“Higher Ground,” a high-energy funk-rock anthem by the Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP), is a must-learn for any bassist looking to expand their slap bass skills. Originally written and performed by Stevie Wonder, RHCP’s version, propelled by Flea’s iconic and dynamic bassline, became a defining track for the band and a benchmark for funk bass playing. This article provides comprehensive bass guitar tabs for “Higher Ground,” breaking down each section to help you learn this incredible song.
Intro Bassline: The Foundation of Funk
The intro to “Higher Ground” immediately grabs your attention with its catchy and rhythmic bass riff. This section establishes the main groove of the song and showcases Flea’s signature slap and pop technique. Getting this intro down is crucial for nailing the overall feel of the track.
G————————————————————|
D—————2———————5—————7|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5—5——|
T T P T T T P T T P
G————————————————————|
D—————2———————5———7——|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5———5|
T T P T T T P T P T
G————————————————————|(x2)
D—————2———————5—————7|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5—5——|
T T P T T T P T T P
G————————————————————|
D—————2———————5—————7|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5—5——|
T T P T T T P T T P
G————————————————————|
D—————2——————————————|
A—————————————2——————|
E—0—0———0—3h5———3h5—3|
T T P T
G————————————————————|
D—————2———————5—————7|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5—5——|
T T P T T T P T T P
G————————————————|
D—————2——————————|
A—————————5—4—2——|
E—0—0———0———————3|
T T P TThis intro section is repeated multiple times and forms the backbone of the song’s infectious rhythm. Pay close attention to the “T” and “P” markings, indicating thumb slaps and finger pops, respectively. Practice this section slowly at first, focusing on clean execution of each slap and pop before gradually increasing speed.
Verse Bassline: Maintaining the Groove
The verse bassline in “Higher Ground” continues with the same rhythmic pattern as the intro but introduces slight variations to keep it interesting while supporting Anthony Kiedis’s vocals. It largely maintains the root notes and the slap/pop technique, ensuring the song’s funky drive is constant.
Verse
G————————————————————|(x8)
D—————2———————5—————7|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5—5——|
T T P T T T P T T P
G————————————————————|
D—————4———————7—————9|
A————————————————————|
E—2—2———2—5—5———7—7——|
T T P T T T P T T P
G————————————————————|
D—————4——————————————|
A————————————————————|
E—2—2———2—4—4—4—4—4—4|
T T P T T T T T T T
G————————————————|
D—————7—————5————|
A—————————————7—6|
E—5—5———5—5——————|
T T P T T
G—————7—————6—————5—————4|
D————————————————————————|
A—5—5———4—4———3—3———2—2——|
E————————————————————————|
T T P T T P T T P T T PNotice how the verse section builds upon the intro riff. The core pattern remains, but there are subtle shifts in notes and rhythm to complement the vocal melody. Practicing the transitions between the intro and verse sections is key to seamless performance.
Breakdown and Variations: Adding Dynamics
“Higher Ground” isn’t just about repetition; Flea injects dynamic variations and fills throughout the song. These sections demonstrate his creativity and improvisational funk style, making the bassline incredibly engaging.
G————————————————————|(x4)
D—————2———————5—————7|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5—5——|
T T P T T T P T T P
Verse Variation
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D——————————————|
A——————————————|
E—5—5—3—5—3—5—3|
G——————————————————————|
D——————————————————————|
A—7—7—7—5———7—7—7—————5|
E—————————7———————5—7——|
G——————————————|
D——————————————|
A——————————————|
E—5—5—3—5—3—5—3|
G————————————————————————|
D—————————5h7—————5——————|
A—7—7—7—5—————5—7———7—5——|
E———————————————————————7|
G——————————————|
D——————————————|
A——————————————|
E—5—5—3—5—3—5—3|
G———————————————————————|
D———————————————————————|
A—7—7—7—5———————7—————5/|
E—————————7—7h9———5—7———|
G————9h11—9——————————————————|
D———————————11—10—9p8———9p7——|
A—/9——————————————————9—————9|
E————————————————————————————|
G————————————————————————|
D—7h9—7——————————————————|
A———————9—7—5—6p5———5—5——|
E—————————————————7—————7|
G————————————————————|(x3)
D—————2———————5—————7|
A————————————————————|
E—0—0———0—3—3———5—5——|
T T P T T T P T T P
G————————————|
D————————————|
A———————5————|
E/19—3———3—5|These variations showcase Flea’s mastery of funk bass. Listen carefully to the song to hear where these fills and variations are placed. The use of hammer-ons (h), pull-offs (p), and slides (/) add further complexity and groove to the bassline.
Conclusion: Embrace the Funk of Flea
Learning “Higher Ground” on bass guitar is a fantastic way to improve your funk bass skills, particularly slap and pop technique. These bass guitar tabs provide a solid foundation for understanding Flea’s iconic bassline. Practice each section slowly, focusing on accuracy and rhythm, and gradually build up to full speed. With dedication, you’ll be laying down the funky groove of “Higher Ground” in no time! This song truly exemplifies Flea’s innovative and energetic bass playing style, solidifying his place as one of the most influential bassists in modern music.
