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Intermediate bass guitar tabs for "I Wish You Were There" by REO Speedwagon, in C major at about 115 BPM. Transcribed from the track by Songscription. Available as an easy beginner, intermediate, or advanced arrangement.

Intermediate Bass Guitar Tabs for "I Wish You Were There" by REO Speedwagon

Preview of the intermediate bass guitar tab arrangement for “I Wish You Were There” by REO Speedwagon.

I Wish You Were There
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

Genrerock · classic rock · arena rock
Moodhopeful · uplifting · anthemic
Signatureclassic arena rock anthem with soaring vocals and a big, sing‑along chorus
C major
Key
115
BPM
3/4
Time
Chords

The progression

B♭
F
C
G
C7
Fmaj7
Dm
Em
Form

Structure & dynamics

IntroVersePre‑ChorusChorusVersePre‑ChorusChorusBridgeGuitar SoloChorusOutro
Instrumentation

What's in the mix

vocals
male lead with a clear, strong, slightly raspy timbre; melodic, expressive, and anthemic delivery
drums
steady, driving rock beat with a strong backbeat
bass guitar
solid, round bassline that locks tightly with the drums
electric guitar
clean to lightly overdriven rhythm guitar providing chordal support and melodic fills
piano
bright, melodic piano lines that add harmonic richness and a classic rock texture
Album & artist
ALBUM

Hi Infidelity (1980)

The band's ninth studio album, released on Epic Records, it topped the Billboard 200 for 15 weeks and became the best-selling album of 1981, eventually going 10 times platinum. It produced four singles, including 'Keep On Loving You', the band's first number one hit, and 'Take It on the Run', which reached number five.

All of Hi Infidelity
Artist

REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon is a rock band from Champaign, Illinois, formed in 1967. They spent the 1970s building an audience on the road and leaned into a polished, radio-friendly hard rock and soft rock sound as the decade turned. By the early 1980s they were one of the biggest-selling American rock acts, racking up more than 40 million records sold and a string of Top 40 hits.

All REO Speedwagon 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?

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FAQ

Good to know

What key is "I Wish You Were There" in?

"I Wish You Were There" by REO Speedwagon is in C major.

What is the tempo of "I Wish You Were There"?

"I Wish You Were There" plays at around 115 BPM in 3/4 time.

What chords are in "I Wish You Were There"?

The core progression is B♭, F, C, G, C7, and Fmaj7, built around the C major tonal center.

What instruments play on "I Wish You Were There"?

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

Can I get "I Wish You Were There" bass guitar tabs?

Yes. This is the intermediate bass guitar tabs arrangement of "I Wish You Were There" by REO Speedwagon, transcribed by Songscription.

Is "I Wish You Were There" bass guitar tabs easy to play?

"I Wish You Were There" bass guitar tabs comes in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, so there is an easy version to start with. At 115 BPM in C major with 13 chords to navigate, the part sits at a comfortable intermediate level. You can switch levels on this page before you save it.

Is there an easy, beginner version of "I Wish You Were There" bass guitar tabs?

Yes. The beginner bass guitar tabs for "I Wish You Were There" 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 "I Wish You Were There" on?

"I Wish You Were There" appears on Hi Infidelity (1980).

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.