LA BAMBA (Bassline)
As recorded by Ritchie Valens
(From the 1959 Album RITCHIE VALENS)
Words and Music by Ritchie Valens
Transcribed by Slowhand
Gtr I (E A D G) - 'Buddy Clark - Upright Bass'
Intro
Q=152
4/4
Gtr I
H E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|--------------|------0----2-0-|-(0)---------------|
|--------------|----2---3------|---------0-3-3-2-0-|
|----------0-2-|-3-------------|-------2-----------|
|--------3-----|---------------|-----3-------------|
1st, 3rd & 4th Verses
$
$$
Q E E Q E E e E Q E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5----0----2-0-|----------------||------0----2-0-|-(0)---------------|
|----2---3------|-5--------------||----2---3------|---------0-3-3-2-0-|
|---------------|------------0-2-||-3-------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|----------3-----||---------------|-----3-------------|
To Coda
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5----0----2-0-|-(0)---------------|-5---------2---|---------------------|
|----2---3------|---------0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0---|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-------------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3---------------|
To Dbl. Coda
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|---------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0---|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-------------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3---------------|
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E W
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|------||
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|------||
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|------||
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|------||
2nd Verse
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-----------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|-------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|-3-------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3-------------|
Chorus
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------||-5---------2---|-------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-||----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|---------------|-------2-----------||---------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|-----3-------------||---------------|-----3-------------|
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|-------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3-------------|
D.S. al Coda &
Q E E Q E E W Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|----------||-5---------2---|-------------------||
|----2-5-3----5-|----------||----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-||
|---------------|----------||---------------|-------2-----------||
|---------------|----------||---------------|-----3-------------||
Guitar Solo
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|-------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3-------------|
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|-------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3-------------|
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|-------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3-------------|
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|-------------------|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-----------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3-------------|
D.S.S. al Dbl.&&oda
e E Q H Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E
|-5-----------||-----------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|
|-------------||----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|
|-------------||-3-------------|-------2-----------|---------------|
|-------------||---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|
Outro
+E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-------------------||-5---------2---|-------------------|
|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-||----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|
|-------2-----------||---------------|-------2-----------|
|-----3-------------||---------------|-----3-------------|
Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E
|-5---------2---|-------------------|-5---------2---|
|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|
|---------------|-------2-----------|---------------|
|---------------|-----3-------------|---------------|
+E E E E E E E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E E E E E
|-------------------|-5---------2---|-------------------*|
|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-|----2-5-3----5-|-(5)-----0-3-3-2-0-*|
|-------2-----------|---------------|-------2-----------*|
|-----3-------------|---------------|-----3-------------*|
Duration Legend
---------------
W - whole; H - half; Q - quarter; E - 8th; S - 16th; T - 32nd; X - 64th; a - acciaccatura
+ - note tied to previous; . - note dotted; .. - note double dotted
Uncapitalized letters represent notes that are staccato (1/2 duration)
Irregular groupings are notated above the duration line
Duration letters will always appear directly above the note/fret number it represents the
duration for. Duration letters with no fret number below them represent rests. Multi-
bar rests are notated in the form Wxn, where n is the number of bars to rest for. Low
melody durations appear below the staff
Tablature Legend
----------------
h - hammer-on
p - pull-off
b - bend
pb - pre-bend
r - bend release (if no number after the r, then release immediately)
/\ - slide into or out of (from/to "nowhere")
s - legato slide
S - shift slide
- natural harmonic
[n] - artificial harmonic
n(n) - tapped harmonic
~ - vibrato
tr - trill
T - tap
TP - trem. picking
PM - palm muting
\n/ - tremolo bar dip; n = amount to dip
\n - tremolo bar down
n/ - tremolo bar up
/n\ - tremolo bar inverted dip
= - hold bend; also acts as connecting device for hammers/pulls
<> - volume swell (louder/softer)
x - on rhythm slash represents muted slash
o - on rhythm slash represents single note slash
Misc Legend
-----------
| - bar
|| - double bar
||o - repeat start
o|| - repeat end
*| - double bar (ending)
: - bar (freetime)
$ - Segno
& - Coda
Tempo markers - = BPM(8/16=s8/s16), where s8 = swing 8ths, s16 = swing 16ths
Bass Tabs | |
Title | La Bamba |
Artist | Ritchie Valens |
Tablature Type | ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID | P8PYQvl5HP4 |
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).