Artist: David Bowie
Song: Aladdin Sane
Album: Aladdin Sane (1973)
Tabbed by Leo Chiurco
[Intro]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-------------9-------9-----------|-----9---------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------7---9/------|
E|-7-----------------------7-------|-------------10------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|-------------------------14------|-----16--14----------------------|
D|-------------14------14----------|-------------16--14--------------|
A|-0-------------------------------|---------------------16--14\-----|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|----/14------12------------------|
D|-------------------------10------|-----------------14--12----------|
A|-------------10------10----------|-------------------------14\-----|
E|-8-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------9-------9---------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----9-------------------9\------|
A|-7-----------7-----------7-------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------7-----------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 1] "Watching him dash away ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-------------9-------9-----------|-----9---------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------7-------9---7/------|
E|-7-----------------------7-------|---------10----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|-------------------------16------|-----19----16--------------------|
D|-------------14------14----------|-----------------19--16----------|
A|-12------------------------------|-------------------------19--16\-| (pay attention on timing here)
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------12--14--12--------------|
D|-------------10------10----------|----/14--------------14--12\-----|
A|-------------------------10------|---------------------------------|
E|-8-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------9-----------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------9-----------9\------|
A|-7---7-------7-----------7-------|-----7---------------------------|
E|---------------------7-----------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-------------9-------9-----------|-9-------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------7-------9---7/------|
E|-7-----------------------7-------|-----10--------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------16----------|-------------14--16--14----------|
D|-------------14----------14------|-----14--16--------------16--14\-|
A|-0-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------10---------|--------------10----------10----------10---------|
A|--------------------10----------10---------------|--------10----------------------10-------10\9----|
E|--8----------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----9-------9-------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-9-------------------9-----------|
A|-7-----------7-----------7-------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------7-----------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Chorus 1] "We love aladdin sane ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-12----------12--10----------10--|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12----------12--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|-12------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 2] "Motor sensational ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-------------9-------9-----------|-9-------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------7-------9---7/------|
E|-7-----------------------7-------|-----10--------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------16--16------|-19--16----------16--------------|
D|-14----------14------------------|-------------19------19------14\-|
A|-0-------------------------------|---------------------------------| (pay attention on timing here)
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|/14--12--------------------------|
D|-------------10----------10------|---------14--12--14--12----------|
A|---------------------10----------|-------------------------14\-----|
E|-8-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------9-----------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------9-----------9\------|
A|-7---------------7-----------7---|---------7-----------------------|
E|-------------7-------------------|-----7---------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Chorus 2] "We love aladdin sane ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-12----------12--10----------10--|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12----------12--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-12----------12--10----------10--|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12----------12--10----------10--|-12----------12--10----------10--| (x2)
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Most awesome piano solo ever]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12----------12--10----------10--|-12----------12--10----------10--| (Repeat many times until
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| 3:30, and back to chorus)
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Chorus 3] "We love aladdin sane ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-12----------12--10----------10--|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12----------12--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-10----------10--8-----------8---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-10----------10--8-----------8---|-12----------12--10----------10--|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|-12----------12--10----------10--|
E|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Outro]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7---------------5---------------|-7---------------5---------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| (x3)
E|---------5\--------------3/------|---------5\--------------3/------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7---7-----------5---5-----------|-7---7-----------5---5-----------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| (Repeat and fade)
E|---------5\--------------3/------|---------5\--------------3/------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
************************************
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
************************************
Bass Tabs |
|
Title |
Aladdin Sane |
Artist |
David Bowie |
Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID |
bc-E78guBLI |
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).