I'm New: How Do You Read The Bass Tabs

[CKH]

I'm new to the bass section of LGM. How do u read the Bass tabs on here

[malthumb]

Jeremyr & Mysteryman,

Maybe you can consider adding a sticky or a FAQ on "How To Read Tab"  and "How To Read Charts" ?

This would be my contribution for the "How Do You Read Tabs" FAQ / Sticky (clipped from an earlier post)

The strings on a 5 string bass are usually tuned from B (thickest) to G (thinnest).  A 4 string bass would not have a B string.
The lines on TAB refer to each string, and to the fret position, counting up from the headstock towards the body.
0 = play the string open, without holding down a fret position.  1 = play the first fret on the string.  2 = play the 2nd fret on the string......

Here's an example:

Listen to the intro to Donnie McClurkin's "I Call You Faithful" and follow along with this tab.....

G:l ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
D:l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4/6
A:l --------(3)-3--4-----4-----------------------(3)-3--4-----------(3)-3--4------4--------------------------(3)-3--4-----
E:l ---3H4-------------4---4--6--4------3H4------------------3H4-------------4-----4--6--4---------3H4-----------------
B:l 4-------------------------------6---4----------------------4--------------------------------------6---4-----------------------


First you play the 4th fret on the B string
Then you play the 3rd fret on the E string and hammer on the 4th fret (pluck the E while holding your middle finger on the 3rd fret, then put your ring finger on the 4th fret)
Then play a ghost note on the 3rd fret of the A string (when you play the note, you mute it by not holding it all the way down)
Then play the 3rd fret on the A string
Then play the 4th fret on the A string

I think you can figure it out from there.

Peace,

James

[malthumb]

And this would be my contribution to a "How Do I Read Charts?" FAQ / Sticky....


When you look at a chart, see what key it is charted in.  For example, if a chart is written for a song in the key of "Db", then wherever you see a "1" in the chart, you can play a "Db".  For a 4 string bass, your lowest "Db" is the 4th fret on your A string.  For a 5 string bass, your lowest Db is the 2nd fret on your B string.

Now, everything else is relative to where you started, based USUALLY (but not always) on your MAJOR SCALE.

So, if you know where your Db is, and you know how to play a major scale, starting with Db, then you can follow the chart by playing the chord positions.  If the chart is written to play  " 1----1-----4---5--1", I know that the notes are "Db----Db-----Gb---Ab--Db"

Now, the beauty of charts is that if my MOM says "We ain't doin' it in Db.  I don't like Db.  We're doin' it in Ab", I already know how to play it, because I just move the figure from a Db root note to an Ab root note, but the relative position of the notes is the same.  Now " 1----1-----4---5--1" becomes "Ab----Ab-----Db---Eb--Ab".  As long as I know where to find those notes on the fingerboard I can play the song.

If you are looking for exactly which fret to play on a particular song, tab helps with that.  IMHO tab is much more limiting than charts.  Charts at least provide incentive for learning your scales.

Peace,

James

[willis06]

Hi everyone I am not new to LGM but I am new to the Bass Guitar I have a four string Bass and I've found chords and tabs you all have posted but I don't know how to read any of this can someone please explain to me what this means

Intro
-----------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------1---|
-----------------------------|--8--6---------------------|-------------1-3-5-1------|
--------------------6--8---|---------8-6-8-------------|--1-3-4-5-----------------|
--4-4-6____8----------|-----------------8-6-4-11-|---------------------------4|

How do I know what to do and what does the numbers mean

[DWBass]

The 4 lines represent the 4 strings on your bass. The numbers represent the fret positions you should be playing. For example the above starts on the E string 4th position/fret (G#/Ab), then to the 6th. position/fret (B) and so on and so forth. Tab is sort of a cheat sheet on how to play a line. You should learn to read actual music staff. You should learn and memorize all the notes and note positions on your instrument. And most of all, develop your ear as it is probably the most important aspect of your playing because many times, no music will be available and you'll have to rely on your ear to develop or learn a bass line.

[DWBass]

I'm sorry, 6th. position/fret on the E string is Bb/A#.

[bopeuph]

You know, being a music reader, I haven't fully learned to read tab with efficiency.  One thing: is there a way that rhythm is notated in tab?  I don't see it, just sometimes barlines are involved.  If only tab is available, I'd rather learn it by ear.

Nick

[jeremyr]

You know, being a music reader, I haven't fully learned to read tab with efficiency.  One thing: is there a way that rhythm is notated in tab?  I don't see it, just sometimes barlines are involved.  If only tab is available, I'd rather learn it by ear.

Nick

You only get a sense of rythm if the taber puts the lyrics above the tabs and tabs to the words.  Then if you've heard the song you can just play along with ti that way.  The problem with that is that 99% of the time you don't get the lyrics.

[CKH]

Wat about the second line like if u have the G/-2---3-----------4---------5----------7------3-----2----1-                                                              ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                           D/-----------------------------------------------------------
Wat about the second line under the G is that a second part or is it played at the same time as the first line. Somebody clue me in on this

[malthumb]

Wat about the second line like if u have the G/-2---3-----------4---------5----------7------3-----2----1-                                                              ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                           D/-----------------------------------------------------------
Wat about the second line under the G is that a second part or is it played at the same time as the first line. Somebody clue me in on this

Ignore it.  It just means the screen wrapped around and put the endof the G string line on another line.

[IGotSkillzJustNeedDatPush]

Im lost a little bit.  In this, why wouldnt i play the 3rd fret on the E string first?  Why do i play the 4th fret on the B string first?  And am i supposed to read this up and down or left to right?

Listen to the intro to Donnie McClurkin's "I Call You Faithful" and follow along with this tab.....

G:l ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
D:l--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4/6
A:l --------(3)-3--4-----4-----------------------(3)-3--4-----------(3)-3--4------4--------------------------(3)-3--4-----
E:l ---3H4-------------4---4--6--4------3H4------------------3H4-------------4-----4--6--4---------3H4-----------------
B:l 4-------------------------------6---4----------------------4--------------------------------------6---4-----------------------


First you play the 4th fret on the B string
Then you play the 3rd fret on the E string and hammer on the 4th fret (pluck the E while holding your middle finger on the 3rd fret, then put your ring finger on the 4th fret)
Then play a ghost note on the 3rd fret of the A string (when you play the note, you mute it by not holding it all the way down)
Then play the 3rd fret on the A string
Then play the 4th fret on the A string

I think you can figure it out from there.

Peace,

James

[malthumb]

Im lost a little bit.  In this, why wouldnt i play the 3rd fret on the E string first?  Why do i play the 4th fret on the B string first?  And am i supposed to read this up and down or left to right?

No.  Because of the length of the verse that I chose to tap, it wraps around on some people's computer screens. You may notice that reading left to right, the "4" on th eB string line is the first note you see.  Then the "3" on the E string line is played and you hammor on the "4" on the E string.  Then you play a ghost note (3) at the 3rd fret on the A string, then the 4th note on the A string. 

Peace,

James