Royal Blood: How Did We Get So Dark?: Vocal/Bass Guitar TAB Book

This book captures the creative DNA of modern stadium rock by centering the bass as the primary compositional element rather than relegating it to rhythm section duties. The artist-approved transcriptions and technical notes unlock how Mike Kerr achieves his signature tones and structures, making this a masterclass in bass writing for contemporary players who want to understand how heavy, riff-driven rock operates from the ground up. The 8-page color section adds production context that deepens engagement with the material.

Heavy, purposeful, and sonically immersive. These songs feel like they're built from the bass up, with thick distortion, rhythmic momentum, and vocal intensity colliding at every turn. The arrangements demand physical engagement on the instrument; this is not passive playing, but rather an active conversation between percussion, bass, and voice that defines contemporary rock energy.

Bass players and singers tackling contemporary rock material who need transcriptions that capture the full complexity of how How Did We Get So Dark? was produced and performed. This book serves students and gigging musicians who want to understand how modern rock bass functions as both a textural and harmonic anchor, as well as vocalists learning these tracks for live performance or personal study.

• Study the technical notes provided for tone and effect settings before attempting each song; Kerr's sound relies heavily on specific processing that shapes the melodic clarity of the bass lines.
• Work the vocal melody and bass line separately first, then layer them together; many songs require the bass to move independently from the vocal phrasing, which demands secure separation in your practice routine.
• Use a distortion or overdrive pedal set to enhance clarity rather than obscure pitch; these songs require listeners to hear both the aggression and the melodic content of the bass work.
• Lock the kick drum timing early in rehearsal; the pocket in these arrangements depends on precise coordination between bass and drums.

Introduce this material in an electric bass or rock ensemble context where contemporary songwriting and production are part of the curriculum. It works well as a capstone project for intermediate to advanced players studying how professional artists construct modern rock, or as a framework for discussing arrangement and tone in the context of current music industry output.

• Reading bass notation and tablature simultaneously in a rock context
• Translating production effects and tone into performance technique
• Coordinating independent bass lines with vocal melody and sung phrasing
• Understanding modern rock harmony and riff construction
• Building stamina and precision in distorted bass playing