# Bass Players, Need Help With This Tab, Please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 18, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381 "2003-03-18T21:53:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/1 "2003-03-18T21:53:44Z")
It’s here, [http://www.basstabarchive.com/cgi-bin/tab.cgi?tab=/c/creedence\_clearwater\_revival/bad\_moon\_rising.btab](http://www.basstabarchive.com/cgi-bin/tab.cgi?tab=/c/creedence_clearwater_revival/bad_moon_rising.btab) and it’s **Creedence** , but I’m new and don’t know what the tab-ist is trying to tell me with all the **r’s** and the asterisks. I thought an asterisk meant play that string open, but he has the 5th fret marked to be played, so I’m not sure how I’m supposed to play it. I appreciate your help! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/2 "2003-03-18T22:05:25Z")
Hmm here’s a list of the commonly used letters: The list of most commonly used symbols is below : h - hammer on p - pull off b - bend string up r - release bend / - slide up \ - slide down v - vibrato (sometimes written as ~) t - tap (with strumming hand) x - muted, struck string I don’t think it’s a release bend for sure. Maybe s/he meant it as a rest. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/3 "2003-03-18T22:06:59Z")
…oh, and the asterisks there on the verse line just mean to repeat that portion. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/4 "2003-03-19T00:52:37Z")
r = root, possibly? ---
**Author:** ![fallapart](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fallapart/32/3018_2.png) [@fallapart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fallapart)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/5 "2003-03-19T01:04:05Z")
I’m pretty sure the r’s just mean to rest for that beat, but play along with the song to make sure, if it sounds off then the tab might just be a really simplistic way of playing it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/6 "2003-03-19T01:46:43Z")
Taking the song into context, I’m sure it’s “rest”, though I’ve seen “r” used most often for “root”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/7 "2003-03-19T02:00:58Z")
Hey, Quasi, what kind of bass do you play? ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/8 "2003-03-19T03:18:42Z")
**Mr. Blue Sky** : I play a **Galveston** accoustic/electric, and she sure looks good on me! I’m just taking lessons right now to make sure I justify those good looks, and hopefully can join a band that would be glad to have an arthritic ex-drummer, 6-stringer, bass-player! My bass was made in Korea, but what a pretty color of blue-green she is! I found her on Ebay for 250 bucks and just fell in love and had to have her next to my blue accoustic/electric **Takamine** Jasmine, so I guess we’re a menage a trois! 😃 Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/9 "2003-03-19T03:59:39Z")
My bass (Rickenbacker 4001 Jetglo) will be here any day now. Woo-hoo! ---
**Author:** ![bjohn13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@bjohn13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bjohn13)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/10 "2003-03-19T04:05:45Z")
Quasi: The answers are here…I just thought I’d clarify them. The song begins with two measures of a guitar going through the D A G chord progression without any accompanyment. The bass starts in at the third measure, so I’m guessing the “r” means “rest”. The astericks make the end of the tab look like a repeating end bar in sheet music. Therefore, I would assume that the asterisks mean to repeat. However, later in the piece, the individual states that that particular line is repeated four times. That particular progression is played four times in the song. However, if the line was played like it was tabbed out (repeating once each time), it would actually be played eight times. Therefore, I’m inclined to believe that the asterisks are a mistake and should be ignored. Be wary of internet tablature, though. There is definitely some good stuff out there. If I wanted to figure out a basic guideline of a song, I’d refer to the internet. However, if I want to learn how to play a song exactly, I’ll buy the sheet music. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/11 "2003-03-19T06:58:16Z")
Personally, I usually ignore bass tab, as I like to use different fingerings sometimes. I would just as soon read a chord chart and find the notes from there. I have an acoustic/electric as well…a Hohner HAB-40 in natural finish. I’ll pick it up seriously one of these days; right now I just fiddle with chord progressions and songs by ear. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bass-players-need-help-with-this-tab-please/162381/12 "2003-03-19T15:36:21Z")
Thanks for everypne’s help and **Mr. Blue Sky** : Have fun with your new “lady”! 😃 Q