U2: Cartoon World
From the Album(s): "Boy (Deluxe Edition)" & "The Dream Come True Volume 1"



NOTE: Because "Boy" only has "Cartoon World" and "The Dream Comes True" has the
entire Dublin concert, the timing may be off by a second or so for people listening
to "The Dream Comes True" version.

Cartoon World is a 1980 live song by U2. It has never been recorded in the studio,
and has only been recorded from U2's 1980 concert at Dublin's National Stadium. This,
along with Jack In the Box, are the only two songs played at the concert which were
never recorded. (Though many tracks played in this concert underwent lyrical and
name—related changes.) It is often considered U2's first signature song (alongside
"The Fool"), and what many people believe to be the inspiration for "Out of Control".
It also features Adam Clayton's first bass solo, which is 24 seconds long.

Intro  (0:10 — 0:16) x2
G|——————————————|
D|——————————1———|
A|—3—31—3—31—1—1|
E|——————————————|

Prelude (0:16 — 0:18) x2
G|————————————————|
D|————————————————| 
A|—3—3—3—3—1—1—1—1|
E|————————————————|

Second Prelude (0:18 — 0:26) x2
G|———————————————|
D|———1———1———————|
A|—3——31—————————|
E|———————————————|

Learn the three riffs above and you're good for ALMOST the entire song. May it be
noted that in order to play the song correctly, you have to return from the first
fret on the D string to the third / first fret on the the A string really fast. It
takes practice doing this without running into other strings ;)

Mr, Burk is off to work... (0:26 — 0:28) x1
G|——————————————|
D|——————————1———|
A|—3—31—3—31—1—1|
E|——————————————|

He Carries Papers....(0:29 — 0:31) x2 (I can't be entirely sure about this area in
particular.)
G|——————————————|
D|——————————————|
A|—3—3—1—3—3—3—1—3|
E|——————————————|

Carrier Bag... (0:32 — 0:34) x1
G|——————————————|
D|——————————1———|
A|—3—31—3—31—1—1|
E|——————————————|

Mr. Postman Takes... (0:35 — 0:37) x1
G|———————————————|
D|———1———1———————|
A|—3——31—————————|
E|———————————————|

Verse (0:38 — 0:41) x1
G|——————————————|
D|——————————1———|
A|—3—31—3—31—1—1|
E|——————————————|

Those Angry Dogs... (0:41 — 0:43) x1
G|————————————————|
D|————————————————|
A|—3—3—1—3—3—3—1—3|
E|————————————————|

Verse (0:44 — 0:47) x2
G|——————————————|
D|——————————1———|
A|—3—31—3—31—1—1|
E|——————————————|

Chorus (0:48 — 1:02) x5
G|——————————————|
D|——————————————|
A|—1—1—1—1—1—1—1—1—0—0—0—0—0—0—3|
E|——————————————|

....The rest of the song basically repeats that same rhythm with different lyrics.
(The first prelude is not used throughout the rest of the song.) Now it's time to
speed ahead to Adam's solo.

Mr. Clayton's Solo (2:21 — 2:46) x16
G|———————————————|
D|———1———1———————|
A|—3——31—————————|
E|———————————————|

Outro
G|——————————————————————|
D|——————————————————————|
A|—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3|
E|——————————————————————|

You wanna slam on the last 3 to really give that good ending effect. That's it.
Please contact me if you find anything to be slightly wrong with this tab, or if you
have any comments / recommendations. [email protected].



 bigbasstabs.

About U2

U2 are a rock band from Dublin, Ireland. The group consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion).

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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U2 — Cartoon World bass tabs