Brothers In Arms
This track by Dire Straits taken from their Album of the same name
Released as a single in 1985, reached #16 UK Chart
Bass performance John Illsley. Tab by bass50611. Hope you like my
Version of this, one of my all-time favourites. There are so many pauses
You must listen & feel the song. Hope you enjoy playing along to it.
Intro: (Break)
G|--------------|---------------------------------------|
D|-GUITAR START-|-6-----------6-----------6-----------6-|
A|--------------|-------7-----------7-----------7-------|
E|--------------|---------------------------------------|
Verse 1:
These mist covered mountains..are home now for me, But my home is the low
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------NO BASS--------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
Lands...and always will be...........Someday you’ll return to...Your
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------4--------------------6--------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------6-------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
Valley and your Farms........And you’ll no longer burn to Brothers in Arms
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------4-----------------------6---------------------|
A|----------------7----4-------------------------------------7---------9--|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Interlude 1: (Play Quietly) (Break)
G|------------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------------------|
A|----------------4------------------------4------------|
E|-4------0-----------0------4------0-----------------4-|
Verse 2: (Quietly)
Through these fields of destruction.......Baptisms of fire.........I’ve
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------4-----------2-----4-----4----4--------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------4-----------------2---------2-----|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------2-------|
Watched all your suffering.....as the battles raged higher...
G|--------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------1-----1-----------------------2-------4-|
A|-1------------------------1-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------4--------------------------------------------|
And though they did hurt me so bad.....In the fear and alarm
G|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------1-----1-------------------2-------4-|
A|-----------------------------------1--------------------------4----|
E|----2---------------4----------------------------------------------|
You did not desert me...my Brothers In Arms
G|-------------------------------------------------|
D|------------------------------------------4--4-4-|
A|-------------------------------------------------|
E|----2-------4---------------0-----------2--------|
Interlude 2:
G|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------4--------------------------4---------6-------6-------|
E|-4------0-------------0---2-4------0------------------4-------6---4-|
Verse 3:
There’s so many different worlds...........So many different suns
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------4--6------------------0------2----2-|
A|-----------------------------------------------2---------------------|
E|-----------2---------------4-----------2-----------------------------|
.......And we have just one world........But we live in different ones
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-2--4---------------------------4--6----------------------0------2----2-|
A|-------------------------------------------2----------------------------|
E|--------2-----------------4----------2----------------------------------|
G|------------|
D|---2--------|
A|-2----------|
E|----------0-|
Interlude 3:
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------4-----------------------4-----------------------4------|
E|-4------0-----------0---2-4-----0-----------0---2-4-----0----------0-|
G|-------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------|
A|---------------4-----6-------6-------|
E|-2-4-----0--------------4------6---4-|
Verse 4:
Now the sun’s gone to hell........And the moon’s riding high.....Let me
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------2----4----4---4-----------------------------------|
A|------------------------------4--------------------------2---2-2--------|
E|--------2---------------------------------------------------------------|
Bid your farewell........Everyman has to die......But its written in the
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------1---1-1------1-----------2-----4-----------------------|
A|-1--------------------------------------------4-------------------------|
E|-------------4--------------------------------------2-------------------|
Starlight......And every line on your palm.....We’re fools to make war..
G|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|------1---1-1---1-------------------2--------4-------4-------------6----|
A|------------------------------------------4-----------------------------|
E|-4----------------------------------------------------------------------|
On our Brothers in Arms
G|----------------------------------|
D|-------2-----------4---4--2-4-2-4-|
A|----------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------|
Outro Interlude: (Repeat Outro To Fade)
G|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------4-----------------------4-----4--2---------------4------|
E|-4------0-----------0---2-4-----0---------4------2-4-----0----------0-|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------4---------------------4-------------|
E|-2-3-4---2---0----------0---2-4-----0----------0---2-3-|
Bass Tabs | |
Title | Brothers In Arms |
Artist | Dire Straits |
Tablature Type | ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID | jhdFe3evXpk |
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).