[Verse 1 (0:45)]
G|-------------12--13--14-------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-------11--12--13-------| (x3)
G|--------------12--13--14------|---------------12--13--14--------|
D|---------3--------------------|---------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E|--0h1---------11--12--13------|---0h1---------11--12--13--------| (x7)
G|---------------12--13--14------9-|
D|---------3-----------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---0h1---------11--12--13------8-| (x1)
[Chorus 1 (1:44)]
G|--------7---8-----------------|---5---6---------------------|
D|------------------------------|----------------------10-----|
A|------------------------------|-----------------------------|
E|--------6---7------8---6------|---4---5-------7--8----------| (x2)
G|----7---8---------------------|-----------------------------|
D|------------------------------|---8/9\8--6------------------|
A|------------------------------|--------------8p6------------|
E|----6---7-------8---6---------|-----------------------4-----| (x1)
[Bridge 1 (2:04)]
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-4-4-4-2-2-3-3---------| (x3)
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|--------------2-4-2-----------|
E|--4-4-4-4-4-4-------4-2-------| (x1)
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-4-4-4-2-2-3-3---------| (x3)
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-4--2-3-4--4-3-2-------| (x1)
[Verse 2 (2:31)]
G|-----12--13--14---------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|-----11--12--13---------------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x3)
G|-------------5--6--7----------|-------------5--6--7----------|
D|------------------------------|--------8---------------------|
A|------------------------------|------------------------------|
E|---5h6-------4--5--6----------|---5h6-------4--5--6----------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|-----------12--13--14------9--|
D|------------------------------|--------3---------------------|
A|------------------------------|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------|---0h1-----11--12--13------8--| (x1)
[Chorus 2 (2:56)]
G|-----7--8--9--10--------------|---5--6--7--8----------------|
D|------------------------------|---------------------------10|
A|------------------------------|-----------------------------|
E|-----6--7--8--9--------8---6--|---4--5--6--7--------7--8----| (x2)
G|-----7--8--9--10--------------|-----------------------------|
D|------------------------------|---8/9\8--6------------------|
A|------------------------------|-------------6h8--------6----|
E|-----6--7--8--9--------8---6--|------------------6h8------4-| (x1)
[Bridge 2(3:16)]
G|------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------6-6------6-----6---------------|
A|----------------------------------------6-----6-------------|
E|-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-------4--------4-----4-4---4-3-2-| (x1)
[Verse 3 (3:23)]
G|-----12--13--14---------------|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|------------------------------|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|------------------------------|
E|-----11--12--13---------------|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|--------3---------------------|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x1)
G|-------------5--6--7----------|-------------5--6--7----------|
D|------------------------------|--------8---------------------|
A|------------------------------|------------------------------|
E|---5h6-------4--5--6----------|---5h6-------4--5--6----------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|------------------------------|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------|---0h1-----11--12--13-----6-8-| (1x)
[Chorus 3 (3:49)]
G|-----7--8--9------------------|---5--6--7-------------------|
D|------------------------------|---------------------------10|
A|------------------------------|-----------------------------|
E|-----6--7--8--------8---6-----|---4--5--6-----------7--8----| (x2)
G|-----7--8--9------------------|-----------------------------|
D|------------------------------|--------6--------------------|
A|------------------------------|---6h8-----6-----------------|
E|-----6--7--8--------8---6-----|--------------6h8----------4-| (x1)
[Bridge 3 (4:08)]
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-4-4-4-2-2-3-3---------| (x7)
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|--4-4-4-4--2-3-4--4-3-2-------| (x1)
[Verse 4 (4:35)]
G|-----12--13--14---------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|-----11--12--13---------------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x2)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|--------3---------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x2)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|--------3---------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x1)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|--------3---------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x4)
G|-----------12--13--14---------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11--12--13---------| (x4)
G|-----------12/13/14-----------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|---0h1-----11/12/13-----------| (x12)
[Fade out (6:00)]
************************************
| h Hammer-on
| p Pull-off
| / Slide up
| \ Slide down
************************************
Bass Tabs |
|
Title |
Watermelon Man |
Artist |
Herbie Hancock |
Tablature Type |
ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID |
oP-vD4ScAGA |
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).