Dance Little Sister Bass Tabs - Terence Trent D'Arby @ BigBassTabs.com

Song: Dance Little Sister
Artist: Terence Trent D'arby
Album: Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'arby (1987)
Bassist: ???
Tabbed by LoudLon for Big BassTabs.com

Standard tuning (EADG)

NOTE: Three bassists are credited for having worked on the album but it's not
specified which one played this particular song.  If you happen to know which
one played this track, please drop me a line here at BBT's so I can credit him 
accordingly. Thanks.

NOTE 2: With the exception of the third chorus, there's ony one riff used for
this song.  Rather than copy and paste it over and over, I've chosen instead 
to provide it once in full, and notate how many times its played per section.

LEGEND:
r = rest

MAIN RIFF:

G |—————————————————————————————————|————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|————————————————————————————————|
A |—5—————————————————————————————0—|—5——————————————————————————————|
E |—————8———7—6———5—r———————————————|—————8———7—6———5—r—6—r—7—r—8————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


INTRO (Drums, spoken word & Synth):

               (Rest x9)
G |—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————|
A |—————————————————————————————————|
E |—r———————————————————————————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

— PRE—VERSE: Riff x4

— VERSE 1: Riff x8

— CHORUS 1: Riff x4

— PRE—VERSE: Riff x4

— VERSE 2: Riff x8

— CHORUS 2: Riff x4

— INTERLUDE: Riff x4

CHORUS 3 (x2): 
                                                 (Rest x3)
G |—————————————————————————————————||—————————————————————————————————|
D |—————————————————————————————————||—————————————————————————————————|
A |—5———\———r———————————————————————||—————————————————————————————————|
E |—————————————————————————————————||—r———————————————————————————————|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &      1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

— CHORUS 4: Riff x8

— OUTRO: Repeat riff to fade—out 

Follow along with the song:

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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Terence Trent D'Arby — Dance Little Sister bass tabs