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Intermediate bass guitar tabs for "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" by Porter Wagoner, in C major at about 130 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Available as an easy beginner, intermediate, or advanced arrangement.

Intermediate Bass Guitar Tabs for "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" by Porter Wagoner

Preview of the intermediate bass guitar tab arrangement for “The Cold Hard Facts Of Life” by Porter Wagoner.

The Cold Hard Facts Of Life by Porter Wagoner
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

Genrecountry · folk · Americana
Moodmelancholic · reflective
Signaturestorytelling ballad with a haunting refrain
C major
Key
130
BPM
4/4
Time
Chords

The progression

N
C
G7
C7
F
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVerseChorusVerseChorusBridgeChorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

acoustic guitar
fingerpicked, warm, front‑center
vocals
male lead, clear, slightly nasal, expressive, narrative style
electric bass
steady, supportive, low‑mid presence
drums
simple, steady 4/4 beat with brushed snare and soft kick
steel guitar
melodic fills and sustained notes, panned slightly left
piano
sparse, gentle chords and occasional melodic lines, panned right
Album & artist
ALBUM

The Cold Hard Facts of Life (1967)

Released on RCA Victor, this album peaked at number four on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and spent 28 weeks there. The title track, a song about jealousy and betrayal, reached number two on the country singles chart.

All of The Cold Hard Facts of Life
Artist

Porter Wagoner

Porter Wagoner (1927-2007) was a country singer from West Plains, Missouri who spent decades as one of the Grand Ole Opry's most recognizable figures. He charted 81 singles between 1954 and 1983 on RCA Records, and hosted a long-running television variety show that introduced Dolly Parton to a national audience. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

All Porter Wagoner songs
How it works

From a recording to your part in three steps

  1. Step 1
    Bring the recording

    Paste a YouTube link or upload an audio file, the studio cut, a live take, or a cover.

  2. Step 2
    We transcribe it

    Our model listens and arranges this exact performance for bass guitar, at your chosen level.

  3. Step 3
    Play & export

    Read it on screen, transpose, slow it down, and export the tabs when it feels right.

Ready to play it?

Start from any recording, your bass guitar tabs in minutes.

FAQ

Good to know

What key is "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" in?

"The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" by Porter Wagoner is in C major.

What is the tempo of "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life"?

"The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" plays at around 130 BPM in 4/4 time.

What chords are in "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life"?

The core progression is N, C, G7, C7, and F, built around the C major tonal center.

What instruments play on "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life"?

The recording features acoustic guitar, electric bass, drums, steel guitar, piano, and vocals.

Can I get "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" bass guitar tabs?

Yes. This is the intermediate bass guitar tabs arrangement of "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" by Porter Wagoner, transcribed by Songscription.

Is "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" bass guitar tabs easy to play?

"The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" bass guitar tabs comes in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so there is an easy version to start with. At 130 BPM in C major with 5 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 "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" bass guitar tabs?

Yes. The beginner bass guitar tabs for "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" 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 "The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" on?

"The Cold Hard Facts Of Life" appears on The Cold Hard Facts of Life (1967).

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.

Made with in California.