Hey, finally I got to posting this shit, I made a tab out of Stevie Wonder's - Master Blaster.

Yeah, I know, the title sounds gay, but this song has an amazing bass line, it might not be metal, but I think a good muscian is able to play more then one style and combine them to influence the music.

Anyways, I've got the tab, mp3 and tab walkthru here for you, if you got any questions or comments, just post them here.

I also posted this lesson/exersize thingy on ultimate guitar, they loved it, they even made it sticky and stuff, but well, it isn't metal, but enjoy anyway!

Description

this song has an amazing bassline, four finger fretting, thumb, speed, this song pretty much packs it all.

It's a great exercise to play, and its a great song to warm up for a gig because it gets your fingers 'loose'

I tabbed this song 2 weeks ago and made constant adjustments because it wasn't absolutely correct, I think it's about 99% correct now.

The tab is attached to this message, so you can just click it and print it.



Here's the link to the MP3, you'll definetly need it to get the tempo/pace right, because there's a lot of changing going on.

MP3

http://homepages.svc.fcj.hvu.nl/202...sterblaster.mp3

right click and save as.


Tab Walkthru


The A riff is the easiest riff, the best way to play it is using your thumb on the A and E string and using your pointer and middle finger to hit the higher notes.

The B riff is tricky, it requires the use of all four fretting fingers if you want it to sound good, the end of the riff looks easy but you have to get the tempo right, listen to the mp3 carefully!

The C riff is the base of the song, get the tempo right, this isn't a difficult riff at all, but the tempo makes it tricky.

The D riff, one of the most difficult riffs, pretty fast and you'll need to practise this one for a while to get it at the right speed!

The E riff, this is the solo-ish part of the song, it's really tricky and its a real fingertwister, notice the .'s the . means an expression note, you'll need to hold this note for a little while to make it sound correct.
The end is tricky too, because you have to slide way up the neck, takes a lot of practise.

Have fun you all!

And here is the tab, sorry, I could edit the first one to fix the attachment.

Looks great man! im downloading the mp3 now, looking forward to hearing it and playing it. Well done on the tab!


Cheers!

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Hey man, how's it coming along?
Since you're the only one up for the challenge

let me know how you're doing, I think the solo thing riff is the most tricky, but I'm about 99% sure about the tab, I don't think I missed much, only a little fill between the C and E riff. but you can figure that out yourself, improvisation rules.

Where's the challenge?
it might have been for tabbing but not for playing.
But oh well I also assume that I can't play with my fingers, but with a pick it would be as easy as killing bunnies with axes.
I have done so many songs like that during my bass lessons, I can't stand them anymore.

btw great job keep some exercices coming.

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my bass teacher gives me crazy shit, marcus miller and all those dudes.

I'm more into Iron Maiden bass things now, really fast triplets and stuff...

Well, this song is definetly a challenge, if you play it with a pick it will sound like absolute shit, play it with your fingers, that's what they're for! if you want to play it perfectly that is!

done it man, the riffs are pretty different, nice bit of reggae jamming! cheers!

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I'de love to be able to play with my finger. but my morphology doesn't allow me to do it

btw iron maiden is harder to play with a pick.

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eh, no it isn't, playing triplets with your fingers is much more intense, try ''the trooper'' for instance. playing with a pick on iron maiden songs is cheating

that guy plays it all with his fingers, man I wouldn't last 5 songs.

I know he plays only with his fingers, and most of the time he does triplets.
but for me, and my friend we find that it's way harder to play with a pick.
Def-initly, try out to play a few iron maiden songs with a pick.

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Yeah, I did, lol, I know it's difficult too, but keeping it up with your fingers, well, it's harder for me.
I don't think it sounds really good with a plectrum, so I prefer playing it with my fingers, ah well... maybe we're both just weird.

Yes bass is way much cooler to play with finger, but I can't or I'll possibly loose the use of my left hand ( I play left handed).

I know I'm weird and I know you're too

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ah, lefty!

haha yeah, that means you're weird, a guitarist I know is also lefty, he's got the finger problem too (when he plays acoustic) so I think it's a lefty-thing?

ah well... maybe a lot of exercise will help?

well The only solution for me would be a hand or fingers transplantation.
& I will not allow this.
But maybe if I stick sticks to my fingers it can work. I'll have to try but it will probably sound like shit.

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See, I told you we're weird

oh man i feel funky after playing this...very good tab there

and speaking of harris' fingers, any1 got the rock in rio maiden dvd? i was not sure til i looked this thing over and over (only seen maiden live 2 times) but he has a kinda strange style with his fingers. he uses just one finger and still play those triplets weirdo fast. correct me if i'm worng, i can't zoom with my dvd player

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Aw thanks I think it's about 99% correct except for 2 fills (Improvise fuckers )

and ehm, yeah I've got some Maiden video's, but he plays with 2 fingers, from what I've seen... there's no way he can play those triplets that fast with one finger!!!

LOL, I suggest you try some Maiden songs, they're not that hard but the bass is extremely fast with loads of triplets, that what makes it tricky!

well as i said, i was not sure, but it sure looks like he's like he sorta taped his index n middle finger togehther and jus "paddles" really fast...anyway he's good

and for maiden songs hehe i'm a huge maiden fan and i think i even began playing bass coz of the first maiden lps i bought. so there are few maiden songs which i can't play. at least live studio recording would be really bothering

ah come to think of it, i admit it...i confess i play maiden songs with pick *duckandcover*

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*Gets out shotgun* Ok who here said they play bass with a PICK?!?!

Nah thats cool man, i mean i sometimes use a pick to get that sort of clanging sound, that iron maiden get, guns and roses, even NOFX (well cos there punk)

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aw, with a pick???

cheater


I think they sound better when you play them with your hand, just rehearse it a lot and you can do it!!!

try the trooper for practise, it's easy but it's fast!
I'm watching the video right now, but it seems like he's just plucking like a madfuck, but with two fingers.. maybe he uses a different technique in your video, but I haven't seen the rock in rio one!

Sounds like Maiden's bassist is pretty damn good...too bad I hate Maiden, eh?

I had one of their DVDs, which I ended up getting rid of, and the camera was hardly even on their bassist, and when it was, he didn't seem to be doing anything spectacular...

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Yeah i hate that, say your watching a video, a dvd, or just a gig on tv, The camera hardly ever goes on the bassist, just the guitarist!! Argh! have respect for us 4 stringers!!!

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well it's just the fact that those iron maiden guitarist are fucking good, and the whole band is about the guitars.

ah well, it just depends on the band really, it's not like every bassist is underrated or something.

well i got used to it, that the bass player is rarely seen on videos...think thats why a lot of bass players sing

and for the trooper, u know the band Rage? they have a very cool cover of maiden's trooper...but try that with fingers..i have to admit i can't
well i have to say i can't really "finger" anyway, i got so used to play with pic i forgot what that other playing method was

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try Arch Enemy's ACES HIGH, that's a kickass maiden cover

yeah i used that a lot for practicing speed...there are a lot of very good ass-kickin-fast maiden covers out there...as if maiden alone wouldn't be hard enough to play

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Oh yeah ive heard that, Its on the wages of sin album, 2nd disc, The starbreaker song (Judas Priest Cover) is also a kickass song

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speaking bout Judas Priest kickass covers..Vader with Rapid Fire...man now that truly is RAPID fire...very neat one

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This should be getting back on topic right about now...

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Yeah i was about to mention that.

Anyway yeah, That masterblaster shit is amazing, but check out the song

Stevie wonder - Boogie on reggae women

Try and work that out def its funky, and the bass sound is sort of softly distorted

and its got a bit of wah on it, check it out.

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ah yeah, I don't know that particular, song, but I'll download it an see what I can do

I'm working on a lot of Level 42 stuff now... hehe it's not really rough or anything but Mark King beats the shit out of most metal bassist

man i picked up some bass solo stuff from Rob Anderson this weekend. find some of this stuff and try it...goddam i feel funky

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