If you are looking for accurate bass tabs and sheet music for “Valentine’s Day” by Linkin Park, you are in the right place. Released as a deeply atmospheric, slow-building standout track on their multi-platinum 2007 album Minutes to Midnight, this song is a masterclass in dynamic growth and emotional storytelling. Sitting at a steady, deliberate 108 BPM, the bass line plays a highly strategic role—utilizing the heavy, resonant power of Drop D tuning to anchor a massive alternative rock crescendo in D Minor after sitting out the vulnerable early movements. 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..
Get the Accurate Valentine’s Day 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
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👉 Download from MuseScore
👉 Download from Musicnotes
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Listen To The Original Track
Before you dive into the sheet music, press play below and listen to how the track builds up its sonic layers as the low end drives the foundation home.
Song Structure:
- 0:00 – Intro: The track opens with an ambient electronic loop, before going into the verse. No bass during this section.
- 0:02 – Verse 1: Chester Bennington’s vocals enter over a delicate keyboard layer and minimalist percussion. The bass sits out for the first 12 bars before entering with a warm, sustained floor beneath the vocals to give the end of the verse a deep sense of intimacy.
- 0:37 – Refrain 1: The arrangement settles into a brief transitional space. Keep your timing locked tight as the chord progression flows smoothly into the next section.
- 0:51 – Verse 2: Moving into the second verse, the instrumentation begins to expand slightly. Maintain an even tone and perfect note duration to cushion the vocal melodies.
- 1:26 – Refrain 2: A clean electric guitar and broad synth strings swell. The bass continues to anchor the expanding soundscape, bridging the gap toward the middle section.
- 1:48 – Interlude: The song shifts gear as a live drum beat and driving electric guitars take over at 108 BPM, steadily ramping up the track’s emotional tension while the bass sits out.
- 2:06 – Pre-Chorus: The instrumentation reaches a boiling point, building intense suspense and forward momentum right before the main hook.
- 2:20 – Chorus: The song explodes into its massive full-band peak. Lock into an aggressive, driving eighth-note pulse, providing a massive, rumbling sonic floor beneath the soaring distorted guitars and layered vocals until the final chord resolves into silence.
Song Information
Title: Valentine’s Day
Artist: Linkin Park
Album: Minutes To Midnight
Bassist: Dave “Phoenix” Farrell
Difficulty: Beginner
Tuning: Drop D Tuning (D-A-D-G)
Key: D Minor
Tempo: 108
Bass Diary Entry: The Calm After The Collapse
Coming straight off the back of No More Sorrow, this track genuinely feels like it’s emerging from the rubble — like everything has collapsed and now we’re left to sit in what remains.
There’s an immediate shift in energy here. Where the previous track was all force and momentum, Valentine’s Day pulls everything right back and leans into atmosphere and space. It almost drifts in at first, giving you a moment to breathe, but there’s an underlying weight that never really goes away.
It’s one of those songs that’s easy to forget about — not because it’s weak, but because it’s subtle. It doesn’t demand attention in the same way as the heavier hitters, but every time it comes on, it reminds you just how strong it actually is.
The build is the key here. It’s gradual, patient, and feels completely natural — nothing is rushed. By the time it reaches its peak, it doesn’t feel like a sudden explosion, more like an emotional release that’s been simmering the entire time.
Chester’s performance really carries that progression. Starting restrained and almost distant, then slowly opening up into something far more raw and exposed. It’s that contrast that gives the track its impact.
From a bass perspective, this is all about restraint and support. Sitting low in the mix, following the chord movement, and reinforcing that slow build without ever stepping into the spotlight. It’s minimal, but it plays a huge role in shaping the mood.
It might not be the most talked-about track on Minutes to Midnight, but it’s one of those hidden highlights that quietly does its job — and does it incredibly well.
Session Notes: Tone & Technique
The Groove & Harmony
Sitting at a steady 108 BPM in the key of D Minor, “Valentine’s Day” requires zero technical complexity or flashy fills. Your entire focus is split into two distinct phrasing zones.
During the intro, verses, and early refrains, you are handling deep whole notes. Focus entirely on your note duration here, letting each root note ring out fully until the exact millisecond of the next chord change, transforming your strings into a seamless cushion. When the song hits that massive chorus climax at 2:20, your phrasing completely shifts to continuous eighth notes. Precision timing and pick consistency are key here; you want to ensure your upstrokes and downstrokes are completely uniform to create a seamless wall of low end.
Emulating the Alt-Rock Tone
To mirror the studio recording, you need a tone that shifts seamlessly from a warm fundamental cushion to an aggressive, punchy alt-rock drive that handles the lower register effortlessly.
- Pick & Attack Technique: Use a heavy-gauge pick and strike the strings with confident, uniform alternate picking right over the middle pickup. This allows the pick’s percussive attack to give your notes immediate clarity, helping the bass slice cleanly through the dense wall of overdriven guitars and orchestral string layers.
- EQ Settings: Keep your EQ relatively balanced, but give a tasteful boost to your low-mids (around 200Hz – 250Hz) to preserve the pitch definition of your down-tuned roots. Roll your treble back slightly to avoid any harsh string clack or high-end hiss, keeping the focus on pure, chest-thumping warmth.
- Compression: High-ratio compression is highly recommended for this track. Because you are driving with an eighth-note rhythm, a solid compressor clamps down on the initial pick attack and evens out your dynamic output, ensuring your low end remains perfectly level, steady, and unyielding.
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 Valentine’s Day 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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