How to Read Bass Guitar Tabs
Bass tab has four lines, one for each string of a 4-string bass. The top line is the thinnest string, G, and the bottom line is the thickest, E. Each number is the fret to press on that string, with 0 for an open string. Read the numbers from left to right; numbers in the same column are played together.
Works in the UK and the US. This version uses UK music words (bar, crotchet, quaver, stave); the US version uses measure, quarter note, eighth note and staff. · US version of this page
Updated · By the Classfern Music Department
Key facts
- Tab lines, top to bottom: G, D, A, E (the thinnest string on top, like looking down at the bass).
- Open strings: G2, D2, A1, E1.
- A number is a fret: 0 open, 1 first fret, 12 an octave above the open string.
- 5-string bass tab adds a fifth line at the bottom for the low B string (B0).
- Most bass tab shows pitch, not rhythm. Listen to the recording, or read the rhythm from notation printed above the tab.
- Common marks: h hammer-on, p pull-off, / or s slide, x muted note, ~ vibrato.
Try it: bass tabs you can hear
Press Play this tab and watch each fret number light up as it sounds. Phone speakers are quiet on low notes, so headphones help. Self-assessed Can you play each tab with the sound, without stopping?
The four open strings, lowest first
G|----------0-|-0----------| D|-------0----|----0-------| A|----0-------|-------0----| E|-0----------|----------0-|
In words: E string, open; A string, open; D string, open; G string, open; G string, open; D string, open; A string, open; E string, open.
Root and fifth: G, C, D, G
G|------------|------------|------------|---------| D|------------|----5-----5-|----7-----7-|---------| A|----5-----5-|-3-----3----|-5-----5----|---------| E|-3-----3----|------------|------------|-3-------|
In words: E string, fret 3; A string, fret 5; E string, fret 3; A string, fret 5; A string, fret 3; D string, fret 5; A string, fret 3; D string, fret 5; A string, fret 5; D string, fret 7; A string, fret 5; D string, fret 7; E string, fret 3.
A walking bass line in C
G|----------2-|------------|------------|---------| D|----2--5----|----------0-|------------|---------| A|-3----------|----0--3----|----2--5--2-|-3-------| E|------------|-1----------|-3----------|---------|
In words: A string, fret 3; D string, fret 2; D string, fret 5; G string, fret 2; E string, fret 1; A string, open; A string, fret 3; D string, open; E string, fret 3; A string, fret 2; A string, fret 5; A string, fret 2; A string, fret 3.
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How do you read bass tabs?
Find the string from the line (G on top, E at the bottom), press the fret shown by the number, and pluck. Then move right to the next number. A 0 means play the string open.
- Check the string names at the left of the tab. Standard 4-string tab is G, D, A, E from the top.
- Read the first number and its line:
3on the A line means the 3rd fret of the A string (C2). - Press just behind that fret and pluck with the index or middle finger.
- Read on to the right. Use one finger per fret so your hand barely moves.
- Get the rhythm from the song or the notation, then play along.
| Tab line | String | Open note | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st line from the top | 1st string (G) | G2 | 98.00 Hz |
| 2nd line from the top | 2nd string (D) | D2 | 73.42 Hz |
| 3rd line from the top | 3rd string (A) | A1 | 55.00 Hz |
| 4th line from the top | 4th string (E) | E1 | 41.20 Hz |
Which line is the E string in bass tab?
The bottom line is the E string, the thickest and lowest. It surprises some beginners because the E string is nearest your face when you play, but tab is drawn as if you look down at the neck.
| String | Open | Fret 1 | Fret 2 | Fret 3 | Fret 4 | Fret 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G string | G2 | G♯2/A♭2 | A2 | A♯2/B♭2 | B2 | C3 |
| D string | D2 | D♯2/E♭2 | E2 | F2 | F♯2/G♭2 | G2 |
| A string | A1 | A♯1/B♭1 | B1 | C2 | C♯2/D♭2 | D2 |
| E string | E1 | F1 | F♯1/G♭1 | G1 | G♯1/A♭1 | A1 |
On a 5-string bass the bottom line is the low B string, and the E string moves up to the second line from the bottom. Always check the letters at the start of each line.
How do you read rhythm in bass tabs?
Plain tab rarely shows rhythm. Spacing gives a rough idea, but the reliable ways are to listen to the music or to read tab that has standard notation (or rhythm stems) printed above it.
Some tab adds rhythm stems under the numbers: a single stem is a crotchet, a stem with one flag or beam is an quaver. If a song is new to you, count the beats out loud while you listen, then fit the tab numbers to the count. Our tabs above play the rhythm for you. See note and rest values to read the rhythm in notation.
What do the symbols in bass tab mean?
h is a hammer-on, p a pull-off, / or s a slide up and \ a slide down; x is a muted note and ~ is vibrato. You pick only the first note of a hammer-on, pull-off or slide.
Hammer-on, pull-off and slide
G|--------------|--------------|--------------| D|--------2--h3-|-5--p3--p2----|--------------| A|-3--h5--------|------------5-|--------------| E|--------------|--------------|-3--/5--\3--0-|
In words: A string, fret 3; A string, hammer-on to fret 5; D string, fret 2; D string, hammer-on to fret 3; D string, fret 5; D string, pull-off to fret 3; D string, pull-off to fret 2; A string, fret 5; E string, fret 3; E string, slide up to fret 5; E string, slide down to fret 3; E string, open.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0 | Open string: pluck it with no finger on a fret |
| 3 | Press the string just behind the 3rd fret, then pluck |
| Numbers in one column | Play them together (a chord or double stop) |
| h (0h2) | Hammer-on: pluck the first note, then hammer a finger onto the higher fret without plucking again |
| p (2p0) | Pull-off: pluck the higher note, then pull the finger off sideways so the lower note sounds |
| / or s (2/4) | Slide up: pluck, then keep pressing as you slide to the higher fret |
| \ (4\2) | Slide down to the lower fret |
| x | Muted (dead) note: touch the string without pressing it down, then pluck |
| ~ | Vibrato: wobble the pitch by rocking or pushing the finger |
| b (5b7) | Bend: push the string sideways until fret 5 sounds like fret 7 |
| | | Bar line (end of a bar) |
| PM | Palm mute: rest the side of the plucking hand on the strings near the bridge |
| T / P (slap) | Slap with the thumb (T) or pop with a finger (P) |
Can you read a melody in bass tab?
Yes. Bass tab works for melodies as well as bass lines. Here is the first line of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy on the D and G strings.
Ode to Joy (Beethoven, 1824): first line
G|----------0-|-0----------|------------|-----------| D|-2--2--3----|----3--2--0-|-------0--2-|-2---0-0---| A|------------|------------|-3--3-------|-----------| E|------------|------------|------------|-----------|
In words: D string, fret 2; D string, fret 2; D string, fret 3; G string, open; G string, open; D string, fret 3; D string, fret 2; D string, open; A string, fret 3; A string, fret 3; D string, open; D string, fret 2; D string, fret 2; D string, open; D string, open.
What to learn next
Learn the notes on the neck with the bass guitar notes chart, then turn chord symbols into bass lines with the bass chord chart. Classfern’s free tools on lessonplanner.info run in your browser, and the guitar play-along shows hundreds of traditional tunes as tab.
Quick quiz: reading bass tab
Six questions on lines, frets, tuning and rhythm. Marked by Classfern Your score stays in this browser.
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