MAKE A VOW by LUNA SEA: The Basslines That Hold It Together

Learning a LUNA SEA bassline isn't just about finding the right notes on the fretboard. With MAKE A VOW, the lower tuning gives you another thing to think about: how to keep the bass sounding tight, clear, and controlled while moving around the fretboard.

This page features an independent 4-string Bass TAB and bass performance created by Akiya369 for educational and bass practice purposes. The article goes beyond the notes themselves and covers low-tuning technique, muting, position awareness, string transitions, articulation, and practical ways to build a more reliable bass performance.

If you're practicing this song for the first time, don't worry about playing it perfectly right away. Get the tuning, notes, rhythm, and hand movement under control first. The speed and confidence can come later.

MAKE A VOW Bass TAB – Quick Info

Detail	Information
Artist	LUNA SEA
Song	MAKE A VOW
Instrument	4-string bass
Tuning	D# G# C# F#
Content	Independent Bass TAB, practice guide & bass performance
Purpose	Bass practice and educational study

VIEW PDF – MAKE A VOW Bass TAB

You can access the MAKE A VOW Bass TAB PDF here and use it as a reference while working through the song.

VIEW BASS TAB PDF →

For the best results, don't keep your eyes glued to the TAB for the entire practice session. Use it to understand the fretboard movement, then gradually shift your attention toward the rhythm and feel of the performance.

Watch the Independent MAKE A VOW Bass Performance

The performance below is provided as an independent bass reference. You can use it alongside the TAB to observe the overall movement and practice approach.

Why MAKE A VOW Is Useful Bass Practice

One of the cool things about learning bass in a lower tuning is that it forces you to pay attention to details that can be easy to ignore in standard tuning.

The notes can feel physically different under your fingers, the string tension changes, and unwanted noise can become more noticeable. That makes MAKE A VOW a useful practice piece for building control rather than simply memorizing another bassline.

Think of the song as a combination of three things:

Fretboard movement – knowing where you're going before you get there.
Rhythmic precision – keeping the notes consistently placed.
Low-end control – keeping the bass clear instead of letting the lower tuning become muddy.

Understanding the D# G# C# F# Tuning

This song uses a 4-string bass tuned D# G# C# F#. Every string is tuned down from standard tuning, so don't assume your normal E A D G fingering will automatically feel the same.

Before playing the actual TAB, tune carefully and check each string more than once. Lower tunings can expose small tuning inconsistencies, especially when you're playing with a recording.

String	Tuning	Practice Focus
4th	D#	Low-end clarity and controlled attack
3rd	G#	Clean string transitions
2nd	C#	Position awareness
1st	F#	Articulation and note definition

Low Tuning Doesn't Mean Heavy-Handed Playing

Here's a trap that's pretty easy to fall into: lower tuning can make you want to hit the strings harder.

Try not to.

A strong bass tone doesn't automatically come from aggressive picking or plucking. In fact, excessive force can make the sound less controlled and can create unnecessary fret noise or uneven volume.

Instead, try a moderate attack first. Then increase the intensity only when the musical phrase actually needs it.

Try This Exercise

Play a short phrase with a very light attack.
Play it again with a medium attack.
Play it a third time with a stronger attack.
Compare the three recordings.
Choose the attack that gives you the clearest result.

This is a simple exercise, but it teaches an important lesson: volume and musical intensity aren't exactly the same thing.

Fretboard Position Awareness

When a bassline moves between different positions, one of the biggest mistakes is waiting until the last second to move your hand.

Instead, look one phrase ahead.

If you know that the next group of notes requires a different position, prepare your hand during the previous note whenever possible.

That makes the movement feel much less rushed.

Think One Move Ahead

Try dividing the TAB into small groups.

Where does the phrase start?
Where does your hand need to finish?
Which finger can make the transition easier?
Can the position change happen without interrupting the rhythm?

You're basically turning the TAB into a little map instead of treating every note as an isolated event.

String Transitions Need Their Own Practice

Sometimes a difficult bass phrase isn't actually difficult because of the notes. The problem is the movement between strings.

Your plucking hand has to know where the next string is, while your fretting hand needs to land in the correct position.

That's two jobs happening at the same time.

Isolate the String Crossing

Find a section where you move from one string to another and practice only that transition.

Start slowly enough that you can deliberately feel the movement. Once it becomes automatic, gradually bring it back to the original tempo.

Problem	What to Try	Why It Helps
You hit the wrong string	Slow the movement down.	Builds accuracy before speed.
Your hand feels tense	Reduce unnecessary movement.	Makes the transition more efficient.
The rhythm breaks	Practice the transition with a metronome.	Connects physical movement with timing.
Open strings ring accidentally	Add fretting and plucking-hand muting.	Keeps the low end clean.

Muting Matters Even More in Lower Tuning

Low-frequency sound takes up a lot of space in a mix. When an unused string rings underneath the actual bassline, the result can get messy pretty quickly.

That's why muting should be part of the phrase from the beginning rather than something you add later.

Use Both Hands

Your fretting hand can lightly touch strings that aren't being played, while your plucking hand can help control additional strings.

You don't need to completely freeze your hands. The idea is simply to prevent unwanted strings from vibrating.

Try playing a phrase normally, then intentionally listen for every little extra sound between notes. You'll probably discover some noise you didn't notice while concentrating on the TAB.

Articulation: Make the Notes Speak Clearly

Bass isn't only about pitch.

Two players can play the exact same notes and make the phrase feel completely different because their articulation is different.

For MAKE A VOW, pay attention to:

How strongly each note begins.
How long each note rings.
Where notes are muted.
How smoothly you move between positions.
Whether repeated notes have consistent volume.

These details become especially important when you're playing alongside guitars with a lot of harmonic information.

Don't Let the Low End Turn Into Mud

A bass with a lower tuning can sound huge, but huge isn't always the same as clear.

If you're practicing through an amp or interface, start with a reasonably balanced tone. Don't immediately crank the bass control just because the song uses a lower tuning.

You want to hear the actual notes and their attack.

Listen for Definition

Ask yourself:

Can I clearly hear each note?
Can I tell when one note ends and another begins?
Does the bass disappear when guitars become louder?
Is there unnecessary low-frequency rumble?
Does the attack sound consistent?

If you can answer those questions honestly, you'll learn more about your bass tone than simply turning knobs until everything sounds massive.

Practice the Rhythm Away From the Bass

Here's another useful trick: take the bass out of the equation for a minute.

Choose a short rhythmic phrase and tap it on your leg or desk.

If you can't reproduce the rhythm away from the instrument, there's a good chance you're relying too heavily on your fingers to remember it.

Once the rhythm feels natural, put the bass back in your hands.

Now you're combining rhythmic understanding with the actual notes.

MAKE A VOW Practice Method

Instead of running the entire song from beginning to end every time, use a more targeted practice system.

Step 1 – Tune Carefully

Set the bass to D# G# C# F# and check the tuning again after playing for a few minutes.

Step 2 – Learn Small Sections

Start with short phrases rather than trying to memorize the entire arrangement in one session.

Step 3 – Identify Position Changes

Mark the places where your fretting hand needs to move. These are usually worth practicing separately.

Step 4 – Clean Up String Noise

Slow down and listen for unwanted ringing between notes.

Step 5 – Add the Groove

Once your fingers know the notes, bring your attention back to timing and rhythmic consistency.

Step 6 – Increase the Tempo

Only speed up when you can play the current tempo without unnecessary tension or mistakes.

Step 7 – Play With the Full Arrangement

Finally, put the bassline back into the context of the complete song and listen to how it sits with the other instruments.

A Practical 25-Minute Practice Routine

Time	Exercise	Main Goal
5 min	Tuning + warm-up	Get comfortable with the lower tuning.
5 min	TAB section practice	Learn the notes and positions.
5 min	String crossing + muting	Clean up unwanted noise.
5 min	Metronome practice	Improve timing and consistency.
5 min	Play with the recording	Put the technique into musical context.

What to Do When a Section Keeps Falling Apart

Don't immediately restart the whole song.

That's one of the easiest ways to spend twenty minutes practicing the same mistake.

Instead, isolate the problem.

If you keep messing up a transition, practice the last note before the transition together with the first few notes after it.

If the notes are correct but the rhythm is unstable, remove the fretboard movement and tap the rhythm first.

If the timing is fine but the sound is messy, slow down and work on muting.

Basically, figure out what kind of problem you're actually having before trying to fix it.

Three Things to Record and Check

Recording yourself is one of the fastest ways to discover details that aren't obvious while you're playing.

Listen Back For	Question
Timing	Do the notes stay in the pocket?
Noise	Can you hear strings ringing accidentally?
Dynamics	Are some notes noticeably louder than others?

You don't need expensive recording gear for this exercise. Even a basic phone recording can reveal timing and noise problems that are hard to notice from inside the performance.

How to Move Beyond Memorizing the TAB

Once you can play MAKE A VOW from the TAB, try taking the next step.

Close the PDF and see how much of the bassline you can remember from the sound and physical movement alone.

This is where TAB becomes really useful: it gives you a starting point, but eventually your ears and hands should take over.

A good learning cycle looks like this:

Read the TAB.
Understand the position changes.
Play slowly.
Listen to the original arrangement.
Repeat difficult sections.
Memorize the movement.
Play without constantly looking at the TAB.

Simple Tone Setup for Practice

When learning a low-tuned bassline, clarity is more useful than an overly processed tone.

Start with a relatively clean sound so you can hear your mistakes.

Low frequencies: Keep them controlled rather than excessively boosted.
Mids: Useful for hearing individual notes.
High frequencies: Add enough definition to hear your attack.
Compression: Useful for controlling uneven dynamics when applied carefully.
Drive: Optional, depending on the sound you're aiming for.

Once your playing is clean, you can experiment with tone. Doing it in that order makes it much easier to tell whether a problem comes from your technique or your equipment.

MAKE A VOW Bassist Checklist

✓ My bass is correctly tuned to D# G# C# F#.
✓ I can play the main sections without stopping.
✓ I understand the important fretboard positions.
✓ My string transitions are clean.
✓ Unused strings stay muted.
✓ My attack stays reasonably consistent.
✓ I can maintain the rhythm at a slower tempo.
✓ I can gradually increase the tempo without unnecessary tension.
✓ I can hear the bass clearly when playing with the full arrangement.
✓ I can play at least some sections without constantly looking at the TAB.

About This LUNA SEA MAKE A VOW Bass TAB

The MAKE A VOW Bass TAB published on Akiya369 is an independent transcription created for educational and bass practice purposes.

The TAB and accompanying practice material are intended to give bass players a practical way to study the bass part, explore lower tuning, improve fretboard awareness, and develop cleaner technique.

The bass performance embedded on this page is also an independent recording created as an educational demonstration. It is not presented as an official LUNA SEA recording, official TAB, or official instructional material.

Akiya369 does not claim ownership of LUNA SEA's original composition, master recording, lyrics, artwork, trademarks, or other copyrighted material belonging to their respective rights holders.

No song lyrics are reproduced on this page. The artist and song names are used only to identify the musical work being studied.

Independent Educational Notice

Akiya369 is an independent bass education website covering Bass TABs, bass practice, Japanese rock, Visual Kei, bassists, gear, and related music education.

The transcription, independent bass performance, practice explanations, and educational material on this page are created for study purposes. They should not be interpreted as an official release, endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation with LUNA SEA or its rights holders.

More LUNA SEA Bass TABs

Want to explore more songs? Visit the LUNA SEA Bass TAB collection to explore the growing collection of independent bass tutorials.

You can also check out the J-ROCK & Visual Kei Bass TAB collection for more Japanese rock bass material.

For more bass lessons, bassist articles, and gear-related content, visit the Akiya369 homepage.

Akiya369