Under My Thumb: Bass TAB

This collection captures the foundation of modern rock bass playing through 21 transcriptions spanning the Stones' first decade. You get everything from the straightforward grooves of "Satisfaction" to the more intricate parts of "Sympathy for the Devil," giving your students a masterclass in how bass supports melody, drives rhythm, and communicates across multiple styles within a single artistic vision.

These 21 tracks pulse with the swagger and raw energy that defined rock music's evolution from rhythm and blues cover band to studio innovators. You'll feel the urgency of early electric interpretations, the hypnotic drive of groove-heavy rockers, and the sophisticated arrangements that later tracks showcase, all tied together by bass lines that anchor everything without ever stepping back.

Bass guitarists from intermediate to advanced levels who want to expand their vocabulary of classic rock grooves and understand how iconic bass lines support legendary songwriting. This book works equally well for students learning from recordings, musicians preparing material for a classic rock cover band, or ensemble members looking to connect their instrument to rock history.

• Lock into the pocket with the kick drum pattern on "Brown Sugar" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash," where the bass drives the momentum rather than simply following it.
• Study how the walking bass lines in "Midnight Rambler" differ from the syncopated rhythms in "Satisfaction," then apply those approaches to your own parts.
• Dial in the exact attack and sustain needed for each transcription, since "Play With Fire" requires a completely different tone and touch than "Honky Tonk Women."

Assign individual transcriptions as students progress through the year, using them as cultural touchstones when discussing rock history or how bass functions in different song structures. You might also assign tracks thematically: pair "Time Is on My Side" and "Heart of Stone" to show early Stones material, or group "Brown Sugar," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "Honky Tonk Women" for a masterclass in hard rock grooves.

• Reading and executing transcribed bass lines from recordings across multiple rock styles
• Understanding groove mechanics in songs that emphasize pocket and locking with drums
• Adapting pick attack, muting, and sustain based on song style and era
• Recognizing how bass supports vocal melody versus serving as a rhythmic anchor
• Building finger independence and left-hand dexterity through varied rhythmic patterns