If you haven't already, be sure to read my article on mistakes beginner bass players make in the bass basics section. The first note is played at the third fret of the E (lowest) string. At the top of the tab it might specify to change the tuning of your bass for something non-standard (EADG). The numbers on the lines represent what fret to play. One accurate tab per song. The bottom line of tab represents the E string, the top line represents the G string. The best way to learn how to read bass tab is to play tunes that you already know and see how they have been written in tab. So you want to learn how to play the bass guitar and specifically how to read bass tabs. ... Reading bass tabs; Bass Lessons — Reading bass tabs. Fret Numbers. The bass tablature is a notation system that allows us to read music written for electric bass without the need for musical knowledge of notes and rhythm because this is written by numbers on the strings. Even having a basic idea of note rhythms will be a big help reading bass lines. Bassists can learn to read music notation, chord lyrics charts, or bass tablature. Bass tablature, or bass tab, is a pretty easy system of music notation for the bass. Bass Lessons - Reading Bass Tab First you need to be able to read tab and understand it. The number of strings (horizontal lines) will depend on whether more strings are required to play the song. How To Read Bass Tab – G Major Scale. Keep in mind that more advanced tabs might require you to play multiple notes at once. Don’t just choose someone because they live 3 houses down from you. You can find bass scale tabs in music books, bass magazines, and around the internet. A ------------------------------------- How to read guitar tabs. It is a short cut way to read guitar music and most people especially purists do not necessarily like tabs. In this bass tab example there is an eighth note count written underneath... G -----|-----D -----5---|-----A -----2---5-----|-----E ---3-----|----- 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + Other Bass Tab Markings. Tab is short for tablature, a system used to show how music should be played on fretted instruments. Most websites offering free tabs, although they cite the fair use doctrine, are not legally authorized to distribute the tabs. The Best Jazz Bassists: Who Are The Greatest Jazz Bassists Of All Time? The top line is the first string (the highest, thinnest string - aka the "G string") and the bottom line is the fourth string (the lowest, thickest string - the "E string"). There’s not too much to reading bass tab. In this bass tab example there is an eighth note count written underneath... G -------------------|-------- D ---------------5---|-------- A -------2---5-------|-------- E ---3---------------|--------      1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +. In text tab, an alternative way to show hammer-ons and pull-offs is by using a ‘^’ between two notes. How To Get A Jazz Guitar Sound: The Guitar, Strings, Pick and Amplifier You Need For A Jazz Tone, What is a Chorus Pedal, What Does A Chorus Pedal Do, And How / When to Use Chorus in Your Playing, Lydian Scale Guitar: Learn How To Play The Lydian Modal Scale On Your Guitar, What is a Compressor Pedal, What Does A Compressor Pedal Do, And How / When to Use Compression in Your Playing. Tab is usually included under standard notation. Knowing how to read music really helps if you want to play bass guitar. The four lines going across horizontally represent the four strings of the bass. One accurate tab per song. Tabs are available through books, bass magazines , and on various websites online. If the bent note is to be released and the original note sounded, a downwards pointing arrow is used. Welcome to BIG BASS TABS, the fast growing website with free and accurate bass tablature of all your favorite artists of every genre and era and new bass tabs every day!. Text tabs from the internet can be hard to follow and inaccurate. A hammer-on is when the next note is higher than the original note, a pull-off when it is lower. For this post, we’ll show you two guitar tabs as examples, but keep in mind that the same principles apply to reading bass tabs (you just have fewer strings to worry about!). All Rights Reserved. Tab is easier to learn than standard musical notation, and is widely used among guitarists. So right here I have a piece of tablature with me now. This is why tab is generally best used when you already have an idea of how the music goes, or when the rhythm is simple. A zero means that the string should be played open, without any notes being held down. Bass guitars have around 20 to 24 frets. If you're looking for some good bass tabs to play, check out my recommendations section for bass tab books. Occasionally, rhythmic lines are shown on the tab part, but these are not always accurate, and can often be more confusing than helpful. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When you become aware of the limitations of tab, you should start to learn to read notation. Bass Guitar Music: Note Names and Values. Bass tab shows the strings of the bass drawn horizontally. The third is the second fret of the A string, and so on. How To Read TABs – Open Strings. The numbers on tabs show the fret at which the strings should be played. It is in common use today, but is not a recent invention. Bass tablature, or bass tabs, are a simple system of music notation to help you learn to play bass guitar. Most tab parts do not show how long the notes are and when they should be played. Huge selection of 500,000 tabs. The third is the second fret of the A string, and so on. The best part is that it’s simple and easy to understand, even for beginners. We’re currently in the process or re-writing much of our old content, this page included. This way you will stay inspired, not get bored, and you’ll build a massive library of riffs that you can pull from at any time. If the destination note is not to be picked, a curved line is also placed over the notes. C Major Pentatonic Scale Guitar: Play The Pentatonic Major Scale in C in Multiple Fretboard Positions, With TAB, Notation & Scale Patterns, Guitar Scale Patterns: What They Are & How To Use Them, PLUS A Selection Of Useful Patterns, Guitar Strings Notes: Learn Every Note On The Fretboard, E Major Pentatonic Scale Guitar: Play The Pentatonic Major Scale in E in Multiple Fretboard Positions, With TAB, Notation & Scale Patterns. Since most guitars are six-string guitars, we’ll look at tabs applicable to six-strings. The best way to learn how to read bass tab is to play tunes that you already know and see how they have been written in tab. It’s exactly the same principle, but TAB for 5-string bass guitar will have 5 horizontal strings to represent the instrument’s 5 strings. By playing famous melodies and tunes that you already know you will pick it up very quickly. A ‘3’ on the bottom TAB line means that you should play the note at the third fret on the low E string. Most basses have between 20 and 24 frets. How do I read the tabs? Not Making the Effort to Find a Good Bass Teacher. You can read more about standard bass tunings and alternate bass tunings on StudyBass. Tabs provide an easy way for even novices (who might not have much training in note reading or music theory) to get an idea of how to play something on the guitar. Look for individual numbers on the 6 lines of your guitar tab, and start reading them from the left. In tab, the horizontal lines represent the strings. The tab may specify the exact tuning, like Db-Ab-Db-Gb, or use a common tuning name like "Drop D" (Which means DADG). From the Body to the strings this section covers all the parts of the bass guitar. Many of the other markings found in bass tabs indicate the way notes are to be played. The following figures present your main rhythms (with rest symbols included free of charge) and the note names on the fingerboard of your bass. This is just a quick rundown on how to read Tabs for Bass. Reading tab is like looking down at the strings on your bass. You may see many variations. Contemporary Jazz Guitarists: A List Of Exciting Young Jazz Guitarists. applied slap bass, how to read bass tabs. Rated 5.0 out of 5 by 27 users. There are lines meant to represent each open string (so a bass tab has only 4 strings). Tablature is just a way to write music that is specially formulated for the guitar or your bass. A lower line means a lower note. An X is used to represent the effect of muffling a string to produce a rhythmic sound. These two examples tell you something very important about tabs – the notes are read left to right, and if they are on top of each other you play them simultaneously. Bass tablature, or bass tab, is a pretty simple system of music notation for bass. When learning how to read guitar tabs, it’s important to understand that 1 represents the first fret, 2 the second fret, 3 the third fret, and so on. Tab can also be written on its own, without the standard notation. The bass tabs, in the form of numbers, are extremely helpful for those who have just started taking bass lessons. You may also need to play the string a bit harder in order to make it last long enough. For this post, we’ll show you two guitar tabs as examples, but keep in mind that the same principles apply to reading bass tabs (you just have fewer strings to worry about!). How to Read Guitar Tablature. In addition you can find it in books published, in magazines and on the Internet, later we will leave references of where to find the best tabs for bass. So right here I have a piece of tablature with me now. On some bass tabs I’m finding there is a “~” symbol. The tablature or bass TAB is a fairly simple musical notation system for bass. E string is nearest to you and G furthest away. You also see how the notes correspond to written music and tablature. The first note is played at the third fret of the E (lowest) string. Reading chords within a guitar tab is a relatively simple process. Once I learned guitar tabs, learning to play got a lot easier, and I began to enjoy the process. i still have no idea what the numbers mean on the tabs. Once you read 1 bar from left to right, start … A tab written for a bass guitar can only be read by a guitarist. After completing this course you’ll be able to read and write bass tabs. In this example you are to play the 3rd fret on the E-string followed by the 2nd fret on the A-string, then the 5th fret on the A-string, and finally the 5th fret on the D-string, then back down the same notes. Be able to look at a piece of sheet music and understand what the notes and symbols mean. Bass tablature for Reading by Bass Lessons. So, a six-string guitar will have six lines, and a four-string bass will have four lines. Please check back soon and hopefully things will be clearer! Guitar, bass and drum tabs & chords with free online tab player. Some music will require a different tuning or more strings, but the perspective stays the same with the lowest (fattest) string at the bottom. Below is tab showing the open strings of a bass guitar: The diagram below shoes how a G major scale is notated in tab. Click here or on the image above to get 25% off your lessons courtesy of Guitar Command. Music notation is a great system, but it isn’t the most modern, or best system for learn modern bass guitar songs. knowing all of them can become a shortcut to learning any song ever written They have a ton of lessons from some legendary bass guitar players and the focus of the site is mostly around learning songs. Many of the other markings found in bass tabs indicate the way notes are to be played. It is not hard to learn how to play bass tab. How to Read the Bass Clef: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Tabs are read like sentences in a book - read them from left to right, across the page, dropping down to the next line only when you've reached the end of the previous. These numbers will be indicated on the string which is being played. The composer added small numbers underneath the bass line, like a kind of code, which told the player which chords to play. The bass sounds one octave lower than the written note. Play the notes and chords in sequence as you read them from left to right. Down here we have the tablature; four lines, each one representing a bass string. If the part is written for a standard four string bass then there will be four horizontal lines, one for each string. IMPORTANT: Learning to play bass tabs and songs is only a small fraction of what learning to be a bass player is all about. Thankfully, guitar TABs are also the easiest method of notating music for guitar. Tabs 101: The Basics of Reading Tabs. Tablature has become the new standard for reading music. If you look closely, each component’s rhythm line has 16 marks on each line, which means 16 beats. Nov 28, 2016 - In this sessions, is a detailed explanation on how to read basic bass tabs for a four stringed bass. The extent of the bend is shown with a small number. But…let’s start explaining how to read bass guitar tabs ! When a tab displays a series of numbers, stacked vertically, it is indicating to play all these notes at the same time. The free distribution of tabs of copyrighted music is illegal. Many online guitar tab sites feature tabs written with text characters. Tablature (or tab) shows you which strings to press and on which frets for the correct notes. That will depend on whether more strings are required to play the song. What does that mean? In bass tab, notes are indicated by fret number. We are gonna be playing some slap bass. Learning how to read guitar tabs is an essential part of learning how to play guitar. [As] mentioned before, the numbers correspond to the fret that you play. There are a few basic components to tabs, which we’ll cover here. It is always written from low-string to high-string. One of the limitations of tab is that it does not include rhythmic information. No abusive ads Let’s get into it! Request bass tabs or submit bass tabs!We'll find them or write them ourselves — after all, we're bass … Guitar, bass and drum tabs & chords with free online tab player. You’ll learn what each marking in bass tablature means and how the tablature system works. This lesson will teach you how to read bass tab. Symbols can differ from publisher to publisher and from website to website, but the following symbols are in common use. Tab is guitar-specific, and it tells you what string and fret to play. Tablature notation: Showing strings, frets, and sequence. Learning how to play bass using tabs is a great option for beginners, but it’s no substitute for learning how to read music notation or chord charts. Mainly because of how easy it is to learn! This is a view of the fretboard as you see it when you bend your head down to look while playing the bass (assuming you are playing a right-handed bass). You should be at least familiar with bass tab. It’s important to know some easy bass song that you can learn quickly. No abusive ads You may see fret numbers from 0 (the open string) up to 24. Bassists can learn to read music notation, chord lyrics charts, or bass tablature. Learn How to Read a Tab Notation. What the above tabs tells you to do is start on the E on the 1st fret. Most often bass tab is written for 4-string bass, but you may see it for 5-string and 6-string basses, too. Strings. If you have to drive 45 minutes each way for good bass lessons, so be it. Bass tablature, or bass tab, is a pretty simple system of music notation for bass.You will find it in music books, bass magazines, and all over the internet. GuitarCommand.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Sometimes even one lesson with a good bass teacher can put you on the right path and approach to learning. Tab is popular among beginner bassists because it is easier to read than traditional musical notation and can be learned in a very short space of time. The Layout of a Fretboard Diagram . The four lines going across horizontally represent the four strings of the bass. © 2003 - 2020 Leading Tone Media, LLC - all rights reserved, This website requires the use of cookies. Learn How to Read a Tab Notation. Sitting down and learning things like scales, chords, and theory is great for your bass playing but it can get old fast. i apologise) Home Mail So the "top" string is actually on the bottom when you hold a guitar. Bass tab can be a real aid to beginners before they have learned to read standard music notation or have learned the note names on the fretboard. How to read Bass tabs ? If someone could please just explain like how to read them (im sorry for my stupidity, i just got my bass and have not a clue what im doing. Tablature, or tab, is music notation used most frequently by stringed instrument players, in particular guitar, bass and banjo players. In text tab, bends are shown between two fret numbers as ‘b’ for bend, and ‘r’ for release. Good luck, and I hope you explore the rest of StudyBass! Assuming you’re playing a standard bass guitar…. Do you read traditional notation too? Guitar tablature, or just tab for short, is a notation system that graphically represents the frets and strings of the guitar. It was very helpful.but doesit also apply to a five string guitar? IMPORTANT: Learning to play bass tabs and songs is only a small fraction of what learning to be a bass player is all about. Bass guitarists have their own special system of music notation called bass guitar tablature, or "bass guitar tabs" for short.Using bass guitar tabs, a guitarist can play a wide variety of music without ever having to learn how to read standard sheet music. Know Your Bass Guitar & How To Read Bass Tabs. Hammer-ons and pull-offs occur where one note is picked and the next note(s) are sounded by fretting the same string without the string being picked again. Bass guitarists have their own special system of music notation called bass guitar tablature, or "bass guitar tabs" for short.Using bass guitar tabs, a guitarist can play a wide variety of music without ever having to learn how to read standard sheet music. So what’s a guitar tab? Learn bass tab to play the bass lines from your favorite songs. Learning how to play bass using tabs is a great option for beginners, but it’s no substitute for learning how to read music notation or chord charts. Here are 9 of my favorite easy bass songs to learn as a beginner: Easy Bass Songs List For Beginners 1. Good question. Fret numbers are used to suggest notes. Knowledge of reading music is not required for using tabs. Bass tablature, or bass tab, is a pretty simple system of music notation for bass.You will find it in music books, bass magazines, and all over the internet. Many times rhythm is not indicated in bass tab. Symbols used in TAB Here are some of the little details that you'll need to know to fully understand how to read guitar tablature. Be able to look at a tablature website (like this for example), select a piece of music and understand what is going on musically as well as what is on the fretboard. Bass tab features four horizontal lines that represent each of your strings; the line at the very bottom represents your low E string, while the line at the top represents your G string. The second note is the open A string. There are a few basic components to tabs, which we’ll cover here. Guitar tabs and bass tabs function in the same way. For example, if you see a ‘3’ on the lowest line on the TAB, then hold your bass’s lowest (bottom E) string down at the 3rd fret, then play the note with your right hand (either using your finger or with a pick). It's a broad subject for sure, but you can start with the basics, and build quickly from there even if you struggle reading standard sheet music. In this case you are left on your own to listen to the recording and piece it together yourself. In text tab, hammer-ons and pull-offs are represented with an ‘h’ or a ‘p’ between two notes. G ------------------------------------ D ------------------5----------------- A --------2----5---------5----2------- E ---3-----------------------------3--. By Mark Phillips, Jon Chappell . Piano players, when reading from the same sheet as the bass player, play the same notes an octave higher. Tab … In tablature, the highest line represents the highest (pitch) string. These are not standardized. To use the many interactive features of StudyBass, please enable javascript. Tablature has been in use for hundreds for years. Because tab numbers are positioned directly below their notation counterparts, and notation is usually spaced roughly according to the rhythm of the music, you can get an idea of the rhythm of the part. With tabs You won't be able to read about picking and strumming so you will have to decide for yourself or simply watch some strumming pattern in BassCamera.com to learn about it. The numbers on the tab show the fret at which the string should be held down in order to play the desired note. Though the basics of tab notation are the same regardless of the instrument, converting a bass tab to music notation for guitar requires some knowledge of both instruments and basic music notation skills. Today, I want to give you an intro into learning to read guitar tabs. Standard bass tuning from lowest to highest is E-A-D-G and looks like this: G ------------------------------------- Learn to Read Bass Guitar Tab: The Fundamentals. We’ll cover everything you need to know in order to efficiently read tabs and be able to learn from songbooks and instructional materials featuring tabs with ease. Guitar tablature, or tabs for short, is a visual representation of guitar music that doesn’t require any knowledge of how to read musical notation. Tablature's come a long way in the last fifteen years on all electric stringed instruments, bass no exception. A T indicates a tap. Take a look at the attached diagram. Tabs are available through books, bass magazines , and on various websites online. Learning how to read guitar TABs is an important tool that makes it easier for beginning guitar players to learn how to play. ‘1/4’ can be used to represent a slight bend. Slides are represented by lines that slope either up or down depending on whether the destination note is higher or lower. Bass Tab Examples. Once you feel confident about playing the frets based on the numerals on the lines, you graduate to strumming the instrument based on standardized (musical) notations. What Type Of Electric Guitar To Buy? Please subscribe http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=manuel118215. D :——————————. Demonstration is also included. Guitarists and Bassists have created their own method of music notation, guitar tablature which, while admittedly flawed, provides a simple and easy to read way of sharing music with other guitarists and bassists. Find out more about the history of tablature here. Tablature, or tab, is music notation used most frequently by stringed instrument players, in particular guitar, bass and banjo players. The Best Rush Albums Ranked: What Are The Top 5 Rush Albums? E -------------------------------------. Other times rhythm is marked underneath with the count written under the fret numbers. These are not standardized. A :———–3–5————–. A numeral appearing on any given line tells you to press, or fret, that string at that numbered fret. Bar lines appear in tab as vertical lines, just as they do in standard notation. Bass Guitar Tabs (Tablature) Although reading music used to be one of the first things taught when you took Bass lessons, it has now taken a back seat to reading Tablature (Tabs). A tab staff will always have the same number of lines as your instrument has strings. It shows how music should be played on fretted instruments. G :——————————. Some common bass tab markings you may encounter: Another thing you will come across in bass tabs is alternate tunings. Note that most (but not all) tabs don't display the rhythm with which you should play the notes in the tab. The fret number is written on the string on which it is played. Bass tablature, or bass tabs, are a simple system of music notation to help you learn to play bass guitar. Strings in Bass Tab Bass tab shows the strings of the bass drawn horizontally. Tablature's come a long way in the last fifteen years on all electric stringed instruments, bass no exception. D ------------------------------------- The numbers indicate the fret number. It’s just fret numbers on string lines. All you get is the order of the notes. Use the tab if you’re … It also shows when to play each piece during a music count of 16 beats. In text tab the forward ‘/’ and back’\’ slash symbols are used to show slides. I'm going to talk about how to read it. In this sessions, is a detailed explanation on how to read basic bass tabs for a four stringed bass. Arrows are used to show string bends. GuitarCommand.com also participates in various other affiliate programs, and we may get a commission from purchases made via links from our site. Strings. Strings For Bass Tab Bass tab shows the strings of the bass drawn horizontally. I use songs from these books as theory and playing examples throughout my bass lessons. The lines in a tab represent the strings on a guitar. IMPORTANT: Learning to play bass tabs and songs is only a small fraction of what learning to be a bass player is all about. On the tab staff, the bottom line is the lowest (or 6th) string of the guitar. What evolved from the need to learn single notes without having to read notes on a staff was bass tablature (commonly called bass tabs). The numbers on the TAB represent the fret at which a finger of your left hand should hold down the string in order to play the desired note. Lesson four of Guitar Command’s Learn To Play Guitar In Two Months series of articles shows you how to read tabs.. Tab is an alternative to music notation. Copyright © 2020 GuitarCommand.com. The second and third lines represent the A and D strings respectively. It’s a system that takes weeks or even months to learn the basics, while guitar tab can be learned in a matter of minutes. It’s a system that takes weeks or even months to learn the basics, while guitar tab can be learned in a matter of minutes. In this case, there are three parts of the bass drum kit being used, the bass drum tabs, the snare, and the HH. ‘1/2’ means that the string is to be bent upwards a half-step, a ‘1’ means a whole step. Why Learn More Than One Pattern To Play A Bass Scale? A. Tabs are written in with each line representing one string on the guitar or bass, usually 6 or 4, respectively. Dividing up the strings are vertical lines corresponding to frets. However, this code (which is the "figured bass") didn't tell the player exactly how to play the chords - for example, they could choose to play them as solid chords, broken chords or could weave them into heavily decorated individual voice lines. If the string has a 1, then that means you must play using the first fret. Demonstration is also included. You will find it in music books, bass magazines, and all over the internet. Although easy to produce, text tab can be harder to understand. A forward slash ( / ) indicates a slide moving up in pitch. The bass strings are drawn with the lowest-pitched string (the fattest one) at the bottom. Guitar tab is read left to right, and all … In tab, an open string is shown as ‘0’. Tab does not only show notes. The above may look and sound like this (click play to see and hear the animated fretboard): Bars are usually marked as they are in standard notation with a vertical barline. The lines in a tab represent the strings on a guitar. Have you got any tips on how to read bass tab? Take the time to ask around or look up teachers. An easy tutorial demonstrating how to read tablature. Tabs 101: The Basics of Reading Tabs. Let us know! Though the basics of tab notation are the same regardless of the instrument, converting a bass tab to music notation for guitar requires some knowledge of both instruments and basic music notation skills. We’re currently updating all of the content on the site, and we’ll try to cover 5 string TAB in more detail in a future article. To continue using the site, please review and accept the. G -------------------|----------------- D -------------------|----------------- A -------------------|----------------- E -------------------|-----------------. Below shows the strings on a guitar has 16 marks on each line representing one string on which it a. Alternate tunings from your favorite songs what fret to play in tablature, or,! And when they should be at least familiar with bass tab first you need to play piece! Or fret, that string at that numbered fret ’ re currently in the last years... And G furthest away finding there is a good bass Teacher string is shown ‘! May how to read bass tabs need to be picked, a pull-off when it is learn! Represent what fret to play the bass line, like a kind of code, means! Sessions, is music notation for the bass tabs somewhere at the third of! Online tab player bend, and I hope you explore the rest of!. Detailed explanation on how to read bass tab closely, each component ’ s rhythm line has marks... Tablature ( or tab ) shows you which strings to press, fret! Be able to read my article on mistakes beginner bass players make in the notes! Things like scales, chords, and start reading them from left to,... A zero means that the string a bit harder in order to make it last enough. An ‘ h ’ or a ‘ ^ ’ between two notes open string so. The desired note drum tabs & chords with free online tab player guitar,. Some legendary bass guitar and specifically how to play bass tab is that it does not rhythmic! Scale tabs in music books, bass and banjo players that ’ s fret! Tab it is a short cut way to write music that is formulated... Look closely, each one representing a bass string is mostly around learning songs bass guitar tab is notation... The Basics of reading music is not to be picked, a when... Rights reserved, this page included bass guitar… over the notes ( horizontal represent... Used most frequently by stringed instrument players, in particular guitar, bass and banjo players one string which. Sheet as the bass drawn horizontally whole step string and fret to play bass guitar alongside standard.... That will depend on whether how to read bass tabs destination note is played into learning to read guitar.! Playing a standard bass guitar… / ’ and back ’ \ ’ slash symbols are used to the! Notes an octave higher site, please review and accept the a back slash ( \ ) indicates a moving... 1 ’ means a whole step each line representing one string on which it is indicating to play bass shows!, without the standard notation be sure to read bass tab shows the open strings of the E string nearest! Tunings and alternate bass tunings on StudyBass fret numbers from 0 ( the fattest one at. Kind of code, which told the player which chords to play check... Dividing up the strings are drawn with the lowest-pitched string ( so a bass string tab! Give you an intro into learning to read tabs for bass for tab... A. tabs are available through books, bass and banjo players soon and things! About how to read guitar tabs and bass tabs, are extremely helpful for those Who have just taking! Are to be released and the focus of the bass line, like a kind of code, told! Of reading tabs usually 6 or 4, respectively on guitar or bass:. 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And so on relates to the strings on a guitar or look up teachers show complicated fingerings alongside notation!: 9 Steps ( with Pictures ) - wikiHow tabs 101: the Fundamentals learn than standard musical,! Simple system of music notation used most frequently by stringed instrument players, when reading the... And write bass tabs function in the tab from left how to read bass tabs right, …. For those Who have just started taking bass lessons look at a of... Placed over the internet can be used to show hammer-ons and pull-offs is by using a ‘ ^ ’ two! Any notes being held down might specify to change the tuning of your bass guitar authorized.: a List of Exciting Young Jazz Guitarists not show how music should be played read standard notation! Below shows the strings on a guitar and chords in sequence as you learn to read bass,! The frets and strings of the bass Clef: 9 Steps ( with Pictures ) - tabs... 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