What are tabs?

[PianoClubhouse]

Ok, dumb question....but what are BASS tabs and where can i find some GOOD examples of them?

[all4hisGLORY]

Tabs show you which frets to hit on each string in a song. Usually the ones I've seen show the G on top and the E or B(for a five string) on the bottom. 911tabs.com is a good place for some ccm songs but I haven't really seen a lot of gospel tabs.

---0-------------
--------2--------
------------5----
-3---------------

That would be G on the E string, then an open G, then an E on the D string, and a D on the A string. Hopefully this helps a little

[PianoClubhouse]

So how does that show a song? I see four different notes....so u read from left to right? so the 3, then the 0, then 2, then 5? How do you know when a note is held longer than another?

I went to 911tabs as you suggested above and found this one:

Gb|----------------------------------------|
Db|----------5------------------5----------|
Ab|----7-5-7---5---5h7------5-7---5---5h7--|
Eb|-0------------7------5-7---------7------|

So is it played in order from left to right, my guess is the "h" means a half step?? is it up or down a half step?

Again, how is time noted (whole note, half note, quarter note, rest, etc. How do you know which part of the above coincide with specific lyrics?

[JMac31]

h = hammer on

It is generally hard to notating exact rhythm in tabs and most tabs don't give you any idea what the rhythm is. You would have to know what song you are trying to play to get the correct rhythm.

[all4hisGLORY]

I've found there useful to practice the song with that way you get the rhythm. I wouldn't recommend using tabs when you're playing in church because you can get distracted continently looking at the tabs.   This has a good explanation http://www.studybass.com/lessons/reading-music/how-to-read-bass-tab/

[PianoClubhouse]

Thanx for the replies fellas, thats what i need 2 get started.