[Intro] x 2
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---|-----------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-4—4-4-4-4—|---------------4-|—0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
[Verse] x 2
G|-----------------|----------------------|------------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|----------------------|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9----|-----------------|
A|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|-9-9-9-11—11-11-11-11—|---------------11-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|
E|-----------------|----------------------|------------------|-----------------|
[Chorus] x 2
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---|-----------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-4—4-4-4-4—|---------------4-|—0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
[Verse] x 2
G|-----------------|----------------------|------------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|----------------------|-9-9-9-9-9-9-9----|-----------------|
A|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|-9-9-9-11—11-11-11-11—|---------------11-|-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-7-|
E|-----------------|----------------------|------------------|-----------------|
[Verse] x 3
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---|-----------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-4—4-4-4-4—|---------------4-|—0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E|-0~--------------|-2~----4~--------|-7~--------------|-0~--------------|
[Bridge 1]
G|-----------------|
D|-----------------|
A|-----------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-2-2-2-2-|
[Verse] x 2
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---|-----------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-4—4-4-4-4—|---------------4-|—0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
[Pre-Break]
G|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
A|-7-7-7—6-6-6—4-4-|4—2-2-2—2—1-----|-----------------|
E|-----------------|------------4—*-|-2~~-------------|
Break x 9 Bars
[Verse]
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---|--------/7-7-7-7---|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-4—4-4-4-4—|---------------4-|—0-0-0-0-----------|
[Verse] x 4
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---|-----------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-4—4-4-4-4—|---------------4-|—0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
[Bridge 2]
G|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|------------------|-----------------|
E|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2—|-7-7-7-7-7-7--6—6-|-4-4-4-4-4-4-2-2-|
[Chorus] x 4
G|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A|-----------------|-----------------|-2-2-2-2-2-2-2---|-----------------|
E|-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|-2-2-2-4—4-4-4-4—|---------------4-|—0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-|
[Ending]
G|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
A|-7-7-7—6-6-6—4-4-|4—2-2-2—2—1-----|-----------------|
E|-----------------|------------4—*-|-2~~-------------|
************************************
| / Slide up
| ~ Vibrato
************************************
Bass Tabs | |
Title | When You Were Young |
Artist | The Killers |
Tablature Type | ASCII Tab |
YouTube ID | IdWZgTvf4t0 |
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).