Bass Lessons - Beginners Guide To 4/4 Timing bass tab

Standard string tuning (G,D,A,E) recommended

1. I have noticed that beginners will always know how to play

simple notes in every 4/4 beat, but when asked to not play a note

for just one beat, they get confused. I want you to count in your

head an ongoing, "1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4" while following the tablature.

Then when you are confident, count with your footbeat and be

prepared to not play a note when you get to that beat.

|---------------------------------|

|---------------------------------|

|-2-2-2-2---------5-5-5-5---------|

|-----------3-3-3-----------5-5-5-|

--1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4--

2. By now you should be able to count to 4 with a steady footbeat

because you will need to play each note in time with your footbeat.

Keep in time even when you do not play a note.

|---------------------------------|

|---1-4-1-----------7-4-----------|

|-2---------------5-----5---------|

|-----------3-3-3-----------5-5-5-|

--1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4--

3. If you have known which notes to not play in the previous figures,

very well done. You are now capable with 4/4 timing well enough

to know when to play and when not to. Have a walking bassline as

a bonus, and remember to play in time.

|---------------------------------|

|---1-4-1-----------7-4-----------|

|-2---------2-5-2-5-----5---4-7-4-|

|---------3---------------5-------|

|---------------------------------|

|---1-4-1-------------------------|

|-2---------2-5-2-5-5-4-5-7-5-4---|

|---------3---------------------5-|