"1999"
by Prince (now known as O(+>, The Artist)
from the album 1999
original bass player on the album: none other then O(+> himself
original bass player in concerts at that time:  Dez
arranged for bass tab by Jean—Michel Baker

here is 1999 by The Artist from his Prince days, most of the Revolution play
on this album.
this song sounds better played an 8ve lower, which can b done by using an
upright bass setting on a digital mixer through an amp, but it really doesn't
make that much of a difference.

intro: 
this is how i play the intro.   if u went an extended intro add the 2nd part
on2 the end of the 1st.

    w +  h + q   s s  s s   w+w         2nd part:      w+h  + q   s  s s s
w+q   q  h
A| 3  |——3————3———————1————| 3 | 3 |                         A| 3
|——3————3———————1———| 3 |——3——r——r |
E |     |———————————r— 3————3 |    |    |                         E |
|———————————r— 3———3 |    |              |


verse riff:
this is how i play the verse.

      q   s   e  e   s  e   s  s  s   s
D|——————3——3—————3——3——1——————————  |
A|——————————————————————————3——1——0—|   repeated as much as needed
E |——1—————————1————————————————————— |

1 of my friends Nsists that it is played another slightly more complex way.
which i may post if anyone wants me 2.


chorus: 
on the album the chorus is played a few different ways. only the first 2
measures r different each time, so i'm not going 2 recopy the 3rd measure
every time

the first way:                           3rd measure
      q  q  q   q      q  q  q   q     q   s   e  e   s  e   s   s  s  s
D|————————————————|————————————————|——————3——3—————3——3——1———————————|
A|——1——1——1——1——|——5——5——5——5——|——————————————————————————3——1——0—|   
E |————————————————|————————————————|——1—————————1—————————————————————|

the 2nd way:
      e e e e  e e e e     e  e e e e e e e
D|——————————————————————|—————————————————————|
A|——1—1—1—1—1—1—1—1—|—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|      3rd measure
E |——————————————————————|—————————————————————|

the 3rd way:

G |————3———3———3———3—|————7———7———7———7—|
D|————————————————————|————————————————————|    3rd measure
A|——1———1———1———1———|——5———5———5———5———|
E |————————————————————|————————————————————|

NE questions, comments, etc... emale me @     [email protected]
soon 2 come "movie Star" from the crystal ball album.
if anybody knows any other O(+> songs that r not posted, please post them.

About Prince

Prince (born Prince Rogers Nelson; June 7, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He has been known under the unpronounceable symbol , which he used between 1993 and 2000. This name change invoked controversy and many referred to him as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince", often abbreviated to "TAFKAP", or simply "The Artist" during that period.

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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Prince — 1999 bass tabs