Artist: Michael Jackson
Song: Earth Song
Album: This is it (means a lot if You need timing for this tab)
Bassist: Guy Pratt
Tuning: Standard
Remember: You can always simplify this song and play it without all those
variations and it will still sound great. Song is 4/4 and "+" marks mean
beats to ease Your learning. Have fun!
[0:47] Verse (play it twice):
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------| |------------------------|
D|6-----------------------| |------------------------|
A|------------4-----------| |6~----------------------|
D|------------------------| x3 |------------------------|
[1:15] Pre-chorus:
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------4-----------|------------------------|
A|7-----------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|7-----7--6--4-----------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|4-----------------------|6-----------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
[1:28] Chorus:
+ + + +
G|------------------------|
D|6-----------------------|
A|------------4-----------|
D|------------------------| x7
[1:55] Verse (twice again):
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------| |------------------------|
D|6-----------------------| |------------------------|
A|------------4-----------| |6~----------------------|
D|------------------------| x3 |------------------------|
[2:23] Pre-chorus
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------4-----------|------------------------|
A|4-----------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|7-----7--6--4-----------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------11\---|
[2:38] Chorus:
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|6-----4-----------------|
A|------------4-----4-----|----------654-----------|
D|4-----7-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|6-----4-----------------|
A|------------4-----4-----|----------654-----------|
D|4-----7-----------------|------------------7-----|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|6-----4-----------------|
A|------------4----(4)---5|----------654-----------|
D|4-----7-----------b-----|---------------------4h7|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------4-----4-----|6-----------------------|
D|4-----7-----------------|------------------------|
[3:05] Pre-chorus
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------4-----|------------------------|
A|4--------------------4--|--------------4h6/(11)\-|
D|------------2-----------|7--------6--4-----------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|4---------x-4---------xx|6---------x-6-----6-----|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
[3:18] Chorus:
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|6-----4-----------------|
A|------------4-----4----5|----------654-----------|
D|4-----7-----------------|---------------------4h7|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|6-----4-----------------|
A|------------4----------5|----------654---------46|
D|4-----7-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|----------------876-----|
D|------------------------|6-----4-----------v-----|
A|------------4----54----5|----------654-----------|
D|4-----7-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------4-----4-----|6-----------------------|
D|4-----7-----------------|------------------------|
[3:47] Key-change.
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------876----------6|
D|6-----9-----------------|----------------------9-|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------876-------xx-6|
D|6-----9-----------------|----------------------9-|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6----76----7|----------876--------6-6|
D|6-----9-----------------|--------------------9-9-|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------6-----6-----|8-----------------------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------9-\(6)/8----|
And now starts very very long ending. I suggest to play it with Your own
variations based on what You just played. It goes something like this:
[4:15]
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|-------------108--------|
D|------------------------|8-----6---------11811810|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------876-----------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------876-----4-----|
D|6-----9-----------------|----------------------45|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------.-----|
A|------------6----76----7|----------876-----6--4/6|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------6-----6-----|8-----------------------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------999---888\--|
[4:43]
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|-------108---------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6---118118--8------|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------------11-118---|
D|6-----9-----------------|----------------------11\|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------876------6--6-|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------9--9--|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6----76----7|----------876--------6--|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------9-----|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------6-----6---67|8-----------------------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------9-9---8\----|
[5:10]
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|----------------6-v-----|
D|------------------------|8-----6-------8---8--6--|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------876---------86|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------876---654-----|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|----------------6-6-5---|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6----76----7|----------876----------6|
D|6-----9-----------------|----------------------4-|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------6-----6-----|8-----------------------|
D|6-----9-----------------|-----------x9-----8\----|
[5:38]
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|-------108108---------br|
D|------------------------|8-----6------118--118-8-|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------------11------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|--------------6---------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----8--8--6-----|
A|------------6-----6----7|----------87----6---876-|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6----76----7|----------876-----4h6p4-|
D|6-----9-----------------|-----------------------4|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------6-----6-----|8----8888---------------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------999---888\--|
[6:06] Ending:
+ + + + + + + +
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|8--6--------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------8--7--6-----6-----|----------876-----6--8--|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|---------------8108-----|
D|------------------------|8-----6------------11109|
A|------------6----76----7|----------876-----------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|8-----6-----------------|
A|------------6----76----7|----------876------6--6-|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------9--9--|
G|------------------------|------------------------|
D|------------------------|------------------------|
A|------------6-----6-----|8~----------------------|
D|6-----9-----------------|------------------------|
x dead note
v vibrato
b bend
br bend/release
() tied note
. staccato
/ slide up
\ slide down
h hammer-on
p pull-off
~ let ring
| Bass Tabs |
|
| Title |
Earth Song |
| Artist |
Michael Jackson |
| Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
| YouTube ID |
XAi3VTSdTxU |
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).
