From Scary Monsters (1981)
Fun licks here. There's a slap part in the outro.
Tabbed by Leo Chiurco
[Intro]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------------------------------| (x2)
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
A|-------------5-------7-----------|-------------------------|
E|-8-------x-----------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---5-------------------|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------x---5-------|-------------------------|
A|-3-------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-------------0-------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|-------------------------|
D|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---5-------x---|
E|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
[Verse 1] "The vacuum created ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------7-------------------|
A|-------------5-------------------|-7-------7-----------------------|
E|-5-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------7---9-------------------|-7---7-------5-------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------5-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-------------5---------------5---|-7-------------------------------|
E|-5-------5-----------------------|-----2---3---5-------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------4---5-------5---5h6-7---|
E|-5-------0---2-------------------|-0---5---------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------7-------------------|
A|-------------5-------------------|-7-------7-----------------------|
E|-5-------5-----------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|-----9---------------------7-----|
A|---------7---9-------------------|-7-------7---5-------5---5---7---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------7-------------------|
A|-------------5---------------5---|-7-------7-------------------7---|
E|-5-------5-----------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|-2---------------|
A|-----7---8---9---------------4---|-----2---4---5---|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + +
[Chorus 1] "Yeah, up the hill backwards ..."
G|---------7-----------7-----------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----5-------5---5-------5---5---|-----5---5---5---5-----------5---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------5---7-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------5-------5-------5-------|-7-----------5-------5---5---5---|
E|-----------------------------5---|---------7-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Solo]
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-------------7-------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-5-------5-----------------------|-7-------7-----------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------5-------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|---------4---5-----------7-------|
E|-5---0---1---2---------------2---|-0---5---------------7-----------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Verse 2] "While we sleep ..."
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------7-------------------|
A|-------------5-------------------|-7---9---7-------------------7---|
E|-5-------5-----------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------6---11------------------|-9-----------7-------------------|
D|-7---9---------------------9h11--|-----7---9-----------9-----------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------7---9\--|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------7-------------------|
A|-------------5---------------5---|-7-------7-------------------7---|
E|-5-------5-----------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------7---9-------------------|-7-----------5-----------5---7---|
E|---------------------------------|---------5-----------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-------------5---------------5---|-7-------7-----------------------|
E|-5-------5-----------------------|-------------5-------2---3---4---|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-----------------|
D|---------------------------------|-----------------|
A|---------------------------------|-----2---4---5---|
E|-5-------5---2-------------------|-0---------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + +
[Chorus 2] "Yeah, up the hill backwards ..."
G|---------7-----------7-----------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|-----5-------5---5-------5---5---|-----5---5---5---5-----------5---|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------5---7-------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A|---------5-------5-------5-------|-7-----------5-------------------|
E|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + +
[Outro]
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
A|-------------5-------7-----------|-------------------------|
E|-8-------x-----------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---3-------5-----------|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-3-------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|---------x---0-------1---3-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---5-------7-----------|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
(Slap from here on. Slap on E & A, Pop on D & G)
G|*--------x-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|*--------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|*--------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|*5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-3-------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|---------x---0-------x---3-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------x-----------------------|------------------------*|
D|---------------------------------|------------------------*| (x2)
A|-5-----------3-------5-----------|------------------------*|
E|-------------------------5-------|------------------------*|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------7-----------------------|-------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------7-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------5-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-3-------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-------------0-------x---3-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------x-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-----------3-------5-----------|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------x-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-5-----------5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x---5-------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-3-------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|---------x---0-------x---3-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------x-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------7-----------|-------------------------|
A|-5-----------5-------------------|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
D|-------------7-------------------|-------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
E|-5-------x-----------x---5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|-------------7-------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-5-------x-----------3---5-------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------5-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------|
A|-3-----------3-------------------|-------------------------|
E|---------------------0---3-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
G|---------x-----------------------|-------------------------|
D|---------------------------------|-------------------------| (Fade)
A|-5-----------5-------7-----------|-------------------------|
E|-------------------------5-------|-------------------------|
1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + + 4 + + + 1 + + + 2 + + + 3 + + +
***********************************
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
| h Hammer-on
| x Dead note
***********************************
Bass Tabs |
|
Title |
Up The Hill Backwards |
Artist |
David Bowie |
Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID |
UqOtu1ndXuE |
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).