away 
Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away

About Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in April 1962 in London when guitarist and harmonica player Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart joined vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. After signing to Decca Records in 1963, the band changed their name from "The Rollin' Stones" to "The Rolling Stones". Band members and others often refer to the band as "The Stones".

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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Rolling Stones — Wild Horses bass tabs