If you are looking for accurate bass tabs and sheet music for “All The Small Things” by Blink-182, you have found the right spot. As the massive breakout single from their 1999 album Enema of the State, this track isn’t just a pop-punk classic—it is an official member of the Spotify Billions Club. Played entirely in Standard Tuning (EADG) at a brisk 149 BPM, the bass line is a masterclass in driving eighth notes, right-hand stamina, and laying down an unshakable foundation. Below, you will find the officially licensed sheet music, my Session Notes on maintaining an aggressive tone using alternate picking, and a timestamped breakdown to help you lock in the groove.
Get the Accurate All The Small Things Bass Transcription (PDF & Sheet Music)
Feel free to just jump straight in to the tab and sheet music at the links below, but make sure you come back to check out my session notes on tone, technique, and the song’s breakdown!
👉 Download from Sheet Music Direct
👉 Download from Sheet Music Plus
👉 Download from MuseScore
👉 Download from Musicnotes
You can also find our sheet music for sale in over 5,000 Hal Leonard InStore digital retailers with print-on-demand options available (availability may vary per store)!
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Listen To The Original Track
Before you dive into the sheet music, press play below and listen to how the bass provides the relentless, driving energy that pushes this massive pop-punk anthem forward.
Song Structure:
- 0:00 – Intro: The iconic intro section kicks off immediately. Dig into the root notes (C, G, F) with your alternate picking engine to establish the energy of the track right out of the gate.
- 0:17 – Verse 1: The guitars palm-mute here, giving the bass more room to breathe. Keep your picking perfectly even and slightly less forceful to leave somewhere to go for the big dynamic shifts later.
- 0:43 – Pre-Chorus 1: The progression shifts and the tension begins to rise. Keep your eighth-note drive locked in tight with the kick drum as the band builds.
- 0:49 – Chorus 1: The full wall of distortion hits. Open up your right-hand attack, ensuring those upstrokes hit just as hard as the downbeats to match the massive energy of the crash cymbals.
- 1:02 – Interlude: Back to the riff from the intro. Keep the momentum high and do not let your picking hand drag.
- 1:15 – Verse 2: Drop back into the tight, controlled groove of the first verse.
- 1:28 – Pre-Chorus 1: Build the tension exactly as you did in the first pass. Stay entirely locked on the rhythm.
- 1:34 – Chorus 2: Hit this with the exact same heavy, driving power as the first chorus.
- 1:47 – Instrumental Bridge: The song pulls back dynamically. The bass shifts to sustained chords, to build the tension before ramping up again with 8th note chords to lead into the final chorus.
- 2:13 – Chorus 3: The band explodes back in. Push through any forearm fatigue and hit your strings with maximum velocity.
- 2:26 – Outro: The grand finale. Sprint to the finish line, keeping your alternate picking completely steady until the final chord and let it ring.
Song Information
Title: All The Small Things
Artist: Blink-182
Album: Enema Of The State
Bassist: Mark Hoppus
Difficulty: Beginner
Tuning: Standard Tuning
Key: C Major
Tempo: 149
Bass Diary Entry: Small Things, Big Legacy
This is one of those songs that just never fails to put a smile on my face. It doesn’t matter how many times you hear it — it’s upbeat, ridiculously catchy, and just pure feel-good energy from start to finish.
It’s also one of those tracks that completely transcended the band itself. Even people who don’t really listen to Blink-182 know this song. It became that anthem — the one that defined an era of pop-punk and still pops up everywhere years later.
Fun fact — I actually recorded a full band cover of this myself years ago (minus the vocals). One of those proper passion projects where you just throw yourself into it for the fun of it. Unfortunately, that recording is now lost to time thanks to my PC dying… absolute heartbreak. Proper “RIP” moment.
From a musical standpoint, it’s deceptively simple. Everything is tight, polished, and incredibly intentional. The bass sits right in that pocket, driving the song forward without ever overcomplicating things — a perfect example of how effective straightforward playing can be when the songwriting is this strong.
It’s bright, it’s fun, and it’s iconic for a reason. All the Small Things might sound light on the surface, but its impact on pop-punk — and honestly, mainstream music as a whole — is anything but small.
Session Notes: Tone & Technique
The Groove & Harmony
The harmony of this song is famously simple, built primarily around C, G, and F major. Because the chord progression is so straightforward, your entire focus needs to be on the groove and your picking-hand stamina. The bass acts as the relentless engine of the track. You need to lock in perfectly with the kick drum, driving those root notes with consistent, aggressive eighth notes. During the iconic “Na na na na” vocal sections, the bass is what keeps the momentum from dragging, so your timing here must be metronome-perfect.
Emulating the Pop-Punk Tone
Getting that classic Enema of the State bass sound without burning out your forearm requires strict technique and a bright, punchy setup:
- Relentless Alternate Picking: To survive the tempo, you must rely entirely on strict alternate picking (up-down-up-down). The secret to making this sound aggressive is ensuring your upstrokes strike the string with the exact same velocity and force as your initial attack. If your upstrokes are weak, the groove will instantly sound uneven.
- The “Clank”: You want your tone to cut right through the distorted guitars. Use a heavy pick, install fresh roundwound strings for maximum high-end bite, and don’t be afraid to let the strings clank against the frets when you dig in.
- EQ Settings: Roll your volume and tone knobs all the way up. Boost your high-mids on your amp to ensure every single pick stroke is clearly defined in the mix.
Get the Official Sheet Music
You’ve made it this far, so don’t settle for “close enough” tabs that often miss the nuances that make a bass line groove.
This All The Small Things bass transcription is the result of hours of deep listening and research, ensuring you’re playing exactly what’s on the record.
Whether you’re prepping for a session or mastering your favourite tracks at home, get the professional edge with our officially licensed sheet music that ensures songwriters and performers are respected.from the below retailers!
👉 Download from Sheet Music Direct
👉 Download from Sheet Music Plus
👉 Download from MuseScore
👉 Download from Musicnotes
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.
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