STAY AWAY by L'Arc-en-Ciel: The Basslines That Keep You on Your Toes

STAY AWAY by Laruku Bass TAB with pdf file

STAY AWAY is one of those Japanese rock tracks where the bass doesn't need to be crazy complicated to be challenging. The real test is timing, articulation, consistency, and staying locked into the groove while the arrangement keeps moving.

This Akiya369 Bass TAB is an independent educational transcription and bass performance created for bass players who want to study the bass part of STAY AWAY on a 4-string bass.

Instead of simply following the TAB from beginning to end, this guide breaks down the practical skills that make this kind of bassline work: rhythmic accuracy, note control, transitions, muting, endurance, and playing cleanly when the tempo starts pushing you.

Quick Info
Artist: L'Arc-en-Ciel
Song: STAY AWAY
Instrument: 4-String Bass
Tuning: E A D G
Difficulty: Beginner to Intermediate
Main Focus: timing, articulation, groove, transitions, stamina

STAY AWAY Bass TAB

Use the TAB as a visual reference while listening to the original recording. The goal is not just to hit the right notes, but to understand how those notes sit inside the rhythm section.

If a section feels difficult, slow it down first. Clean repetition at a slower tempo is much more useful than rushing through the entire song with inconsistent timing.

VIEW BASS TAB PDF →

Why STAY AWAY Is a Great Bass Practice Track

Some basslines are difficult because they contain complicated techniques.

Others are difficult because they demand consistency.

STAY AWAY falls heavily into the second category.

The notes themselves aren't necessarily the biggest obstacle. The challenge is making every phrase feel intentional while keeping your timing stable.

That's a skill worth developing because it transfers directly to playing with other musicians.

You can learn thousands of notes, but if your timing isn't solid, the groove will still feel shaky.

The Real Challenge: Staying Tight

When the arrangement gets energetic, it's easy for your right hand to start rushing.

You hear the guitars pushing forward. The drums get exciting. Your brain goes, "LET'S GO!"

And suddenly you're playing slightly ahead of the beat.

That tiny difference might not feel obvious while you're playing, but it can make the entire bassline feel less controlled.

For this song, think of the groove as something you're sitting inside, not something you're chasing.

Timing Before Speed

One of the best ways to practice STAY AWAY is to temporarily forget about playing at full speed.

Start at a tempo where every note feels comfortable.

Then gradually increase the speed while keeping the same level of control.

Tempo Stage	Main Goal	What to Listen For
Slow	Learn the movement	Correct notes and clean transitions
Medium	Build consistency	Stable pulse and even attack
Near Full Speed	Improve control	Rushing, tension, and unwanted noise
Full Speed	Performance	Groove, confidence, and endurance

Articulation Is Half the Sound

Here's something a lot of newer bass players overlook: the notes on the TAB don't tell the whole story.

Your attack and release are part of the music too.

Imagine two players using exactly the same notes.

One player hits every note with the same aggressive attack and lets everything ring.

The other player controls the attack, releases certain notes earlier, and leaves small spaces between phrases.

The second player may sound much tighter even though the notes are identical.

That's why practicing articulation is so important with a rhythmic song like this.

Try the "Same Notes, Different Feel" Exercise

Here's a quick exercise you can use with almost any bassline.

Play the phrase normally.
Play it with a softer attack.
Play it with a slightly stronger attack.
Shorten the note releases.
Let selected notes sustain longer.
Compare the results.

You're not changing the notes.

You're changing the feel.

This is one of the easiest ways to start developing better control over your sound without buying new gear.

Right-Hand Consistency Is a Big Deal

When a bassline contains repeated rhythmic ideas, inconsistent plucking can become really obvious.

One note suddenly jumps out.

The next one disappears.

Then another gets hit way too hard.

That's usually not a gear problem. It's a control problem.

Try practicing the main rhythmic figure using only your plucking hand as the thing you're monitoring.

Keep the motion small and relaxed. You don't need to attack the strings like you're trying to defeat them.

Relaxed hands = more consistent playing.

Don't Let Your Fretting Hand Fight the Tempo

Fast playing can make the fretting hand tense up.

You squeeze harder, your fingers start moving farther than necessary, and suddenly everything feels harder than it should.

Keep your fretting motion economical.

Your fingers don't need to travel across half the fretboard to move one fret.

Stay close to the strings and let the notes come from small, controlled movements.

The Importance of Muting

When you're playing a rhythmic bassline, unwanted string noise can destroy the clarity of the groove.

This is especially noticeable during string changes.

Your bass might technically have the correct notes, but if another string keeps ringing underneath them, the result can sound blurry.

Use both hands as part of your muting system.

Use the fretting hand to silence notes when appropriate.
Use the thumb of the plucking hand to control lower strings.
Keep unused strings from vibrating unnecessarily.
Listen for noise during transitions rather than only focusing on the target notes.

Good muting isn't just about being quiet.

It's about making the notes you want to hear stand out.

Think Like a Drummer for a Minute

If you want to improve your groove, stop listening to the bass for a moment.

Listen to the drums.

Especially the kick and snare relationship.

Then play the bassline while keeping your attention on that rhythmic foundation.

This can feel weird at first because you're deliberately shifting your attention away from your own instrument.

But that's exactly the point.

Bass isn't supposed to exist in a vacuum. Your job is partly to connect the drums with the harmonic movement of the song.

Map the Rhythm Before You Memorize the Notes

Here's a useful trick for STAY AWAY: try clapping or tapping the rhythm before playing the actual notes.

You don't even need the bass in your hands.

Listen to a phrase and identify where the important attacks happen.

Then play the notes.

This separates rhythm learning from fretboard learning.

Once you combine them again, the bassline often feels much easier.

Transitions Matter More Than Individual Notes

A common practice mistake is spending ten minutes on a difficult note while ignoring the transition into and out of that note.

But in real playing, the transition is usually where things fall apart.

Maybe the previous phrase ends too late.

Maybe your hand doesn't reach the next position quickly enough.

Maybe you're rushing because you're anticipating the next section.

Instead of looping a single difficult note, loop the two or three beats before it and the two or three beats after it.

Now you're practicing the musical movement rather than just the isolated problem.

A Better Way to Practice Difficult Transitions

Step	What to Do
1	Identify exactly where the transition starts.
2	Play the previous phrase slowly.
3	Connect it directly to the next phrase.
4	Repeat the connection several times.
5	Increase tempo only after the movement feels automatic.

Build Stamina Without Playing Tense

A bassline can feel easy during the first minute and completely different after several repetitions.

That's where endurance becomes important.

If your hands start getting tense, don't simply push harder.

Stop for a moment.

Shake your hands out, relax your shoulders, and restart at a slower tempo.

The goal is to build efficient endurance, not endurance based on unnecessary muscle tension.

The 3-Round Endurance Drill

Try this practice routine:

Round 1: Play the section slowly and focus on relaxation.
Round 2: Play it closer to performance tempo.
Round 3: Play it again while focusing on breathing and relaxed shoulders.

If your technique falls apart during Round 3, that's useful information. It means the section still needs more efficient movement before you push the tempo further.

Use a Metronome, But Don't Become a Robot

A metronome is awesome for exposing timing problems.

But don't use it only as a speedometer.

Use it to test your consistency.

Can you play the same phrase five times and have the attacks land in the same place?

Can you leave the correct amount of space between notes?

Can you keep your dynamics controlled?

That's more valuable than simply saying, "I can play it at this BPM."

Practice With Less Information

Once you've learned a section, remove some of the visual support.

First, play while looking directly at the TAB.

Then glance at it only when needed.

Finally, try playing from memory while listening to the recording.

This teaches your brain to recognize musical patterns instead of depending on visual information for every movement.

What to Listen For When You Play Along

Listen For	Question to Ask Yourself
Kick drum	Am I sitting comfortably with the rhythmic foundation?
Snare	Does my groove maintain its shape around the backbeat?
Guitars	Am I leaving enough space for the arrangement?
Vocals	Does my bass support the vocal instead of competing with it?
Your own attack	Are repeated notes actually consistent?

Why Playing Less Can Make the Bassline Stronger

When players get excited about a song, there's a temptation to add extra fills.

More movement. More slides. More notes.

But the original musical idea already has a job to do.

Sometimes the strongest thing you can play is exactly what the arrangement needs and nothing more.

That's an important lesson for anyone writing their own basslines too.

Good bass playing isn't measured by how many notes you can fit into a bar.

It's measured by whether the notes you choose actually improve the music.

Clean Tone Before Fancy Tone

You don't need an elaborate effects chain to practice this song.

Start with a clean, defined bass tone.

You want to hear the attack and the length of each note clearly.

If the sound is muddy, don't immediately start stacking EQ and effects.

First check:

Are unused strings ringing?
Are you hitting the strings too hard?
Are your note releases inconsistent?
Is your low end overpowering the rest of the sound?

Technique comes first. Tone shaping comes after.

A 20-Minute STAY AWAY Practice Routine

Time	Exercise	Focus
0–5 min	Slow run-through	Notes and fingering
5–10 min	Metronome practice	Timing and subdivision
10–15 min	Transition loops	Section changes
15–18 min	Full-speed attempt	Control and endurance
18–20 min	Play from memory	Musical confidence

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Problem	Possible Cause	Quick Fix
Playing ahead of the beat	Excitement or tension at faster tempo	Slow down and focus on the pulse.
Notes sound uneven	Inconsistent right-hand attack	Practice repeated notes slowly.
Too much string noise	Weak muting during string changes	Use both hands for muting.
Hands get tired quickly	Excessive tension	Reduce pressure and make movements smaller.
Transitions feel rushed	Anticipating the next section	Loop the transition at a slower tempo.
Bass sounds muddy	Unwanted resonance or excessive attack	Improve muting and attack before changing EQ.

Record Yourself and Be Your Own Critic

One of the fastest ways to find problems is to record yourself playing.

You don't need a professional studio.

A simple phone recording can reveal things that are almost impossible to notice while you're concentrating on your hands.

Listen back and ask:

Did I rush?
Were my repeated notes even?
Did certain notes jump out?
Did I accidentally let other strings ring?
Did my tone become more aggressive when I got tired?
Did the groove stay consistent from beginning to end?

Don't use the recording to beat yourself up.

Use it like a mirror.

Find one thing to improve, fix it, then record again.

Turn the Song Into a Bass Lesson

Once you can play the song, don't stop there.

Take one technique from it and apply it somewhere else.

For example, you could take the rhythmic patterns you've practiced and create your own groove over a completely different chord progression.

Or take the same articulation approach and apply it to another Japanese rock song.

This is how learning songs becomes actual musicianship.

Build Your Own Rhythmic Vocabulary

When studying basslines, don't only remember the notes.

Remember the rhythmic shapes.

Notice when the bass:

repeats a short rhythmic figure,
leaves space before a section change,
emphasizes a particular beat,
connects with the drums,
or deliberately holds a note instead of filling the space.

Those ideas can become part of your own playing without copying the original song.

Practice Checklist

Skill	Ready?
I can keep the basic pulse without rushing.	✓
My right-hand attack stays consistent.	✓
I can control note length and release.	✓
My unused strings stay quiet.	✓
I can play difficult transitions without stopping.	✓
I can maintain the groove when playing faster.	✓
I can play sections without constantly looking at the TAB.	✓

Who Is This STAY AWAY Bass TAB For?

This STAY AWAY Bass TAB is useful for:

beginner bassists learning Japanese rock,
intermediate players working on timing,
bassists who want cleaner articulation,
players developing right-hand consistency,
musicians working on endurance and rhythmic control,
and anyone who wants to improve their ability to lock in with drums.

You don't need advanced technique to start. The important thing is to practice at a tempo where you can stay relaxed and gradually build up your control.

About This Independent Bass Transcription

This page contains an independent bass transcription and performance created by Akiya369 for educational and music-learning purposes.

The TAB represents the creator's own transcription work and interpretation of the bass part. It is not presented as an official L'Arc-en-Ciel publication, official band TAB, or official transcription.

The original composition, sound recording, lyrics, artwork, trademarks, and other rights associated with the song remain with their respective copyright and rights holders. This page does not claim ownership of those works.

No song lyrics are reproduced on this page.

Why This Page Goes Beyond a Bass TAB

A useful bass-learning resource should give players more than a list of notes.

That's why this guide includes practical discussion about timing, articulation, muting, endurance, transitions, rhythm practice, and playing along with the full arrangement.

The goal is to help you become a better bassist while using the song as a practical musical example.

More L'Arc-en-Ciel Bass TABs

Looking for more L'Arc-en-Ciel bass arrangements? Visit the main collection to explore additional songs and future additions.

Explore the L'Arc-en-Ciel Bass TAB Collection →

More Japanese Rock Bass TABs

If Japanese rock bass is your thing, explore the wider Akiya369 collection for more independent bass transcriptions and educational resources.

Explore J-Rock & Visual Kei Bass TABs →

Final Thoughts

STAY AWAY is a great reminder that strong bass playing isn't always about difficult techniques or huge amounts of notes.

Sometimes the real challenge is much simpler:

Stay locked. Stay relaxed. Stay consistent.

Work on the timing first, then articulation, then speed. Once those three things start working together, the bassline becomes much more natural under your fingers.

And don't be afraid to slow the song down. A clean performance at a slower tempo teaches your hands far more than a rushed full-speed attempt.

Use the TAB as your map, use your ears as your guide, and let the song teach you something you can carry into your own playing.

Akiya369