SPOONFUL (Bassline)
As recorded by Cream
(From the 1966 Album FRESH CREAM)
Words and Music by Willie Dixon
Arranged by Cream
Transcribed by Slowhand
Gtr I (E A D G) - 'Jack Bruce - Bass'
Intro
Q=112(8=s8)
4/4
Gtr I
H Q E E Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q E E Q E E Q E E
|-------------|---------------|-----------------|----------------|
|-------------|---------------|-----------------|----------------|
|-------------|---------------|-----------------|----------------|
|---------0---|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)--0-0-|-3--0---3--0----|
Q. E +Q E E Q E E Q E E Q E E +E E Q
|-----------------|---------------|-----------------||
|-----------------|---------------|-----------------||
|-----------------|---------------|------------5----||
|-3----0-(0)--0-0-|-3--0---3--0---|-3----7-(7)---7--||
1st Verse
Q E E E E E E Q E E +E E E E Q E E E E E E Q H.
|----------------|------------------|----------------|----------|
|----------------|------------------|----------------|----------|
|-7----7-----5-5-|-7------------5-5-|-7----7-----5-5-|-7--------|
|--------7-7-----|------7-(7)-7-----|--------7-7-----|----7-----|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E Q Q Q E E Q Q Q H E E E E E E E E E Q
|---------------|--------------|------------|----------------------|
|---------------|--------------|------------|----------------------|
|-7----7-----5--|-7---------5--|-7----------|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7----|
|--------7-7----|-------7-7----|------------|-------------------3--|
Q E E E E E E Q E E +H Q E E E E Q Q. E +Q E E
|----------------|---------------|---------------|------------------|
|----------------|-5-------------|---------------|-5----------------|
|-7----7-----5-5-|------7-(7)----|-7----5-----5--|------7-(7)----5--|
|--------7-7-----|---------------|--------7-7----|------------------|
Q E E E E Q Q. E +H Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|-5-------------|---------------|-5----------------|
|-7----5-----5--|------7-(7)----|-7--7-5--------|------7-(7)-5-7---|
|--------7-7----|---------------|--------7-5-3--|------------------|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|-5------5------|-5---------------|-5------5------|-5----------------|
|----7------7---|------7-(7)-5-7--|----7------7---|------7-(7)-5-7---|
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q Q E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|-------------------||
|-5------5------|-5---------------|-5------5------|-5-----------------||
|----7------7---|------7-(7)-5-7--|----7------7---|-------------------||
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------7-(7)-5-3-3--||
Interlude
|-3-|
Q Q E E E E E Q E E +E E E E Q E E E E E E Q. E +E E E E
|-----------------|------------------|----------------|------------------|
|-----------------|------------------|----------------|-5----------------|
|-----------5-5-7-|-7------------5-5-|-7----7-----5-5-|------7-(7)-7-7-5-|
|-0-----7-7-------|------7-(7)-7-----|--------7-7-----|------------------|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q E E Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------||
|-5------5------|-5---------------|-5------5------|-5----------------||
|----7------7---|------7-(7)--7-7-|----7------7---|------------------||
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------7-(7)-5-3---||
2nd Verse
Q E E E E E E Q E E +E E E E Q E E E E E E Q Q +E E E E
|----------------|------------------|----------------|------------------|
|----------------|------------------|----------------|------------------|
|------------5-5-|-7------------5-5-|-7----7-----5-5-|-7-----------5-5--|
|-0----0-7-7-----|------7-(7)-7-----|--------7-7-----|----7--(7)-7------|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E E E Q. E Q E E E Q Q H E E E E E E E E E E E
|----------------|-----------------|------------|------------------------|
|----------------|-----------------|------------|------------------------|
|-7----7-----5-5-|-7----5----5-7-5-|-7----------|---7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7--|
|--------7-7-----|--------7--------|------------|------------------------|
|-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E E E Q. E +Q E E E Q E E E E E E Q. E +Q E E E
|----------------|-------------------|----------------|--------------------|
|----------------|-5-----------------|----------------|-5------------------|
|-7--7-7-----5-5-|------7-(7)--7-7-5-|-7--7-7-----5-5-|------7-(7)--7-7-5--|
|--------7-7-----|-------------------|--------7-7-----|--------------------|
|-3-|
H Q E E Q. E +E E Q Q E E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q
|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
|-------------|-----------------|-----------------|-5---------------|
|-7----7--7-5-|-7------------5--|-7--7-7-7-----5--|------7-(7)-7----|
|-------------|------7-(7)-7----|----------7-7----|--------------7--|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)-0-0--|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)-0-0---|
Q E E Q E E Q E E +E E E E Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|------------------|---------------|------------------||
|---------------|------------------|---------------|------------------||
|---------------|--------------5-5-|-7--7-7-----5--|-7----------------||
|-3--0---3--0---|-3----7-(7)-7-----|--------7-7----|------7-(7)-5-3---||
Guitar Solo
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E
|----------------|----------------------|
|----------------|------7p5-7p5-7p5-7p5-|
|------5-----5-7-|-7--------------------|
|-0------7-7-----|----------------------|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E
|----------------|-----------------------|
|----------------|------7p5-7p5-7p5-7p5--|
|-7----5-----5-7-|-----------------------|
|--------7-7-----|-0---------------------|
Q E E E E E E Q E E +E E Q Q E E E E E E H E E E E
|----------------|------------------|----------------|---------------|
|----------------|------/9-(9)-7-5--|----------------|------7p5-7p5--|
|-7----5-----5-7-|------------------|-7----5-----5-7-|---------------|
|--------7-7-----|-0----------------|--------7-7-----|-0-------------|
Q E E E E E E Q E E +E E E E Q E E E E E E Q E E E E E E
|----------------|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|
|----------------|-------------------|--------7p5-7p5-|-----------------|
|-7----7---5---5-|-7-------------5-6-|-7----5---------|-7----------5-6--|
|--------7---0---|------/7-(7)-7-----|----------------|------5-7-7------|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E E E E Q. E E E E Q Q E E E E E E Q. E E E E Q
|----------7---7-9-|------------------|----------------|------------------|
|--------9---9-----|------/9---7---5--|----------------|------/9---7---5--|
|-7--7-5-----------|-7----------------|-7--7-5-----5-7-|-7----------------|
|------------------|------------------|--------7-7-----|------------------|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E
|----------------|------------------------|------------------|
|----------------|----/9-9-9-/9-9-9-7-7-5-|----------7p5-7p5-|
|-7--7-5-----5-7-|-7----------------------|-7-7-7-7----------|
|--------7-7-----|------------------------|------------------|
|-3-| |-3--| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
E E E E E +E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E Q
|---------------7-----7-9-|------------------|-------------------|
|---------9-(9)---7-9-----|----------7p5-7p5-|-------------------|
|-7-7-7-7-----------------|-7-7-7-7----------|-7-7-7-7-----------|
|-------------------------|------------------|---------5-7-5-3---|
|-3-| |-3-|
E E E Q E E E E E E E E E E E Q
|------------------|-------------------|
|------------------|-----------/9-7-5--|
|--------------5-7-|-7-7-7-7-7---------|
|-0-0-0-0--7-7-----|-------------------|
|-3-| |-3-| |3-|
E E E Q E E E E E E E E E +E Q E E
|------------------|-----------------7-9--|
|------------------|---------9-(9)-9------|
|--------------5-7-|-7-7-7-7--------------|
|-0-0-0-0--7-7-----|----------------------|
|-3-| |3-| |-3-| |-3-|
E E E E E +E Q E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E
|-----------------7-9-|---------------7-9-|---------------7-9-|
|---------9-(9)-9-----|-----------9-9-----|-----------9-9-----|
|-7-7-7-7-------------|-7-7-7-7-7---------|-7-7-7-7-7---------|
|---------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
E E E E E +E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E E E E E E E E
|-----------------7-8-9-|---------------7-9-|------9-9-9-9-9-9-9-9-|
|---------9-(9)-9-------|-----------9-9-----|----------------------|
|-7-7-7-7---------------|-7-7-7-7-7---------|-7--7-----------------|
|-----------------------|-------------------|----------------------|
|-3-| |-3-|
S S E Q E E E E E E S S E Q Q E E Q E E Q E E
|-9p7--------9-9-9-9-9-|-9p7--------------|---------------|
|-----9----------------|-----9----/9--7-5-|--------5------|
|-------7--7-----------|-------7----------|-7--7-7----7-7-|
|----------------------|------------------|---------------|
E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E +Q E E Q E E Q E E
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
|---------5---5-5-|-----5-7---------|------9-(9)--7-5-|----------------|
|-7-7-7-7---7-----|-7-7-----7-7-5-6-|-7--7------------|-7--5-6-7--5-6--|
|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E E E E E E E E E E E Q E E Q Q E E E E Q
|----------------------|---------------|---------------|
|----------7-5-7-5-----|---------------|-5--7-5--------|
|-7--5-6-7---------7-5-|-7-7-7--7-7----|--------7-7-7--|
|----------------------|------------0--|---------------|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q. E Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q. E
|---------------|----------------|---------------|-----------------||
|---------------|----------------|---------------|-----------------||
|---------------|----------------|---------------|-----------------||
|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)---0-|-3--0-0-3--0-0-|-3----0-(0)---0--||
Interlude
Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E E E Q E E Q E E Q. E +H
|---------------|------------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|------------------|---------------|---------------|
|---------------|------------------|---------------|---------------|
|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)-0-0-0-|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)----|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E E E Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|------------------|---------------|------------------||
|---------------|------------------|---------------|------------------||
|---------------|------------------|---------------|------------5-----||
|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)-0-0-0-|-3--0---3--0---|-3----7-(7)---7---||
3rd Verse
Q E E E E E E Q E E +E E E E Q E E E E E E Q Q +E E E E
|----------------|------------------|----------------|------------------|
|----------------|------------------|----------------|------------------|
|-7----7-----5-5-|-7------------5-5-|-7----7-----5-5-|-7-----------5-5--|
|--------7-7-----|------7-(7)-7-----|--------7-7-----|----7--(7)-7------|
|-3-| |-3-| |-3-|
Q E S S E E E E Q E E E E E E Q Q H E E E E E E E E E Q
|------------------|----------------|------------|-----------------------|
|------------------|----------------|------------|-----------------------|
|-7----7-5-----5-5-|-7----5-----5-5-|-7----------|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7---|
|----------7-7-----|--------7-7-----|------------|-----------------------|
Q E E E E E E Q E E +Q. E Q E E E E Q Q. E +H
|----------------|----------------|---------------|----------------|
|----------------|-5--------------|---------------|----------------|
|-7----5-----5---|------7-(7)---5-|-7----5-----5--|-7--------------|
|--------7-7-----|----------------|--------7-7----|------7-(7)\----|
Q E E E E Q Q. E +Q. E Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|----------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|-5--------------|---------------|------------------|
|-7----5-----5--|------7-(7)---5-|-7----5-----5--|-7------------5---|
|--------7-7----|----------------|--------7-7----|------7-(7)-7-----|
Q E E E E Q Q. E +H Q E E E E Q Q E E E E Q
|---------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|
|---------------|-5-------------|---------------|----------------|
|-7--7-5-----5--|------7-(7)----|-7--7-5-----5--|-7--7-5-----5---|
|--------7-7----|---------------|--------7-7----|--------7-7-----|
Q E E E E Q Q E E E E Q Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E E E
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-------------------|
|---------------|---------------|---------------|-5-----------------|
|-7--7-5-----5--|-7--7-5-----5--|-7--7-5-----5--|------7-(7)-7---5--|
|--------7-7----|--------7-7----|--------7-7----|--------------7----|
Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q Q E E E E E E Q. E +H
|---------------|-----------------|----------------|---------------|
|---------------|-----------------|----------------|---------------|
|-7--7-5-----5--|-7------------5--|-7--7-5-----5-5-|-5----7-(7)----|
|--------7-7----|------7-(7)-7----|--------7-7-----|---------------|
Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|-7--7-5-----5--|-7------------5--|-7--7-5-----5--|-7------------5---|
|--------7-7----|------7-(7)-7----|--------7-7----|------7-(7)-7-----|
Q E E E E Q Q. E +E E Q Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|------5-(5)-5----|-5------5------|-5----------------|
|-7--7-5-----5--|-7------------7--|----7------7---|------7-(7)-5-7---|
|--------7-7----|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E Q
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|-5------5------|-5---------------|-5------5------|------------------|
|----7------7---|------7-(7)-5-7--|----7------7---|-7----7-(7)-5-7---|
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +E E E E Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q Q
|---------------|------------------|---------------|-----------------|
|-5------5------|------------------|---------------|-----------------|
|----7------7---|-7----7-(7)-------|---------------|-----------------|
|---------------|------------0-0-0-|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)--0---|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q Q +Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q E E
|---------------|----------------|-----------------|------------------|
|---------------|----------------|-----------------|------------------|
|---------------|----------------|-----------------|------------------|
|-3--0---3--0---|-3----0-(0)--3--|-(3)--0-0-3--0-0-|-3----0-(0)--0-0--|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q E E Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q E E
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|---------------|-----------------|---------------|------------------|
|-3--0-0-3--0-0-|-3----0-(0)--0-0-|-3--0-0-3--0-0-|-3----0-(0)--0-0--|
Q E E Q E E Q. E +Q E E W W
|---------------|-----------------|----------|------|
|---------------|-----------------|----------|------|
|---------------|-----------------|----------|------|
|-3--0-0-3--0-0-|-3----0-(0)--0-0-|----------|------|
W W W +W
|----------|----------|----------|--------|
|----------|----------|----------|--------|
|----------|----------|----------|--------|
|----------|----------|-3--------|-(3)----|
+H H W +W +H Q Q
|-------------|----------|------------|-----------------*|
|-------------|----------|------------|-----------------*|
|-------------|----------|------------|-----------------*|
|-(3)---------|-0--------|-(0)--------|-(0)----12\------*|
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 | Spoonful |
Artist | Cream |
Tablature Type | ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID | JEl0ZhKm-lo |
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).