Think of the notations like hexadecimal. That is, a letter represents a fret
(A=10, B=11, C=12, etc). Where you see "E" on the E string, play 14th fret.
[INTRO]
E D E A A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|--------|--------|--------|
A:--------|--------|--------|--------|
E:--------|--------|--------|------5//
[VERSE]
D
Hey it's me what a big surprise
D A A
Calling you up from a restaurant around the bend
D
I just got in from way up north
D A A
I'm aching and tired now, and I could use a friend
C#m D E E
I might be a fool to think that you do Want to see me again
D D A A D D A A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|--------|--------|7-------|--------|--------|--------|7-------|
A:--------|5-------|------7-|------7-|5-------|5-------|------7-|--------|
E:A------5|--------|5-------|--------|--------|--------|5-------|------5-|
C#m D E E
G:--------|--------|--------|----9---|
D:--------|--------|---/9/9-|-----9--|
A:4------4|5------5|7--7----|7-----7-|
E:--------|--------|--------|--------|
[VERSE]
D
I know it's been a while since I talked to you
D A A
Nothing wrong, just nothing ever goes as planned
D
Many times I thought I'd call
D A A
I didn't have your number in my hand
C#m D E
I know it's true, you'd never do The same thing to me
D D A A D D A A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
A:5--55---|5--55--7|--------|-------4|5--55---|5--55---|------7-|--------|
E:--------|--------|5--55---|5--55---|--------|--------|5--55 --|5--55--5|
C#m D E E
G:--------|--------|--------|----9-----------|
D:--------|--------|---/9/9-|--79--979-------|
A:4--44---|5--55---|7--7----|7-----------7---|
E:--------|--------|--------|----------------|
1 & 2 & 3 4
[CHORUS]
A D
I never meant to make you cry And though I know I shouldn't call
Bm E
It just reminds us of the cost Of everything we've lost
A
Bad timing that's all
A D
And maybe soon there'll come a day When no more tears will fall
Bm E
If we each forgive a little bit And we both look back on it
A
As just bad timing that's all
A A D D Bm E A A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
A:----7---|------4-|5--5----|5---5-4-|2--22---|--------|----7---|----7---|
E:5--5----|5--57---|----5--5|---5----|------2-|0--00-7-|5--5----|5--5----|
A A D D Bm E A A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
A:----7--7|------4-|5--5----|5---5 4 |2--22---|---77---|----7--7|-------4|
E:5--5----|5--57---|----5--5|---5----|------2-|0-----7-|5--5----|5--55 7-|
[BRIDGE]
D D A A D D A A
G:--------|--------|--------|---6----|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|------4-|--------|7---7---|--------|--------|--------|----7---|
A:5--55---|5--557-7|-------7|-----74-|5--55---|5--55 --|------7-|-----7--|
E:--------|--------|5--55---|-------5|-------5|------E\\5--55 --|5--5--57|
C#m D E E
G:--------|--------|--------|----9-----------|
D:--------|--------|---/9/9-|--79------------|
A:4--44--4|5--55---|7--7----|7-----------7---|
E:--------|--------|--------|----------------|
1 & 2 3 4
[VERSE]
D
We used to have so many plans
D A A
Something always seemed to turn out wrong
D
I never could catch up to you
D A A
Moving on and doing all you've done
C#m D E E
I don't know why, the harder I try The harder it comes
D D A A D D A A
G:--------|--------|--------|------6---------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|------47|--------|7------7--7-----|--------|-------4|7--77---|------7-|
A:5--55---|5--557--|------7-|--------7---7-4-|5--55---|5--55 7-|--------|-----7--|
E:--------|--------|5--55---|----------------|--------|--------|------C\\5--55--5|
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
C#m D E E
G:--------|--------|--------|--------9-------|
D:--------|--------|---/9/9-|--7-97----9-----|
A:4--44--4|5--55--5|7--7----|7--7--7-----7---|
E:--------|--------|--------|----------------|
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
[CHORUS]
A D
I never meant to make you cry And though I know I shouldn't call
Bm E
It just reminds us of the cost Of everything we've lost
A
Bad timing that's all
A D
And maybe soon there'll come a day When no more tears will fall
Bm E
If we each forgive a little bit And we both look back on it
A
As just bad timing that's all
A A D D Bm E A A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|--------|--------|--------|------4-|--------|--------|--------|
A:----7--7|------4-|5--5----|5---5-4-|2--22---|---77---|--------|----7---|
E:5--5----|5--57---|----5--5|---5----|--------|0-----7-|5--50--0|5--5--0-|
A A D D Bm E A A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|------6---------|
D:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--7-7---7-------|
A:----7-7-|------4-|5--5----|5--55 4 |2--22 --|---77---|----7-7-|---7------9-7-9-|
E:5--5----|5--57---|----5--5|--------|------2 |0-----7-|5--5----|5---------------|
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
[CODA]
Bm E
If we each forgive a little bit And we both look back on it
A A E D E A
As just bad timing that's all
Bm E A A E D E A
G:--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
D:--------|--------|--------|----7---|--------|--------|--------|
A:--------|---77---|----7-7-|------45|7--77---|5--5----|--------|
E:7--77-2-|0-----7-|5--5----|5-------|--------|----0-4-|5~~~~~~~|
Tabbed by Michael Oxner
moxner@nbnet.nb.ca
Updated January 5, 2012
| Bass Tabs |
|
| Title |
Bad Timing |
| Artist |
Blue Rodeo |
| Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
| YouTube ID |
WEYJbyH1Cns |
Interactive Bass Tab Guide
Interactive bass tabs provide a better experience than ASCII tabs. With playback, loop, print features and a responsive display that follows the screen of your device.
Use these buttons to control the digital tab player.
| Symbol | Function |
|---|
| Move cursor to the first bar |
| Play interactive tabs |
| Pause playback |
| Loop |
| Print the tab |
| Zoom |
| Page | Switch between page and horizontal view mode |
How to Read Bass Tab: A Beginner's Guide
1. Understanding the Basics
a. Strings:
Bass tab consists of horizontal lines representing the strings of the bass guitar.
The lowest-pitched string (usually the E string) is at the bottom, and the highest-pitched string
(usually the G string) is at the top.
b. Numbers:
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to play on a specific string.
For example, if you see "3" on the E string, it means you should press down the third fret on the lowest string.
2. Reading Bass Tab Example
In this tab:
- Play the note on the 1st fret of the E string.
- Play the open E string.
- Play the 3rd fret on the A string.
- Play the 1st fret on the A string.
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|---------3-------|
E|---1-1---1---3---|
3. Playing Techniques
a. Hammer-ons and Pull-offs:
Hammer-ons are represented by an "h" (e.g., 5h7 means play the 5th fret and hammer onto the 7th fret).
Pull-offs are represented by a "p" (e.g., 7p5 means play the 7th fret and pull off to the 5th fret).
b. Slides:
Slides are often indicated by an "/" or "\\" between two numbers (e.g., 5/7 means slide from the 5th fret to the 7th fret).
