WE ARE FAMILY (Bassline)
As recorded by Sister Sledge
(From the 1979 Album WE ARE FAMILY)
Words and Music by Bernard Edwards & Nile Rodgers
Gtr I (E A D G) - 'Bernard Edwards - Bass'
[Intro]
Q=120
4/4
Gtr I
H Q E E Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E S S
G|-------------||-----------------------|------------------------|
D|-------------||o------------7---------|------------5-----------|
A|-------------||o----------------------|--------------------3h5-|
E|-----------5-||-----5---0-5---5-----3-|----3---0-3---3---------|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E E S S E S S E S S E E
G|------------7---------|-----------------------||---5h6------------------|
D|----------------------|------------5---------o||---------5h7---4h5------|
A|----5---0-5---5-------|----------------------o||------------------------|
E|--------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---4-5--||---------------------3--|
Q E S S S S S S E S S Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|------------------------|------------7---------|----------------------|
D|------------5-----------|----------------------|------------5---------|
A|--------------------3h5-|----5---0-5---5-------|----------------------|
E|----3---0-3---3---------|--------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---4-5-|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E S S Q E S S S S S S E E
G|----------------------|------------------------|------------7---------|
D|------------7---------|------------5-----------|----------------------|
A|----------------------|--------------------3h5-|----5---0-5---5-------|
E|----5---0-5---5-----3-|----3---0-3---3---------|--------------------3-|
[Chorus]
Segno $
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|----------------------||-----------------------|-----------------------|
D|------------5---------||o------------7---------|------------5----------|
A|----------------------||o----------------------|--------------------5--|
E|----3---0-3---3---4-5-||-----5---0-5---5-----3-|----3---0-3---3--------|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|------------7---------|----------------------|-----------------------|
D|----------------------|------------5---------|------------7----------|
A|----5---0-5---5-------|----------------------|-----------------------|
E|--------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---4-5-|----5---0-5---5-----3--|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|----------------------|------------7---------|-----------------------|
D|------------5---------|----------------------|------------5----------|
A|--------------------5-|----5---0-5---5-------|-----------------------|
E|----3---0-3---3-------|--------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---4-5--|
E S S E S S E S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|---5h6-----------------|----------------------|------------7----------|
D|---------5h7---4h5-----|------------5---------|-----------------------|
A|-----------------------|--------------------5-|----5---0-5---5--------|
E|---------------------3-|----3---0-3---3-------|--------------------3--|
To Coda
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|----------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
D|------------5---------|------------7---------|------------5----------|
A|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------5--|
E|----3---0-3---3---4-5-|----5---0-5---5-----3-|----3---0-3---3--------|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E E E E E S S S S S S E
G|------------7---------|----------------------||------------------------|
D|----------------------|------------5---------||---------5h7------------|
A|----5---0-5---5-------|----------------------||-----4-7-----5h7-----7--|
S|--------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---4-5-||-5---------------5------|
[Verses]
+E S S S S E +E S S Q E E E E S S S S S S E +E S S S S E +E S S Q
G|-----9-------------7------|-----------------------|-----9-------------7-------|
D|--------------------------|---------5h7-----------|---------------------------|
A|-(7)---------5-(5)--------|-----4-7-----5h7-----7-|-(7)---------5-(5)---------|
E|---------0----------------|-5---------------5-----|---------0-----------------|
E E E E S S S S S S E +E S S S S E +E S S Q E E E E S S S S S S E
G|-----------------------|-----9-------------7------|------------------------|
D|---------5h7-----------|--------------------------|---------5h7------------|
A|-----4-7-----5h7-----7-|-(7)---------5-(5)--------|-----4-7-----5h7-----7--|
E|-5---------------5-----|---------0----------------|-5---------------5------|
+E S S S S E +E S S Q E E E E S S S S S S E +E S S S S E +E S S Q
G|-----9-------------7------|-----------------------|-----9-------------7-------|
D|--------------------------|---------5h7-----------|---------------------------|
A|-(7)---------5-(5)--------|-----4-7-----5h7-----7-|-(7)---------5-(5)---------|
E|---------0----------------|-5---------------5-----|---------0-----------------|
E E E E S S S S S S E +E S S S S E +E S S Q E E E E S S S S S S E
G|-----------------------|-----9-------------7------|------------------------|
D|---------5h7-----------|--------------------------|---------5h7------------|
A|-----4-7-----5h7-----7-|-(7)---------5-(5)--------|-----4-7-----5h7-----7--|
E|-5---------------5-----|---------0----------------|-5---------------5------|
+E S S S S E +E S S Q E E E E S S S S S S E
G|-----9-------------7------|-----------------------|
D|--------------------------|---------5h7-----------|
A|-(7)---------5-(5)--------|-----4-7-----5h7-----7-|
E|---------0----------------|-5---------------5-----|
Dal Segno al Coda
+E S S S S E +E S S E E
G|-----9-------------7---------||
D|----------------------------o||
A|-(7)---------5-(5)----------o||
E|---------0---------------5---||
[Outro]
Coda &
Q E S S S S S S E E +E E E E +E E E E
G|------------7---------|---------------------|
D|----------------------|---------------5-6-7-|
A|----5---0-5---5-----5-|-(5)-6-7-8-(8)-------|
E|----------------------|---------------------|
+Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|-(7)----------7---------|------------5-----------|
A|------------------------|--------------------5---|
E|------5---0-5---5-----3-|----3---0-3---3---------|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|------------7---------|----------------------|
D|----------------------|------------5---------|
A|----5---0-5---5-------|----------------------|
E|--------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---4-5-|
E S S E S S E S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|---5h6-----------------|------------------------|
D|---------5h7---4h5-----|------------5-----------|
A|-----------------------|--------------------5---|
E|---------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---------|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|------------7---------|----------------------|
D|----------------------|------------5---------|
A|----5---0-5---5-------|----------------------|
E|--------------------3-|----3---0-3---3---4-5-|
Q E S S S S S S E E Q E S S S S S S E E
G|----------------------|------------------------*|
D|------------7---------|------------5-----------*|
A|----------------------|--------------------5---*|
E|----5---0-5---5-----3-|----3---0-3---3---------*|
Duration Legend
---------------
W - whole; H - half; Q - quarter; E - 8th; S - 16th; T - 32nd; X - 64th; a - acciaccatura
+ - note tied to previous; . - note dotted; .. - note double dotted
Uncapitalized letters represent notes that are staccato (1/2 duration)
Irregular groupings are notated above the duration line
Duration letters will always appear directly above the note/fret number it represents the
duration for. Duration letters with no fret number below them represent rests. Multi-
bar rests are notated in the form Wxn, where n is the number of bars to rest for. Low
melody durations appear below the staff
************************************
| h Hammer-on
************************************
Misc Legend
-----------
| - bar
|| - double bar
||o - repeat start
o|| - repeat end
*| - double bar (ending)
: - bar (freetime)
$ - Segno
& - Coda
Tempo markers - = BPM(8/16=s8/s16), where s8 = swing 8ths, s16 = swing 16ths
| Bass Tabs |
|
| Title |
We Are Family |
| Artist |
Sister Sledge |
| Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
| YouTube ID |
lJh4L8NMHfw |
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).
