Breakdown bass tabs

Introduction

If you’re a fan of Jack Johnson or looking to improve your bass guitar skills, learning the breakdown bass tabs is a great place to start. The song features a catchy yet simple bassline that is perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike. In this tutorial, we will go over the breakdown bass tabs step by step, so you can learn to play the song like a pro.

Step 1: The Main Riff

The main riff of the song is the foundation of the entire bassline and is repeated throughout the song. To play it, start by placing your index finger on the fourth fret of the E string and your pinky finger on the seventh fret of the A string. Play these two notes simultaneously and then slide your pinky finger up to the ninth fret. Play this note and then slide your pinky finger back down to the seventh fret and play it again, this time followed by the fourth fret on the A string. The entire riff should sound like this:


G|-----------------
D|-----------------
A|--4-7-9--7-4-----
E|-------------7---


Practice playing this riff slowly and then gradually increase your speed until you can play it smoothly without any mistakes. Once you have mastered the main riff, move on to the next step.

Step 2: The Chorus

The chorus of the song is another repeated section that builds on the main riff. To play the chorus, start by playing the main riff two times. Then, slide your index finger up to the ninth fret of the A string and play it, followed by the seventh fret on the E string. Next, slide your index finger up to the twelfth fret of the A string and play it, followed by the ninth fret on the E string. Finally, slide your index finger back down to the seventh fret of the A string and play it, followed by the fourth fret on the E string. The entire chorus should sound like this:


G|-----------------
D|-----------------
A|--4-7-9--7-4-7---
E|-------------4---


Practice playing the chorus slowly and then gradually increase your speed until you can play it smoothly without any mistakes. Once you have mastered the chorus, move on to the final step.

Step 3: The Bridge

The bridge of the song is a short section that adds a little variation to the bassline. To play the bridge, start by playing the main riff two times. Then, slide your index finger up to the ninth fret of the A string and play it, followed by the seventh fret on the E string. Next, slide your index finger up to the twelfth fret of the E string and play it, followed by the twelfth fret on the A string. Finally, slide your index finger back down to the ninth fret of the E string and play it, followed by the seventh fret on the A string. The entire bridge should sound like this:


G|-----------------
D|-----------------
A|--4-7-9--7-4-7---
E|--7-12-12-9-7----


Practice playing the bridge slowly and then gradually increase your speed until you can play it smoothly without any mistakes.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have now learned how to play the breakdown bass tabs step by step. With some practice, you’ll be able to play along to the song and impress your friends and family. Remember to start practicing slowly and gradually increase your speed as you get more comfortable with the bassline. Good luck and have fun!