Log in    Register    Home  Site Map  Contact Us    Guitar    Bass    Piano    Drums    Forum Browse Bands Top Bands Top Songs Charts New Tabs Pending Tabs Requests Submit Tab Top Tabbers How to Read Tabs Forum Links FAQ About FindTabs Contact Us       Bass Tabs Bass > How to read tabs Bands:  1-9  A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  How To Read Bass Tabs How to Read and Write Bass Tabs Jon Craven (nojnevarc@hotmail.com, www.geocities.com/larsramirez2001) Tablature is the lazy person's approach to music (or so I have heard from true 'musicians'). It shows the notes to a song as well as how to play it, which, I think, is more helpful than looking at a staff or just listening to the song. Another advantage would be that someone else has done the work for you (which can be a bad thing). I get so frustrated when I go to look for a tab and can't find it or I do find it and see that someone has also included their life story or religious beliefs (a nice way of saying useless info to the reader) as a substitute for the parts of the song they left out. I find that almost 90% of tabs on the net are poorly done. There are parts all over, parts that don't exist, and what is there is just generally wrong. If you can't figure out a song (and have it sound close), then don't submit it. It's a waste of everyone's time. I am by no means an expert (I'll be 17 as of November 10, 01). I have been playing bass for close to a year (since Jan. 26, 2000), and I've been tabbing almost as long. It has taken me the better half of a year to refine my tabbing style, but I find it helps to get feel of the song the song, plus, by adding all of the little runs and stuff you can entertain your friends and make them think you made it up. Basic things to do: -Besides the song and band name I've added when the bass enters, so you can follow the CD and come in almost exactly when it does. -If the song isn't in 4/4 time (which most songs are) then you should state that right off the bat after when the bass part comes in (and it's good to make note of the timing of each riff where the time changes). -I make the measures with the strings labeled from high to low (G D A E B {I play a 5-string}). Just in case you don't know, the letters represent the tuning of that string, and the number represents the fret played on that string. -I label the different riffs (if there is a small change in a riff then I write the entire riff out once more as the next riff) and place everything as it happens in the song so you can learn as you go as well as see the progression of the song. It's hard to follow a tab when above you have all of the riffs but below you have the order of the song (plus it takes up more room; try to be as minimalistic as possible, it doesn't waste as much paper when printing and it looks better and takes up less room as a file). -Sometimes there are different parts to songs within a song, like take for example Coma Black: a)Eden Eye (and then later on) b)The Apple of Discord. In songs where that is the situation, repeat when you would do above (but don't put the band name and that kind of thing). See the bottom of this for an example. -After I've done all of that I figure out the timing of each riff (actually it's good to do it as you go). It helps to follow the song exactly when you play. Some songs can be tricky to time, so listen to the drummer as closely as you can. -At then end of the song, I put 'Break till end', because some songs hold the last note for a little bit. Adding the end of a song (in this case it's that last note) just goes with the idea of transcribing the ENTIRE song. -As a form of checking your work, try playing things an octave higher (if you don't know about octaves, play the same note only two strings down and two frets over. If it sounds the same an octave higher, then you got it right. Another checking method is to try recording yourself playing the song. Play it back and then you'll see if you've got it. I tried it, and it points out your weak points so as to improve on them, but more importantly it points out your strong parts, as well as if you can play in time with the song. What works for me may not necessarily work for you, but try it anyway. That takes care of pretty much everything, but there is one more thing. I usually go back over a song using headphones so I can get every note (hence the fills and everything). A tab is supposed to be the ENTIRE SONG, and that's what I try to get. I take my time with the song till I have gone over it many times and nailed everything. God created the earth in six days, and it was good . . . but not perfect. Tabs are similar in that you can't just fire them off one after another, they take time. I hope no one was bothered by the God comment, and I'm sure that God won't mind, even though I don't believe. Here are some other points I wanted to include: -In sheet music (not that I read the stuff), pretty much everything I have outlined is included (timing, notes, slides, etc.). There is a reason that musicians do that you know. -Don't include useless information in a tab). Don't include the name of the CD, which members of the band wrote the song, and so on, it's just useless information. The person reading the tab is interested in playing the song, not doing a research paper on who wrote it. And if someone was trying to play the song, you'd think they would have the CD, but if it's an unreleased or hard to find song, then you might want to include where it came from (album wise) because it might be useful to know how to track it down (I'd know). Again on useless info, no one needs to know that a certain musician prefers cereal and toast in the morning. What I mean is that you don't need to add whether he/she uses a pick, a fretless instrument, a 5 string instrument or a 7 string instrument, your letters at the beginning of the measure can say that (as far as the # of strings that is). And the same goes for the tuning. Don't bother saying half step down, dropped D, any of that stuff. Just throw it before the measure. Here's an example of what I mean: Dropped D tuning Tuned a step down 1 1/2 steps down G:------------| F:------------| E:-------------| D:------------| C:------------| B:-------------| A:------------| G:------------| Gb:------------| D:-x--x--x--x-| D:-x--x--x--x-| Db:-x--x--x--x-| The idea is that if a strings letter is say E, then that string is tuned to E, not something else. What I'm getting at is that it should be understood that the letter represents the tunning of that string, and you shouldn't need to say anything. And another thing about tunning down is that you can't have a sharp when you tune down. What I mean is that when you tune the E string down a step and a half it should be a Db (D flat) not a C# (C sharp). Although they are the same not (one lower than a D but one higher than a C), it's not right to say that tunning down gives you a sharp. Finally, don't leave wasted space in the tab. By that I mean, instead of having two sets of measures (one on top of the other), put the bottom one after the top one. Try to go right to the margin. Here's what I mean: Instead of having: G:------------|------------|------------| D:------------|------------|------------| A:------------|------------|------------| E:-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-| G:------------|------------|------------| D:------------|------------|------------| A:------------|------------|------------| E:-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-| Change to: G:------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------| D:------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------| A:------------|------------|------------|------------|------------|------------| E:-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-| Along with the tab at the bottom, I've added (on top of the tab) the bar I use to make sure that the tab will fit on one page, so that parts don't get cut off when printing. (I made it so that it fits a printed page horizontally, but for the vertical part, you'll have to print it and adjust it accordingly) It's made for a page printed off the net with the browser font set on smallest, or with a word processor set on Courier 8. If you're using the bar I made, be sure to delete it when you're done because it's distracting (and if submitting, it's another unnecessary thing). One last thing not to do: (or other versions of this) G|:------------|------------|------------|| D|:------------|------------|------------|| A|:------------|------------|------------|| E|:-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|-x--x--x--x-|| Just stick with the examples I've made, and don't have other lines and such within the measure. And don't have the riff centered; because our eyes read left to right (starting at the measure) it makes it slightly harder. Centering is good for headings, not so much for tabs. Legend (the standard features of most tabs, other things are labeled special): *=let ring. Each one represents half a note (see below). ~=bend note. Same deal as letting a note ring. /=slide up \=slide down h=hammer on p=pull off R=rest x=Most of the time it represents a dead note, but you don't find many of them in bass. Timing: (examples of most things you'll see in 4/4 time. For 3/4 and 2/4 time, just take of the last note{s}. And I can't help with anything higher than 4/4 {such as 12/8}) 1 2 3 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1&2&3&4& G:------------| G:-----------------| G:----------| D:------------| D:-----------------| D:----------| A:------------| A:-----------------| A:----------| E:-#--#--#--#-| E:-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-#-| E:-#*******-| I find these easier to read because there isn't four or five spaces between whole notes, and plus it follows a pattern, so you know the timing of the riff just by looking at the spaces between the notes. (note: the below bar is the one used to make the tab fit a page; just to make sure, it should be 97 lines long) |--------|---------|---------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|----------|------- (I featured this tab to not only illustrate how it should look, but also what I meant about rewriting the riffs to include the runs, and including the end, and just other little things) Strange Same Dogma - Marilyn Manson (enters @ 0:18) Intro: G:-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-5-5-5-5-5-5-3-0-| D:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| A:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| Riff 1: G:-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------| D:-----------------|---------1-----|-----------------|---------------|-----------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3---3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6-8-6-5-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-| E:-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------| G:---------------|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-3-0-| D:---------------|-----------------|-----------------| A:-3h5-5-5-6-5-3-|-----------------|-----------------| E:---------------|-----------------|-----------------| Riff 2: G:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| D:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3--3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6--6-6-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5--5-5-| E:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| G:-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5**-5-3-| D:-----------------|---------------| A:-----------------|---------------| E:-----------------|---------------| Riff 3: (x2) G:-5--8--5----|-5--5-8-5----| D:----------8-|-----------8-| A:------------|-------------| E:------------|-------------| Riff 4: (x2) G:------------8-|-----------------| D:-10--8--------|-10------10---10-| A:--------10----|-----------------| E:--------------|-----8-8----8----| Fill: G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| D:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| A:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E:-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-|-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-| Riff 5: G:-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------| D:-----------------|---------1-----|-----------------|---------------|-----------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3---3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6-8-6-5-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-| E:-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------| G:---------------|------------------------|-8h10p8-----8h10p8----| D:---------------|-8h10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|-------h10--------h10-| A:-3h5-5-5-6-5-3-|------------------------|----------------------| E:---------------|------------------------|----------------------| Riff 6: G:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| D:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3--3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6--6-6-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5--5-5-| E:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| G:------------------------|-8h10p8-----8h10p8----| D:-8h10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|-------h10--------h10-| A:------------------------|----------------------| E:------------------------|----------------------| Riff 3 (x2) Riff 4 (x4) Fill Fill 2: G:-----------------|-----------------| D:-----------------|-----------------| A:-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-|-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-6-| E:-----------------|-----------------| Riff 7: G:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| D:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3--3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6--6-6-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5--5-5-| E:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| G:------------------------|-8----8-10-10-8-10-| D:-8h10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|---10--------------| A:------------------------|-------------------| E:------------------------|-------------------| Riff 8: G:-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------| D:-----------------|---------1-----|-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3---3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6-8-6-5-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5-6-5-3-| E:-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-----------------|---------------| G:------------------------|-8h10p8----8-10-8----| D:-8h10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|-------h10--------10-| A:------------------------|---------------------| E:------------------------|---------------------| Riff 9: G:--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| D:--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| A:-1-1-3--1-1-3-|-1-1-1-3--3-3-|-5-5-6--5-5-6-|-5-5-5-6--6-6-|-3-3-5--3-3-5-|-3-3-3-5--5-5-| E:--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| G:-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5-3h5-5-5-| D:-----------------|-----------------| A:-----------------|-----------------| E:-----------------|-----------------| Riff 10: G:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| D:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3--3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6--6-6-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5--5-5-| E:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| G:------------------------|------8-10-8------| D:-8h10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|-10-8--------10-8-| A:------------------------|------------------| E:------------------------|------------------| Riff 3 (x2) Riff 4 (x2) Fill Riff 4 (x4) Fill Fill 2 (x2) Riff 11: G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| D:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3-1h3-3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6-5h6-6-6-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-| E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| G:-----------------|------------------------|---------------10-8----| D:-----------------|-8h10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|-8h10-10-10-10------10-| A:-3h5-5-5-3h5-5-5-|------------------------|-----------------------| E:-----------------|------------------------|-----------------------| Riff 12: G:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| D:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| A:-1h3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-1h3-3-3--3-3-|-5h6-6-6-6-6-6-6-|-5h6-6-6--6-6-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5--5-5-| E:-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------|-----------------|--------------| G:------------------------|------8-10--8-----| D:-8h10-10-10-10-10-10-10-|-10-8----------10-| A:------------------------|------------------| E:------------------------|------------------| End: G:--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| D:--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| A:-1-1-3--1-1-3-|-1-1-1-3--3-3-|-5-5-6--5-5-6-|-5-5-5-6--6-6-|-3-3-5--3-3-5-|-3-3-3-5--5-5-| E:--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------|--------------| G:-3h5-5-5-5-5-5-5-|-3h5-5-5-5-5-3-0-|------------|------------|------------| D:-----------------|-----------------|------------|------------|------------| A:-----------------|-----------------|-3--R--R--R-|-R--R--R--R-|-R--R--R--R-| E:-----------------|-----------------|------------|------------|------------| (note: Strange Same Dogma doesn't really trail off with anything, it just ends abruptly, that's why I didn't put 'Break till end') (I'm including this tab to illustrate what to do with songs with more than one part to it) Coma Black - Marilyn Manson A) Eden Eye (enters @ 1:01) Riff 1: (x4) G:------------|------------|------------|------------| D:------------|------------|------------|------------| A:-0--0--0--0-|-0--0--0--0-|-5--5--5--5-|-3--3--3--3-| E:------------|------------|------------|------------| Fill: G:------------|------------|------------|------------| D:------------|------------|------------|------------| A:-5--5--5--5-|-5--5--5--5-|-3--3--3--3-|-3--3--3--3-| E:------------|------------|------------|------------| Riff 2: (x2) G:------------|------------|------------|------------|--------------|------------|------------| D:------------|------------|------------|------------|--------------|------------|------------| A:------------|------------|------------|------------|-0/5--5--5--5-|-5--5--5--5-|-3--3--3--3-| E:-0--0--0--0-|-0--0--0--0-|-3--3--3--3-|-3--3--3--3-|--------------|------------|------------| G:------------| D:------------| A:-3--3--3--3-| E:------------| Pause for 24 measures Riff 2 (x2) Riff 1 (x5) Fill Riff 2 (x4) Pause till 4:26 B) The Apple of Discord (4:26) (enters @ 5:17) Riff 3: (x3) G:-----------|------------|-----------|------------| D:-----------|------------|-----------|------------| A:---------7-|-R--R--R--R-|---------7-|-R--5--7***-| E:-0*****----|------------|-0*****----|------------| End: G:----------|-----------|------------|----------|-----------|----------|----------|----------| D:----------|-----------|------------|----------|-----------|----------|----------|----------| A:-3*******-|-----------|-------5--7-|-3*******-|-----------|----------|----------|----------| E:----------|-3*****-0*-|-****-------|----------|-3*****-0*-|-********-|-********-|-********-| G:----------|----------| D:----------|----------| A:----------|----------| E:-********-|-********-| Break till end And the last thing I would like to add is that I know some people are set in their ways and won't accept what I say. But take this to heart. I've had people e-mailing me telling me how great my tabs are, how my tabs are the only ones they can actually read, and I even had one person say I was 'a legend'. Make what you will of this. Think of it this way, if it was a business, people would pretty much only be buying my tabs because they are easier to read and work with. To follow the example, if you wanted to stay in business, you'd have to change your style. But don't take me the wrong way, I'm just trying to help my fellow musicians.   Login | Home | Sitemap | How to Read Tabs | FAQ   Browse Bands | Requests | Submit Tab | Forum | Links | About FindTabs | Contact Us Copyright ©2005-2006 Find Guitar Tabs. All rights reserved.