Lady Writer
Song Writer: Mark Knopfler
Original Artists: Dire Straits
Release Date: July 1979
Bassist: John Illsley
Tabbed by bass50611
Great fast moving song. Not exact to original
But how I would play it on stage. Comments at bass254@btinternet.com
Tab completely updated 30th April 2016 following the 2 comments below.
Intro:
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4---------0--0---2--2---4---4------|
E|--------------------0-2-4-----------------------2-2-4-|
G|----------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4---------0--0---2--2------6-----|
E|--------------------0-2-4----------------4--4---4-4-|
Verse 1:
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2---4---4---4--|
E|--------------------2-2-4----------------------4---4-|
G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2------6-----|
E|--------------------0-2-4---------------4--4---4-4-|
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2---4---4------|
E|--------------------0-2-4----------------------0-2-4-|
G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2------6-----|
E|--------------------0-2-4---------------4--4---4-4-|
Bridge 1:
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------2--------2-------------------------------------2--------2-|
A|-0---4----0---4-----------2-4-2---------2-4-2---0---4----0---4---|
E|--------------------0---4---------0---4--------------------------|
G|-----1--------------------------------------------------------|
D|---2-----------1----------------------------------------------|
A|-4----4---2--2---2---------0--0--0-4-0---4--4--4--4---4--4--4-|
E|-----------4-------4--2--2-----------------------4--4---------|
Verse 2:
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2---4---4------|
E|--------------------0-2-4----------------------0-2-4-|
G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2------6-----|
E|--------------------0-2-4---------------4--4---4-4-|
Bridge 1:
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------2--------2-------------------------------------2--------2-|
A|-0---4----0---4-----------2-4-2---------2-4-2---0---4----0---4---|
E|--------------------0---4---------0---4--------------------------|
G|-----1---------------------------------------------------------|
D|---2-----------1-----------------------------------------------|
A|-4----4---2--2---2---------0--0--0-4-0---4--4--4-4--4--4--4-4--|
E|-----------4-------4--2--2----------------------4-4--------4-4-|
Middle 8:
G|---------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---6---9-----6---9-6-------------------------------------------|
A|-7---------7-------------6---9-----6---------------6---------6-|
E|-----------------------7---------7----7-6---4--4-4----4--4-4---|
G|---1---4-----1---4-1----------------------------------------|
D|-2---------2------------1---4----1--------------------------|
A|----------------------2--------2---2--1----------6--------6-|
E|------------------------------------------4--4-4----4--4-4--|
G|------------------------|
D|------------------------|
A|--------4---------4-----|
E|-2--2-2----2--2-2---2-4-|
Instrumental:
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2---4---4---4--|
E|--------------------2-2-4----------------------4---4-|
G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2------6-----|
E|--------------------0-2-4---------------4--4---4-4-|
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2---4---4------|
E|--------------------0-2-4----------------------0-2-4-|
G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2------6-----|
E|--------------------0-2-4---------------4--4---4-4-|
Bridge 1:
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------2--------2-------------------------------------2--------2-|
A|-0---4----0---4-----------2-4-2---------2-4-2---0---4----0---4---|
E|--------------------0---4---------0---4--------------------------|
G|-----1--------------------------------------------------------|
D|---2-----------1----------------------------------------------|
A|-4----4---2--2---2---------0--0--0-4-0---4--4--4--4---4--4--4-|
E|-----------4-------4--2--2-----------------------4--4---------|
Verse 3:
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2---4---4------|
E|--------------------0-2-4----------------------0-2-4-|
G|---------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4--------0--0---2--2------6-----|
E|--------------------0-2-4---------------4--4---4-4-|
Outro: (Repeat Outro To Fade/End)
G|--------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------2-------------------------4--2--1--|
A|-0--0---2--2---4---4---4-2----0--0---2--2---4---------4-|
E|--------------------------------------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------6-4-------------------------------|
A|-0--0---2--2---4------6-4----0--0---2--2-------6-----|
E|------------------------------------------4--4---4-4-|
Bass Tabs |
|
Title |
Lady Writer |
Artist |
Dire Straits |
Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID |
BlD6jCGVU4A |
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).