If you are looking for accurate bass tabs and sheet music for “Bleed It Out” by Linkin Park, you are in the right place. Released as the second smash-hit single from their multi-platinum 2007 album Minutes to Midnight, this track is a masterclass in blending an infectious, hip-hop-influenced bounce with raw, gritty rock energy. Sitting at an upbeat 140 BPM, this song relies heavily on rhythmic precision, right-hand stamina, and absolute pocket consistency. Below, you will find the officially licensed sheet music, my Session Notes on nailing the technique, and a timestamped breakdown to help you practice along.
This track is just one part of our complete archive of verified [Linkin Park bass tabs and sheet music], which features full sheet music and tabs for their biggest songs.
Because of its massive commercial impact, this song is featured on our directory of [Platinum-Certified Albums Bass Tabs] for Minutes To Midnight, and it is also officially recognized in our collection of [Platinum-Certified Singles Bass Tabs] as a standalone global hit too.
Get the Accurate What I’ve Done 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!
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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 line provides the bouncy harmonic foundation and relentless driving energy that carries the entire arrangement.
Song Structure:
- 0:00 – Intro: The track kicks off with a raw, clapping crowd loop and a gritty guitar riff. There is no bass in this section.
- 0:11 – Verse 1: The first verse kicks off with the rap vocals and drums. The bass continues to sit out here, leaving a massive dynamic pocket to build song tension.
- 0:24 – Pre-Chorus 1: The bass officially enters the track here, locking into a driving 8th-note pulse to build the momentum and prepare for the full-band explosion.
- 0:38 – Chorus 1: The energy explodes. The bass continues its relentless 8th-note pulse at full volume, providing the massive harmonic floor beneath the wall of distorted guitars.
- 0:52 – Verse 2: Right at the very start of this verse, the bass plays just a single note before sliding down and out, sitting silent for the remainder of the section to let the hip-hop groove breathe.
- 1:06 – Pre-Chorus 2: The bass jumps back into the mix with the steady 8th-note pulse, building the tension back up and driving hard toward the next heavy hook.
- 1:19 – Chorus 2: Reinforcing the main theme with full presence, locking the 8th notes tight to the drum kit.
- 1:33 – Bridge: The bass holds down the fort, maintaining that steady, continuous pulse while the guitar breaks out into an aggressive, dirty solo layer.
- 1:50 – Interlude: A sudden dynamic drop. The bass completely cuts out here, sitting out and waiting to rejoin the energy.
- 1:57 – Chorus 3: The massive chorus returns, but the bass continues to sit out for this movement, letting the vocals and driving guitars float.
- 2:11 – Chorus 4: The final, absolute dynamic peak of the track. The bass slams back into the mix at maximum volume—keep your picking uniform and aggressive here to close out the song.
- 2:24 – Outro: The high-energy groove rides out to a frantic finish, culminating in a sharp, sudden stop on the final collective hit.
Song Information
Title: Bleed It Out
Artist: Linkin Park
Album: Minutes To Midnight
Bassist: Dave “Phoenix” Farrell
Difficulty: Beginner
Tuning: Drop D
Key: F♯ Minor
Tempo: 140
Bass Diary Entry: Where Energy Beats Subtlety
I’ve got to be honest — as much as I rate Mike Shinoda, the more Mike-centric tracks on Minutes To Midnight have always been the weakest points on the album for me.
That said, Bleed It Out just about pulls it back.
Chester’s chorus and that bridge inject the track with the lift it needs, giving it a bit more balance and stopping it from feeling too one-note. Without those moments, it probably wouldn’t land the same way.
But regardless of personal preference, it’s impossible to ignore just how big this song is.
Live, it’s a completely different beast.
That driving rhythm, the stomp-clap feel, the constant forward momentum — it’s built to get a crowd moving. Every time I’ve seen it performed, it just turns the place into chaos in the best way. People bouncing, shouting, completely locked in. It does exactly what it’s meant to do.
From a bass perspective, it’s all about that pulse. No overthinking it — just locking into the groove and keeping that relentless drive going from start to finish. It’s repetitive by design, but that’s what makes it so effective, especially in a live setting.
It might not be the most layered or dynamic track on the album, but it doesn’t need to be. Bleed It Out knows exactly what it is — high-energy, crowd-focused, and impossible not to move to.
Session Notes: Tone & Technique
The Groove & Harmony
The entire magic of “Bleed It Out” comes down to relentless rhythmic stamina. On paper, the harmonic structure is straightforward, sitting in F# Minor and utilizing a down-tuned Drop D configuration. However, maintaining a perfectly uniform, unyielding 8th-note pulse at 140 BPM is a serious forearm workout. Your main priority here isn’t navigating complex fills; it’s locking completely into the pocket with the drummer and keeping your rhythm from dragging as fatigue sets in.
Emulating the Alt-Rock Tone
To give these continuous 8th notes the presence they need to cut through a dense mix of distorted rock guitars and hip-hop beats, you need a sharp, aggressive attack that defines each individual note.
- The Pick: Use a thick, stiff pick (1.0mm or heavier) to ensure an instant, snappy response against the strings.
- The Technique: Rely heavily on consistent downpicking if you want that extra punchy, aggressive rock edge, or use highly disciplined alternate picking if you need to conserve energy. The goal is to make every single strike sound identical in volume and tone to create a seamless “wall of sound.”
- EQ Settings: Keep your low frequencies fat but tight to prevent the Drop D string from sounding muddy. Give a strong push to the high-mids (around 1kHz) to capture that distinct metallic pick clack, which helps the fast 8th notes cut cleanly through the speakers.
- Drive: A solid layer of transparent overdrive or a bass preamp with some grit is perfect here. It glues your notes to the guitar track and fills out the mid-range space beautifully.
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 Bleed It Out 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
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