Bass tablature for "Birdland" by "Weather Report"

Artist: Weather Report
Piece: Birdland
Instrument: Bass
Submitter: SackBassist
Tab provided by tTabs

Birdland
By: Weather Report
Album: Heavy Weather
On Bass: Jaco Pastorius
Tabbed By: SackBassist


Standard Tuning (E,A,D,G)

Key:

f - False Harmonic in 1st Octive position
F - False Harmonic in 2nd Octive position
~ - Let ring
() - Optional

Intro: 

*In the original Heavy Weather version, the synth played the following part. However, many covers will have another bassist or a bassist using a looper do this part with a synth effect.

**Synth Effect 

G|-------------|----------------|
D|-------------|------------5~--|
A|---2--3---5~-|---2--3---5-----|
E|-------------|----------------|


Bass Harmonic Intro and Bridge:

G|-f14--f15--f14-f15-f14--f12------|-----f12-f14-f15--f14-f12---------f14~---|
D|-----------------------------f14-|-f14----------------------f14-f12--------|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|

G|-F14--F15--F14-F15-F14--F12------|-----F12-F14-F15--F14-F12---------F14~---|
D|-----------------------------F14-|-F14----------------------F14-F12--------|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|

G|-F14--F15--F14-F15-F14--F12------|-----F12-F14-F15--F14-F12-------------------|
D|-----------------------------F14-|-F14----------------------F14-F12-----------|
A|---------------------------------|-----------------------------------F12-F10~-|
E|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|


3-Note Section:

G|--------------------------------------|
D|------------3--------------3----------|
A|-(3)-3--3-5---5-3-3--3-3-5---5-3-2-3--|
E|--------------------------------------|


1-Note Section:

*Repeat lightly

**Use Chorus, Delay, Echo or similar effect

G|-----|
D|-----|
A|-----|
E|--3--|


1-Note Section Bass Octive Chords:

*Use Chorus, Delay, Echo or similar effect

G|----5----7-----9--95---------|
D|------------------------------|
A|--3-3--3-5--5--7--73---5-----|
E|------------------------------|


Main Section:

*The optional notes are truly optional. Jaco on the original recording did it this way the first time through and did a half-bar solo every other time. I suggest the same.

G|--------------------------------------|---------7--5-----5-5-3-5-5-3-(5)-(3)---------|
D|------2-----------------2-2--------5--|-----2--------------------------------(5)-(3)-|
A|----2----2-2-3-5-------------2-3-5----|---2---5--3--2--3-----------------------------|
E|--3---------------3-3-3---------------|-3--------------------------------------------|

Section before Bass Solo:

G|-----------------|------------------|
D|--5--5--5-5-3----|--5--5--5-5-3---4-|
A|--------------5-2|--------------5---|
E|-----------------|------------------|

Bass Solo:

G|-------------------7/16--------16--|
D|-5-2-----3---3---5-5/14--14-14-14--|
A|-----5-----------------------------|
E|-------1---1---3-------------------|


Chromatic Section:

G|------------------|
D|------------------|
A|-8-7-6-5----------|
E|---------9-8-7-6--|



How to do False Harmonics in Steps:

1. Place your index finger underneath the string as if you were going to do a pop.
2. Place your thumb an estimated 12 frets in front of your left hand position on the fretboard for an one octive false harmonic, 24 for a two octive false harmonic.
3. Pull up your index finger and thumb simultaneously and gently. If done correctly, you will have done a false harmonic.

I hope that's all. What a great song!

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