Title: Shake It Off
Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: 1989
Bassist: Shellback
Difficulty: Beginner
Tuning: Standard Tuning
Key: G Major
Tempo: 160
Get the Official Sheet Music
👉 Download on Sheet Music Direct
👉 Download on Sheet Music Plus
👉 Stream on Sheet Music Direct
👉 Stream on MuseScore
Affiliate Note: This page may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For full details on affiliate links, please see the Affiliate Link Policy.
Bass Diary Entry
I honestly can’t remember the very first time I heard this song, but I do remember how absolutely unavoidable it was in 2014. It was on the radio constantly, in shops, on TV, basically everywhere you went — one of those tracks that completely takes over for a while whether you’re actively seeking it out or not.
The one moment that really sticks in my head with this song though isn’t actually hearing it on the radio, but seeing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson perform it on Lip Sync Battle with Jimmy Fallon (included below, enjoy!). Watching someone who’s normally associated with action films and wrestling just fully commit to something that playful and over-the-top was brilliant, and it really summed up the whole spirit of the song — not taking yourself too seriously and just having a bit of fun with it.
By this point I was already a lot more open to pop music than I had been in my early teens, so instead of brushing it off, I actually leaned into how catchy and energetic it was. It’s one of those tracks that you can’t really half-listen to — once it’s on, it kind of forces you to engage with it whether that means tapping along, nodding your head, or just accepting that it’s going to live rent-free in your brain for the next few hours.
From a bass perspective, the line is built around short, punchy, almost percussive notes that lock in tightly with the drums. It’s not flashy, but it’s incredibly effective, giving the track its bounce and helping drive that relentless upbeat feel all the way through. It’s a great example of how pop bass often works best when it focuses on groove, articulation, and consistency rather than technical complexity.
It might not be the sort of track I’d have imagined myself tabbing out years earlier, but it fits perfectly into that era where my listening habits had broadened massively, and I was just enjoying good songs for what they were — fun, catchy, and designed to make people move.
Why Our Bass Tabs?
- Highly researched to ensure play-accurate parts
- Correct rhythms, note lengths & performance detail
- Clear layouts designed for real-world practise
- Mobile-friendly PDFs for easy reading anywhere
Our goal:
Reliable, musician-friendly bass notation that players can trust.
Explore More Bass Tabs
Mastered Shake It Off and want to learn more?
👉 More from Taylor Swift
👉More from The Bass Diaries Officially Licensed Sheet Music Collection
Request The Next Taylor Swift Song
Got a favourite Taylor Swift track you want to learn?
Join our Discord to:
- Request new bass sheet music
- Vote on upcoming releases
- Hang out with fellow bassists
➡️ Join HERE
