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Intermediate bass guitar tabs for "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" by John Lee Hooker, in B♭ major at about 86 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Available as an easy beginner, intermediate, or advanced arrangement.

Intermediate Bass Guitar Tabs for "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" by John Lee Hooker

Preview of the intermediate bass guitar tab arrangement for “How Long Must I Be Your Slave” by John Lee Hooker.

How Long Must I Be Your Slave by John Lee Hooker
Bass Guitar Tabs

Tab notationFretboard tab

The bass guitar part reads as a fretboard tab, arranged to sit naturally for the instrument.

Difficulty

Intermediate

For players comfortable with the basics.

Inside the music
Signature

Music DNA

Genreblues · Delta blues · acoustic blues
Moodlamenting · sorrowful
Signatureraw, intimate Delta blues lament
B♭ major
Key
86
BPM
4/4
Time
Chords

The progression

F7
B♭
F
B♭m
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVerseChorusVerseChorusBridgeChorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

acoustic guitar
fingerpicked, providing both rhythm and melodic fills
male baritone vocals
deep, gravelly, expressive, conversational blues singing
harmonica
wailing, mournful lines that echo the vocal phrasing
bass
simple, steady root notes that anchor the harmony
Album & artist
ALBUM

Detroit Blues 1950-1951 (1987)

This is a compilation released in 1987 collecting Hooker's early 1950s recordings made during his Detroit years, capturing him at a raw and formative stage. The album also features fellow Detroit blues musician Eddie Burns, documenting the gritty electric blues sound that defined the city's scene at the time.

All of Detroit Blues 1950-1951
Artist

John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi in 1917 and moved to Detroit in 1943, where he built his reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in electric blues. His style drew from Delta blues, talking blues, and early North Mississippi hill country blues, often with just his electric guitar and a heavy, hypnotic groove. He recorded prolifically from the late 1940s onward and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

All John Lee Hooker songs
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  2. Step 2
    We transcribe it

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  3. Step 3
    Play & export

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FAQ

Good to know

What key is "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" in?

"How Long Must I Be Your Slave" by John Lee Hooker is in B♭ major.

What is the tempo of "How Long Must I Be Your Slave"?

"How Long Must I Be Your Slave" plays at around 86 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chords are in "How Long Must I Be Your Slave"?

The core progression is F7, B♭, F, and B♭m, built around the B♭ major tonal center.

What instruments play on "How Long Must I Be Your Slave"?

The recording features acoustic guitar, male baritone vocals, harmonica, and bass.

Can I get "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" bass guitar tabs?

Yes. This is the intermediate bass guitar tabs arrangement of "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" by John Lee Hooker, transcribed by Songscription.

Is "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" bass guitar tabs easy to play?

"How Long Must I Be Your Slave" bass guitar tabs comes in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so there is an easy version to start with. At 86 BPM in B♭ major with 4 core chords, the part stays friendly for newer players. You can switch levels on this page before you save it.

Is there an easy, beginner version of "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" bass guitar tabs?

Yes. The beginner bass guitar tabs for "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" simplifies the busiest passages and rhythms while keeping the melody, so it is the easiest way to start. The intermediate and advanced arrangements are one tap away when you want more of the original.

What album is "How Long Must I Be Your Slave" on?

"How Long Must I Be Your Slave" appears on Detroit Blues 1950-1951 (1987).

How does Songscription turn a song into sheet music?

Give it a recording, a YouTube link or an audio file, and its AI transcribes that performance into notation for the instrument and level you choose.

Can I get sheet music for a live or cover version?

Yes. The score is generated from whatever recording you pick, so a live take, a remix, or a cover each match that exact performance.

What instruments and formats are available?

Piano, guitar, violin, trumpet, sax, bass, drums, vocals and more, as standard sheet music, a piano roll, or guitar tabs.

Is Songscription free to use?

You can try it free, with no credit card needed.

Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?

Yes. You get a downloadable PDF, plus in-app playback and the option to transpose or adjust the arrangement before you print.

How accurate is the transcription?

It is produced by AI trained on millions of bars of music, and you can play it back and fine-tune any details before you download.

Is this transcription licensed?

Yes. We have licensed this track from its publisher, so we are permitted to transcribe it and provide the sheet music to you.

Transcribed from licensed catalogs by AI trained on millions of bars of music.

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