← Bass · First notes · about 20 min
Your first notes
The E string and the A string, and how to read a bass tab.
Frets and notes
Each fret raises the note by one half step. Open (0) means you do not press any fret.
Fret numbers on a tab tell you where to press. The thickest string is at the bottom of a bass tab, just like looking down at the strings on your bass.
| Fret | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E string | E | F | F♯ | G | A | B |
| A string | A | A♯ | B | C | D | E |
Many bass lines use only the open strings and the first five frets.
Four notes on the E string
Play the open E, then the 1st, 2nd and 3rd frets, one finger per fret. Then come back down. Keep the notes even and steady.
G|-------------|--------------| D|-------------|--------------| A|-------------|--------------| E|-0--1--2--3--|--3--2--1--0--|
Press play to hear it, or turn the tempo down and play along.
The staff is the sheet music. The tab shows where to press. They are the same notes.
The A string
The A string is next to the E string, and it sounds higher. Here are A, B, C, and D.
G|-------------|--------------| D|-------------|--------------| A|-0--2--3--5--|--5--3--2--0--| E|-------------|--------------|
Press play to hear it, or turn the tempo down and play along.