Once Bitten Twice Shy Bass Tab by Great White

Once Bitten Twice Shy bass tab by Great White

Bass Tab

Tuning: Standard (E A D G)


NOTE: No bass in this song until the third verse!

🏷Legend:
r = rest
() = sustained note
\ = slide down
vf = volume fade (appears above bar)


INTRO:
              (Rest x12)
G |---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|
E |-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

🎸

Accuracy Rating: - Votes: -


VERSE 1:
              (Rest x8)
G |---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|
E |-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE-CHORUS:
              (Rest x8)
G |---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|
E |-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE-VERSE:
              (Rest x8)
G |---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|
E |-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


VERSE 2:
              (Rest x8)
G |---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|
E |-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE-CHORUS:
              (Rest x8)
G |---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|
E |-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


CHORUS 1:
              (Rest x12)
G |---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|
E |-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE-VERSE:
              (Rest x3)
G |---------------------------------||---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------||---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------||-----------------------------12\-|
E |-r-------------------------------||-r-------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &      1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


VERSE 3:

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|-5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|
E |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------0---1---2---|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|-5---5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|
E |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE-CHORUS:

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------3---4---5---|
E |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---6---5---4---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


CHORUS 2:

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------0---0---1---1---2---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------0---1---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3-------|
A |---------------------------------|-----------------------------3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE-SOLO:
                                                   (x3)
G |---------------------------------||---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------||---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------||---------------------------------|
E |-3-------------------------------||(3)------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &      1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


GUITAR SOLO:

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|(3)--3---3---3---3---------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------0---1---3---|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-----------------------------5---|(5)--5---5---5---5---0---2---3---|
E |(3)--3---3---3---3---3---3-------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |(3)--3---3---3---3---3---X---3---|(3)--3---3---3-------------------|
E |---------------------------------|-----------------0---1---2---3---|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-----------------------------5---|(5)--5---5---5---5---5---5---5---|
E |(3)--3---3---3---3---3---3-------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


PRE-CHORUS:

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------3---4---5---|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------3---4---5---|
E |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---|-6---6---6---6---6---6---5---4---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


CHORUS 3:

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------0---0---1---1---2---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------0---1---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


CHORUS 4:

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------0---1---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


EXTENDED JAM (Part 1):

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------0---0---1---1---2---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

(Part 2):

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------0---1---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

(Part 3):

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------0---0---1---1---2---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

(Part 4):

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

   vf
G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---------------------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------0---0---1---1---2---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &


OUTRO (Repeat to fade-out):

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
A |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

G |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
D |-3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|-3---3---3---3---3---------------|
A |---------------------------------|---------------------0---1---2---|
E |---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
    1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &

Follow along with the song:

Last updated: July 1, 2025

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Great White bass tabs for Once bitten twice shy

About Once Bitten Twice Shy

"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" is a rock song originally recorded by Ian Hunter in 1975, but popularized by Great White in 1989. The catchy chorus and energetic guitar riffs helped propel the song to commercial success, reaching the top 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Despite its popularity, the song has faced criticism for its simplistic lyrics and derivative sound. Overall, "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" remains a staple of 80s rock music, showcasing Great White's talent for crafting memorable hooks.

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This bass tabs tutorial for "Once Bitten Twice Shy" by Great White is crafted for all musicians players ready to learn and grow. Whether you're just starting or refining your skills, this guide meets you where you are.

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