Hip-hop (U)-bass tabs?

Hi all!

I just started playing the U-Bass and am having lots of fun with it, mostly playing along my favourite hip-hop, R&B and drum-n-bass tracks. But there's only so much I can figure out by ear.

So I was wondering if anyone knows of a book or website that breaks down basslines from hip-hop classics into tabs or tutorial videos for bass guitars?

I'd like to figure out how to play like this guy:



There's a Hal Leonard Hip Hop Bass book that doesn't seem to have a table of content available online so no idea if it's any good. Anyone tried it?

Other than that, so far I've only found some vaguely hip-hop related books that are supposed to teach you the style but never touch on actual real-life hip hop tracks, and have about as much swag as Carlton Banks hehe.

Tabs-wise, there's a few websites specialised in bass tabs but they only have a handful of hip hop tunes.

Then there's lots of excellent videos on youtube but they don't teach, just play and they're way too fast for me to follow. So I haven't found any good online tutorial for this.

Any suggestions? Are there more people on the forum playing this style on the U-Bass btw?

Many thanks!

The game Rocksmith. It's a range of songs, but you'll learn a ton of different beats and runs. you can slow it down and it shows where the string and fingering are.

Thanks! It looks like a good method, but it's all rock music though?

It's a range of music. Most of it is rock, but there are all kinds of add on songs. The thing is it will expose you to the patterns and how they are used. I don't care to play rock but practicing with Rocksmith has significantly improved my bass playing.

oh man, this is good stuff here. This is like the soundtrack to my teenage years. If you learn any of these post them here! Tribe, T.R.O.Y., Dre, good stuff. Makes me want to learn bass. But you're right I think it's difficult to find good actual tabs. So you're left to playing it by ear/ messing around until it sounds right, which would be a little frustrating/ time-consuming. Uke tabs/chords are pretty ubiquitous by comparison.

katysax said:

It's a range of music. Most of it is rock, but there are all kinds of add on songs. The thing is it will expose you to the patterns and how they are used. I don't care to play rock but practicing with Rocksmith has significantly improved my bass playing.

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Ok cool, thanks for the tip!

igorthebarbarian said:

oh man, this is good stuff here. This is like the soundtrack to my teenage years. If you learn any of these post them here! Tribe, T.R.O.Y., Dre, good stuff. Makes me want to learn bass. But you're right I think it's difficult to find good actual tabs. So you're left to playing it by ear/ messing around until it sounds right, which would be a little frustrating/ time-consuming. Uke tabs/chords are pretty ubiquitous by comparison.

Click to expand...

I know right? Epic video if you're a hip-hop head I'll let you know if I find good tabs and maybe do a video if I get any good at it hehe.

Meanwhile, check out this one based on a Thundercat bassline for Flying Lotus. Amazing.



(Nice tune to play along with on a standard low-G uke actually, with 10-10-10-10 - 7575 - 8657 on the first part, 8657 and 8675 in the 2nd part, and 8675 - 7564 - 6453 at the breakout final part)