Time for a melodic stamina check! Mark Stoermer’s bass work on The Killers' "Mr. Brightside" is a masterclass in relentless plectrum playing and soaring indie-rock tone.
If you want to refine your pick technique, I've posted the official sheet music & Session Notes on how to get that signature "metallic-yet-warm" drive to cut through. Tune down to Eb Standard and let it ring!
Read the breakdown:
https://thebassdiaries.com/2026/05/05/the-killers-mr-brightside-bass-tab-sheet-music/
Time for a serious stamina check! Tom Araya’s bass work on Slayer's "World Painted Blood" is a masterclass in relentless alternate picking and aggressive thrash metal tone.
If you want to test your right hand, I've posted the official sheet music & Session Notes on how to get that metallic clank to cut through the mix. Tune down to Eb Standard and dig in!
Read the breakdown:
https://thebassdiaries.com/2026/05/01/slayer-world-painted-blood-bass-tab-sheet-music/
Another one for the practice log! Lee Alexander’s upright bass on Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why" is a masterclass in subtlety. The secret to this track isn't the notes you play—it’s the space you leave empty.
Learn to play it! I've posted the official sheet music & Session Notes on getting that vintage, fast-decay upright tone on an electric bass using a foam mute.
Read the breakdown:
https://thebassdiaries.com/2025/12/08/norah-jones-dont-know-why-bass/
Another one for the practice log! Lee Alexander’s upright bass on Norah Jones' "Sunrise" is a masterclass in deep pockets, tasteful passing notes, and driving an acoustic track without rushing.
Learn to play it! I've posted the official sheet music & Session Notes on getting that vintage, fast-decay "thump" on an electric bass using a foam mute.
Read the breakdown:
https://thebassdiaries.com/2026/04/20/norah-jones-sunrise-bass-tab/
Lee Alexander’s bass on "Come Away With Me" is a masterclass in space and timing.
Learn to play it! I've posted the official sheet music & Session Notes on getting that vintage acoustic warmth on an electric bass.
https://thebassdiaries.com/2026/04/21/norah-jones-come-away-with-me-bass-tab/
Had to bring back the 16th note run in measures 4 and 5 because it just didn't sound right with the song. Experimented with the tab to try and make it somewhat playable with my hands, think it should work. Also need to get the rest of the song "charted" out and playable so I can tweak it as this originally wasn't a "bass guitar" piece...lol
Time to make another bass tab/sheet music, and this time it's for _Wood Carving Partita_ by Michiru Yamane from _Castlevania: Symphony of the Night_. This one is kind of a pain, but it feels really great when you nail a section after picking apart the left-hand from the piano and make it (1) playable on a four string, and (2) move the notes around so it works well with the music overall. Still have a lot of work and tweaking before it's even close to ready.
GOTOROLA
The Bass Diaries
Jason Weatherly
kiq / キク