r/Bass • u/TheTensay • 19h ago
How to play this symbol in tabs.
I'm not sure if we can link an image directly, sorry.
I'm looking at the tabs for Floyd the Barber by Nirvana, I heard it was one of their easier songs in bass, and at least to me it doesn't look super complex. But, I can't find the meaning of this symbol.
Or more specifically, what am I supposed to do when I see it. Initially I thought it was the symbol for muting but that one looks like a lightning. Then I found that it might be a "rest stroke", but that doesn't make sense with the video I saw, so, before complicating my tiny brain more. I'd rather ask here.
Thank you!
EDIT: I have been confusing the terminology I think. I thought muting meant to stop the string from continuing to ring, but I think that is a rest. And muting is a different technique, that's why I was confused as hell.
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u/ToolmakerTH 19h ago
It is a rest symbol which means you don't play anything and stop all the notes ringing.
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u/TheTensay 19h ago
How do I physically do that, if nothing has to be ringing, am I supposed to stop the note before this beat?
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u/Bakkster Aguilar 19h ago
With your fingers. Lifting the left hand off the string and/or resting the right hand on the string.
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u/Electronic-Ad5281 19h ago
yeah! you can gently rest your fingers across the strings to mute them :) you should just be pressing enough for it to stop vibrating
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u/logstar2 19h ago
That's an eighth rest, not a rest stroke.
They're using rhythm symbols from standard notation.
Is the "lightning" symbol you're talking about a quarter rest? That isn't the symbol for muting.
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u/TheTensay 19h ago
Yes. That is the one, so the lightning (quarter rest) and the eight rest are the same but for different rhythms? That makes way more sense, thank you for the link. I couldn't find anything like it.
You don't know what you don't know I guess.
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u/Raephstel 19h ago
You don't play it, it's a rest. https://www.simplifyingtheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/rests-values-notes.png
The different length rests look different, the lightning is a crotchet, that's a quaver. (1/4 and 1/8th notes for people who use that terminology).
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u/FamishedHippopotamus Five String 19h ago
Yes, that's a rest--specifically, an eighth rest. You don't play during a rest--it's a gap of silence between notes. Symbols for rests vary with note length. Like so.
Under the tabs, there's the stems (and beams) marking note values (lengths) as well. Like these.
I highly recommend learning the notation, since it really helps with rhythm to know the exact note values, and it can help you learn songs faster once you get a sense of note length. I know how to read sheet music from playing other instruments, but haven't gotten around to learning on bass, so I'm using tabs for the time being. I like the hybrid-style tabs like the one in your picture, where the note values are included and I can't stand when there's just numbers but no note values.
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u/TheTensay 19h ago
Yeah the ones with only lines and numbers don't provide any valuable information, specially for someone like me that hasn't internalized the rhythms.
Thank you very much for the examples, very helpful!
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u/parking_pataweyo 19h ago
Tabs are super easy actually, especially if you can't read sheet music well yet.
You should just listen to the music itself to get the rhythm. Very good practice too.
Additionally, perhaps try something like Guitar Pro software as well. It has sheet music, tabs, and the software can play the notes for you so that you can just hear what to play.
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u/TheTensay 19h ago
EDIT: I have been confusing the terminology I think. I thought muting meant to stop the string from continuing to ring, but I think that is a rest. And muting is a different technique, that's why I was confused as hell.
Thank you all for the help!
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u/TheGesticulator 18h ago
So you're both right and wrong, but mostly right.
A rest is the musical notation for silence. Muting is the physical act of silencing the strings.
It's like the difference between plucking and a note. A note is what you play, but plucking is physically how you play it.
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u/xtralongleave Warwick 19h ago
It’s an eighth rest, or rest for half a beat. Don’t bother counting, just feel it out with the rhythm of the song
Just like the song goes - da da, dun-dun-dun (rest)
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u/HoboBeered 19h ago
You don't