Album: Space Oddity (1969)
Bassist: Herbie Flowers
This one was really hard to tab. Make sure to listen and follow the tab, some parts are hard to get.
This is a challenging song to play. Enjoy
Tabbed by Leo Chiurco
[Intro] Bass starts at 0:15
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------14\-----|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-3~------------------------------|-2~----------------------14\-----|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-3~------------------------------|-2~------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 1] "Ground control ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-3~--------------3~--------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-0~--------------0~--------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-3~--------------3~--------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-0~--------------0~--/-----------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------12\-----|
A|-12~-------------10~-------------|-9~------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-3~--------------3~--------------|-----------------------------2.--|
E|-----------------------------3.--|-0~--------------0~--------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-3~--------------3~----------3.--|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-0~------/-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-12~---------12--10~-------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-10~-----------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
Wait till the end of the trippy lift off and
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------19-17-------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------------19----|
A|---------------------------------|----------------------------------17\|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 2] "This is ground control ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------2---5-|
A|-3~------------------3---10\-5.--|-7-----------------------2-------|
E|---------------3-5.5-------------|-----7---0~----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-3~------------------3---10\-5.--|-6~------------------x-----------|
A|---------------x-3h5-------------|-------------8.5-7.--------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------8\--3\--|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------3.--5/7---5-|-3~------------3-----------------|
A|---------------x-3h5-------------|-----------------3.--3~----------|
E|-1~------------------------------|-----------------------------3---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------3h5-5/7-7\--3---|---------------------------------|
A|-------------3h5-----------------|-3~----------------------3-5---3-|
E|-1~------------------------------|-------------0-0-----3-----------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----------------------5---------|
D|---------------------------------|-----3~--------------3-----5-7---|
A|-2-----------------------7-5---3-|-3.--------------3h5-------------|
E|-----4---0~----------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----6-------8-9-10\-5.--2-------|---------------------3h5-5/7-7---|
A|-8---------------------------3---|---------------x-3h5-------------|
E|-------------------------------x-|-1~------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-6\--3~------------5-------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------5-7---------------|---------------3-----------------|
E|---------------------8.--8\--3\--|-1~--------------1.--1/----------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Chorus 1] "For here ..."
G|-------------10-9---7-------------|---------------------------------|
D|------------------------10--9-----|---------------------------9-7---|
A|-8~-----------------------------10|-7-----------------------7-----10|
E|----------------------------------|-----7---0~----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|-----------------10-9---7---------|---------------------------------|
D|----------------------------10--9-|---------------------------------|
A|-8~-------------------------------|-7-------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|-----7---0~----------0/----------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|-----------------------------2---|------------------|
D|---------------8---5-7\--2-------|-5~---------------|
A|-------------8-------------------|---------------5--|
E|-6~------------------------------|------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + +
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------3-----------------------|
A|-8-8\--3-----3-------------------|
E|-----------------1/--------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Bridge]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------17\-----|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|-----------------10-9---7---------|---------------------------------|
D|----------------------------10--7-|-9-------------------------9.--5-|
A|-8~-------------------------------|-----10--7~--------------7-------|
E|----------------------------------|---------------------7h9---------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|-------------6-7---8-9-----------|---------------------------------|
D|-7~----------------------9\--5\--|-2.--5.--------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------3---------------3-5-7-5-|
E|---------------------------------|-----------0.--3.--5.--5---------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----------------------------9\--|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-7.--5-7.--5-7~----5-7.--7.------|---------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------7---|-0~------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 3] "Though I'm past ..."
G|-----------------------5.--4.----|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------5-5-|-----------------------9.--5-6---|
A|-3~----------------3.------------|-7.--7~--------------7---------7-|
E|-------------3h5.----------------|-----------------7h9-------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------9-10.-10--9-|-10\-7\--------------------------|
D|-----------------9h10------------|---------10\-6-5.----------------|
A|-8.--8~--------------------------|-------------------7.--5-3-2-----|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------------------3~--|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------------10--5-7.5-|-6---------6p5---------------5---|
A|---------------------8-----------|-----8---------8-7.--7~--------7-|
E|-1.--1~--------x-8h10------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------7---|-5.--5~--------------------------|
A|-8.--8~------------8.----8.------|-----------------7-7.------------|
E|-----------------8-----8---------|-----------------------x-7---0---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------0---5-----0-5-0-5---|
E|-5~------------5-3.--3~------3---|-2~----------------2-------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
|---3---|
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------2---|/5.--5~----------5.--12-12-11-10-5-----|
A|-3---------3.--5-7-5-3---3-------|-------------5h7-------------------5-7-|
E|---0.--3.------------------------|---------------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Chorus 2] "For here ..."
G|-------------10----9.--7.--------|-----------------------------------|
D|---------------------------10--7-|-9.9------------------------9------|
A|-8~--/---.-----------------------|-----10.--7~------.-------7---10-7-|
E|---------------------------------|----------------------7h9----------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
D|---------------------14h15-15\14--14\12-12\10-|-10\9-9\7-7-5.--5-----------------|
A|-8~------.-----14h15--------------------------|------------------7-5-----7-5-----|
E|----------------------------------------------|----------------------8---------8-|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|----------------------------------|------------------|
D|-----------------10-7.--5-----7---|-5---5~-----------|
A|-------------8h10---------7.------|---------------5--|
E|-6.--6~---------------------------|------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + +
G|---------------------------------|
D|---------3---3-------------------|
A|-8\----3---3---3-----------------|
E|-----------------1/--------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Outro]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------15\-----|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|----------------12---14--12---------|----------------------------------|
D|-------------15--------------15--12-|-14\-5.--------------9-10\--5--5--|
A|-8~---------------------------------|---------7~--------10---------7---|
E|------------------------------------|----------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
|--3--|
G|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7~--------11-12-13-14\---11\--7-5---5-|---------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------7---|-7-5-----------0-3.--5-7.--5-7.--|
E|---------------------------------------|-----8\--0-3.--------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----15--16----14--13-----------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------------16\14-14\12-12-|
A|-5-7.--5-7.--5-7.--5-7.--5-7/----|--------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D|\11-11\9--7.--6-------------------|---------------------------14-16.---18-16-18-16-|
A|----------------9---5-7.------7h9-|-9/11-11.---11/12-12-14.------------------------|
E|--------------------------7h9-----|------------------------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|----x--14\---11-9.--9\--5-6-7-9\5-----|---------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------7-5-|-7-------------------------------| (Impossible to tab from here on)
E|--------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
****************************************
| ~ Let ring
| . Staccato
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
|-3-| Triplet
| x Dead note
****************************************
Bass Tabs |
|
Title |
Space Oddity |
Artist |
David Bowie |
Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID |
iYYRH4apXDo |
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).