The Stranger
Billy Joel
[Intro]
G|9-------7-------|5---------------|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|9---------------|10------------\-|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|2-------4---6---|7-------5-------|4-------2-------|0-------1-------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|--------5-------|3---------------|2---------------|3------------5-6|
E|0---------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|--------4---6---|7-------5-------|4-------2-------|1---------------|
A|7---------------|----------------|----------------|--------4-------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|2-------0-------|----------------|
E|----------------|0---------------|
[Main Theme]
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
D|2---------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|----------------|3---------------|----------------|3--------------|
E|----------------|----------------|0---------------|---------------|
[Verse 1]
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----5--5--|--7--7---------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------3-------|5--------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------7----|
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----7--7--|--4--4--|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------5-------|2-------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
[Theme]
G|--9--9----9--9--|--5--5----5--5--|--9--9----9--9--|--5--5----5--5-|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|7-------7-------|3-------3-------|7-------7-------|3-------3------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
[Verse 2]
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----5--5--|--7--7---------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------3-------|5--------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------7----|
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----7--7--|--4--4--|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------5-------|2-------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
G|--9--9----9--9--|
D|----------------|
A|7-------7-------|
E|----------------|
[Bridge]
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------2------|
D|----------------|----------------|--------5-------|4-----------0--|
A|----------------|--------5-------|-------5--------|---------------|
E|3-------3-------|2---------------|3---------------|---------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|----------------|--------3-------|2-------1-------|0-------2-2----|
E|3-------3-------|2---------------|----------------|---------------|
[Verse 3]
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----5--5--|--7--7---------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------3-------|5--------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------7----|
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----7--7--|--4--4--|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------5-------|2-------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
[Theme]
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
D|2---2---2---2---|----------------|2---2---2---2---|---------------|
A|----------------|3---3---3---3-5-|----------------|3---3---3---3-5|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
[Verse 4]
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----5--5--|--7--7---------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------3-------|5--------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------7----|
G|--9--9----9--9--|--2--2----9--9--|--2--2----7--7--|--4--4--|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
A|7-------7-------|0-------7-------|0-------5-------|2-------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
G|--9--9----9--9--|
D|----------------|
A|7-------7-------|
E|----------------|
[Bridge]
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------2------|
D|----------------|----------------|--------5-------|4-----------0--|
A|----------------|--------5-------|-------5--------|---------------|
E|3-------3-------|2---------------|3---------------|---------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
A|----------------|--------3-------|2-------1-------|0-------2-2----|
E|3-------3-------|2---------------|----------------|---------------|
[Verse 5]
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
D|2---2---2---2---|--------2---2---|----------------|---------------|
A|----------------|0---0-----------|0---0---3---3---|5---5-----2----|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
A|----------------|0---0-----------|0---0---5---5---|2---2--6|
E|0---0---0---0---|--------0---0---|----------------|--------|
[Theme] (repeat ad lib and fade into coda)
G|--9--9----9--9--|--5--5----5--5--|--9--9----9--9--|--5--5----5--5--|
D|*---------------|----------------|----------------|---------------*|
A|*7-------7------|3-------3-------|7-------7-------|3-------3------*|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
[Coda] (Piano fades in but the bass starts on this pattern,
very similar to the Intro but has some differences)
G|----------------|-------55-------|4---------------|5---------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|7-------5-------|3---------------|----------------|-------------5-6|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
D|--------4---6---|7-------5-------|4-------2-------|1---------------|
A|7---------------|----------------|----------------|--------4-------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
G|----------------|--------7-------|5---------------|4---------------|
D|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
A|2-------0-------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|0---------------|----------------|----------------|
G|5---------------|----------------|
D|----------------|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|0---------------|
(fade out)
Tabbed by thehallway (hall_matt94@hotmail.co.uk)
Bass Tabs |
|
Title |
The Stranger |
Artist |
Billy Joel |
Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID |
E5ofVsxTPoc |
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).