How Does The Grass Grow? Bass Tab

David Bowie - How Does the Grass Grow?
from The Next Day (2013)

One of my all time favourite bass lines. I figured it out note by note so this must be 100% correct.
Follow the beats to catch the rhythm.
This took me the whole day, so I hope you enjoy!

Tabbed by Leo Chiurco

Bass starts at around 0:12

[Intro]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--|-12--12--12--12--12--11--10--9---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-8---8---8---8---8---8---8---8---|-8---8---8---8---8---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Verse 1] "There's a graveyard by the station ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----8.--8.------8-------8-------|-6.--6.------6.--6---6\----------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4.--4.--4.------4-------4.------|-4.--4.----------4-------4---6---|
A|---------------------------------|-------------4-------4-----------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-8.--8.--8.------8-------8.------|-6.--6.------6.--6-----------6---|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4.--4.------4.--4---------------|-----------------4-------4---6---|
A|-------------------------4\------|-------------4-------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-2---2.--------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Verse 2] "That's where we made out trysts ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-8.--8.--8.------8-------8.------|-----6.------6.--6-------6\------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----4.------4.--4---------------|-4-------4---------------4---6---|
A|-------------------------4.--4.--|-----4---------------4-----------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-8.--8.--8.------8-------8.--8.--|-6.--6.------6.--6---6.------6---|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4.--4.--4.------4-------4-------|-----4.--------------4-----------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------4.----------4-------|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------------------6\--|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Chorus 1] "ya, ya ya ya ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2.--2.--2-------2-------2---2---|-4.--4.--4-------4-------4.--4---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------8-------8---------------|
A|---------------------------------|----/8-------8-------------------|
E|-6.--6.------6---6-------6---6---|-6-----------------------4---6---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------6-------6/------|
A|---------------------------------|------------/6-------6-----------|
E|-2---2.------2---2-------2---2---|-4---4.--------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------14\-----|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2---2.------2---2-------2---2---|-4---4.------4---4---4.------4---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------8-------8---------------|
A|---------------------------------|----/8-------8-------8-----------|
E|-6---6.------6---6-------6---6---|-6-----------------------6\------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------6-------6/------|
A|---------------------------------|---------6.--6.------6-----------|
E|-2---2.------2.--2.--2.------2---|-4.--4.--------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------14\-----|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Solo]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-8.--8.--8.------8-------8-------|-6.--6.------6.--6-------6.------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4.--4.------4.--4---------------|-4.--4.----------4-------4---6---|
A|-------------------------4.--4.--|-------------4-------4-----------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-8.--8.--8.------8-------8.------|-6.--6.----------------------6\--|
A|---------------------------------|-------------4h6---------6-------|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------4---------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4.--4-------4.--4---------------|-4.--4.----------4.--4.--6-------|
A|-----------------------------4---|-------------4-------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Verse 3] "But I lived a blind life ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-8.--8.--8.------8-------8.------|-6.--6.------6.------6.------6.--|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4.--4.------4.--4---------------|-4.--4.----------4-------4---6---|
A|-----------------------------4---|-------------4-------4-----------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-8.--8.--8.------8-------8.------|-6.--6.------6.--6-------6-------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4.--4.------4.--4---------------|-4---4.------4.------------------|
A|-----------------------------4---|---------------------6---4-------|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------------------6---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Chorus 2] "ya, ya ya ya ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2---2---2---2.--2-------2---2---|-4---4---4.--4---4.--4---4.--4---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-8-------8-----------------------|
A|----------------------------/8---|-----8-------8-------------------|
E|-6---6---6.--6---6.--6-----------|-----------------6\------4---6---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------6-------6/------|
A|---------------------------------|---------6.--6.------6-----------|
E|-2---2.------2---2---2---2---2---|-4---4.--------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------14\-----|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----6---------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------6-------------------|
E|-2---2.------2---2-----------2---|-4---------------4---4\------4---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-8-------8---10--11--10--8\------|
A|----------------------------/8---|-----8---------------------------|
E|-6---6.------6---6-------6-------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------6-------6/------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------6-------6-----------|
E|-2---2.------2.--2-------2---2---|-4.--4.--------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------14\-----|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Bridge] "I gaze in defeat ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------4---|-5-----------5---5------/7-------|
A|-7-----------7---7-------7-------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5-----------5---5---------------|-5---5-----------5-------5---6---|
E|-----------------------------5---|-------------5-------5-----------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------4---|-5---------------5---5--/7-------|
A|-7-----------7---7-------7-------|-------------5-------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|----------------/9---7-----------|-----------------7---------------|
D|-------------7---------------7---|-------------7-------7-----------|
A|-5-------------------------------|-5-----------------------5---7---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-6-----------6---6-----------6---|-5-----------5---5-------5---5---|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-----------4---4-----------4---|-3-----------3---3-------3-------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-------------------------2-------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------7-------9---|---------------------------------|
A|----------------/7---------------|-7-------7-------7---7-------7---|
E|-5-------5---5-------------------|---------------7-----------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|-----------------7---6---5---4---|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5---5-----------5---5-----------|-5\------------------------------|
E|-------------5---------------5---|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Solo 2]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2---2---2---0---2---2---2---2---|-4---4---4---0---4---4-------4---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-6---6.------6---6---8---9\------|-6---6.------6---6---6---4---6---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-2---2---2---0---2-------2---2---|-4---4---4---0---4---4-----------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------14\-----|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Chorus 3] "ya, ya ya ya ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------6\----------|
A|---------------------------------|----------------/6---------------|
E|-2---2.------2---2.------2---2---|-4---4.------4---------------4---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------8---10--11--|-10--8-------8-------------------|
A|----------------/8---------------|---------8-----------------------|
E|-6---6.------6-------------------|-------------------------4---6---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------6---------------|
A|---------------------------------|------------/6-----------6/------|
E|-2.--2.--2.--0---2-------2---2---|-4---4.--------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-15---------/17------------------|/18----------17------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------14\-----|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

[Epic outro]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12--12--|-12--12--12--12--12--12--12------|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------------------12\-|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-7---7---7---7---7---6---5---4---|
A|-----------------------------7---|---------------------------------|
E|-5---5---5---5---5---5---5-------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3/------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|-----------------5-------7---5---|
D|-------------------------5-------|-7---7---7---7-------7-----------|
A|-0---0---3---5---7---7-------7---|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7---7-------5---7---5-----------|-----------------7---6---5---4---|
A|---------7---------------7-------|---------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------8---|-----5---3---5-------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3-------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------3---|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-1---1---1---1---1---1---1---3---|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------------------5---|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------3---5---7-------|
E|-5---5---5---5---3---3---0---3---|-5---5---5---5-------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------5-------7-/-9---7-\-5---|-----7-p-5-----------------------|
D|-7---7-------7-------------------|-7-----------7---7---6---5---4---|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3-----------------------3---5---|
A|---------------------------------|-----3---0-----------3-----------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------1---1---------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7---7---7---7---5---5-----------|-----------------------------5---|
A|-------------------------7-------|-----------------3---5---7-------| (Fade)
E|-----------------------------8---|-----5---3---5-------------------|
   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +   1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +

************************************

 | . End note
 | / Slide up
 | \ Slide down
 | h Hammer-on
 | p Pull-off

************************************

Bass Tabs
Title	How Does The Grass Grow?
Artist	David Bowie
Tablature Type	ASCII Tab
YouTube ID	jGGn9aeWUqk

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).

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