Octopus’s Garden

Octopus’s Garden Bass Tab

OCTOPUS’S GARDEN

Written by Richard Starkey
From Abbey Road album, released on September 26, 1969
Take 32, recorded on April 26, 1969

INTRO
  00:00
  t=184
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------7---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------7-----------------------|

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-----7-------------------6-------|
E|---------------------------------|---------7-------9---------------|

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-4-------------------------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|-----------------4---------------|

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------6---------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-7-------9---------------7-------|

VERSE

  00:10

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7---------------6---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
           I’d     like    to  be

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4---------------2---------------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
           under       the     sea                           in  an

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------7---------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-5-----------------------5-------|
   octopus’s                   garden                    in  the shade

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------6------------6--|
E|-7-------7-------7-------7-------|-7-------9------------7--7h9-----|

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7---------------6---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
           He’d    let us      in

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4---------------2---------------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
           knows   where we’ve been                          in  his

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------7---------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-5-----------------------5-------|
   octopus’s                   garden                    in  the shade

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------6---------------6-------|
E|-7-------7-------7-------7-------|-9---------------7---9-----------|

PRE-CHORUS

  00:31

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-9-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
           I’d     ask     my        friends                 to

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-9---------------7---------------|
   come            and     see

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
           an      octopus’s

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|-7-------7-------7-------7-------|---------7-------9---------------|
   garden          with    me

CHORUS

  00:41

G|-----------------9---------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7---------------6---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
           I’d     like    to  be

G|-----------------6---------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4---------------2---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
           under       the     sea                           in  an

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|-5-----------------------5-------|-7---------------9---------------|
   octopus’s                   garden                    in  the shade

G|-----------------9---------------|-9---------------9---6---6-------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

VERSE

  00:52

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7---------------6---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
           We      would   be  warm

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4-------4-------2---------------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
           below       the     storm                         in  our

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------7---------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-5-----------------------5-------|
   little          hideaway                      beneath the waves

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------9---------------|-----------------6---------------|
E|-7-------------------------------|-7-------9---------------7-------|

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7b9r7-----------6---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
           Resting     our     head

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4b6r4-----------2---------------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
           on      the seabed                                in  an

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------4-------7-------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-5-------------------------------|
   octopus’s                   garden                   near a

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------6-----------------------|
E|-7---------------7-------7-------|-9-------------------7-----------|
   cave

PRE-CHORUS

  01:12

G|---------------------------------|-13------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-9-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
                   We      would     sing                    and

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-9---------------7---------------|
   dance           around

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
           because         we        know            we

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|-7-------7-------7---------------|---------7-------9---------------|
   can’t   be      found

CHORUS

  01:23

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7---------------6---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
           I’d     like    to  be

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4---------------2---------------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
           under       the     sea                           in  an

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------6---------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-7-------9---------------7-------|
   octopus’s                   garden                    in  the shade

G|---------------------------------|/9-------9---9---9---7---6-------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------------------9---|
A|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|

GUITAR SOLO

  01:33

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------7-----------------------|-7-------7-----------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------7---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah    Aaaaaaaaaaaah

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-------4-----------------------|-4-------4-----------------------|
A|-----------------4---------------|-----------------4---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5-------5-----------------------|-5-------5---------------5-------|
E|-----------------5---------------|-----------------5---------------|
   Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah    Aaaaaaaaaaaah

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------6-----------------------|
A|-7-------7-----------------------|-7---9-----------7---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
   Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------7-----------------------|-7-------7-----------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------7---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah    Aaaaaaaaaaaah

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-4-------4-----------------------|-4-------4-----------------------|
A|-----------------4---------------|-----------------4---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5-------5-----------------------|-7-------7-----------5---4-------|
E|-----------------5---------------|-----------------7-----------7---|
   Aaaaaaaaaah     aaaaaaaaaah       aaaaaaaaaah     aaaaaaaaaah

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|-5-------5-------5-------5-------|-7-------7-------9---------------|
   Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah        aaaaah    aaaaaaaaaah     aaaaaaaaaah

VERSE

  01:54

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7-------7-----------------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|-------------------------4-------|
                   We  would   shout

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4-------4---------------2-------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
           and        swim about                                 the

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------7---------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-5-----------------------5-------|
   coral                  that lies              beneath     the waves

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-------------------------6-------|-7-----------------------6-------|
E|-7-------7-------9---------------|---------7-------9---------------|
  (Lies            beneath                   the     ocean

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------7-----------------------|-7---------------6---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
   waves)          Oh, what    joy                               for

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4-------4-------2---------------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
   ev’ry          girl and     boy

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|---------4-------7-------4-------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-5-------------------------------|
   knowing                 they’re   happy           and they’re

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------9---------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|-7-------------------------------|-7---------------9---------------|
   safe
  (Happy                             and             they’re

PRE-CHORUS

  02:15

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-9-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   safe)           We      would     be                      so

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-------------------------4-------|-9-------9-------7-------7-------|
   happy           you and     me

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
   no      one     there       to   tell us          what    to  do

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|-7-------7-------7-------7---7---|-----7---7-------9---------------|

CHORUS

  02:25

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|-7-------7-------6---------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|---------------------------------|
           I’d     like    to  be

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-4-------------------------------|-4---------------2---------------|
E|-----------------4---------------|---------------------------------|
           under       the     sea                           in  an

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-------------------------6-------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-7---------------9---------------|
   octopus’s                   garden                    with    you

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-----------------7---------------|-9---------------7---------------|
                                                             in  an

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------4-------7-------|-----------------6-------9-------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-7-------------------------------|
   octopus’s                   garden                    with    you

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|-9-------9-------9-------9-------|-9-------7-------7-------7-------|
                                                             in  an

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------7---------------|-----------------6---------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|-7-------------------------------|
   octopus’s                   garden                    with    you

G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7---------------\---------------|---------6-------7---------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
Bass Tabs
Title Octopus’s Garden
Artist The Beatles
Tablature Type ASCII Tab
YouTube ID A7coEcXjd7Q

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.

SymbolFunction
Move cursor to the first bar
Play interactive tabs
Pause playback
Loop
Print the tab
Zoom
PageSwitch 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).

BassTabz is a bass tab library maintained by professional Guitar Pro transcribers. With over 15 years of experience, we try to transcribe as accurately as possible, we transcribe bass tabs for free. Learn More

Disclaimer: We do not host images, MP3s or lyrics. This Bass Tab is a transcription by a musician, not written by the original artist, for education and personal use only.
© 2025 BassTabz - WordPress Theme by WPEnjoy