
No Excuses — Alice In Chains — Jar of Flies

Tabbed By: Ty W. ([email protected])

Tuning: Standard(E,A,D,G)


Ive read other tabs that claim its tuned down a quarter or half—step. 
Those other tabs are great... Ive tried them myself and theyre 
fine. But since Im lazy, I tabbed this song using the standard 
EADG tuning for other lazy people like me as well as beginners. 
It sounds fine. If you don't compare the two side—by—side, you 
wouldn't know the difference.
Also, for those beginners out there... This is an easy song. 
Don't get discouraged if it seems too fast. If you practice it 
for a little bit, you can catch on pretty quickly. =D

________________________________________________________________


VERSE
G)——————————————————————————————————
D)—————————————10——8————————————————
A)——————————————————————8——6——8—————
E)———4h6—6——————————————————————————


CHORUS
G)——————————————————————————————————
D)——————————————————————————————————
A)——————————————————————————————————
E)—2—2—2—2—2—2—2—2——4—4—4—4—4—4—4—4—

(cont.)
G)——————————————————————————————————
D)——————————————————————————————————
A)——————————————————————————————————
E)—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6——

_______________________________________________________________


Throw in variations whereever you want...

CHORUS VARIATION
G)——————————————————————————————————————————
D)——————————————————————————————————————————
A)—9—9—9—9—9—9—9—9——11—11—11—11—11—11—11—11—
E)——————————————————————————————————————————


(cont.) VARIATION 1
G)——————————————————————————————————
D)——————————————————————————————————
A)——————————————————————————————————
E)—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—6—8h/

(cont.) VARIATION 2
G)——————————————————————————————————
D)—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—8——
A)——————————————————————————————————
E)——————————————————————————————————

_______________________________________________________________

ORDER/STRUCTURE

1) Drum Intro
2) Verse 12x
3) Chorus
4) Verse 12x
5) Chorus
6) Verse 4x
7) Chorus (guitar solo)
8) Verse 8x
9) Chorus
10) Verse (slows down then ends)

_______________________________________________________________


Im aware the CHORUS is off, but Im finding it hard to translate 
the quarter—step/half—step variations to standard tuning. 
But if youre playing it with a band in standard tuning, this will do.
Play around with it and maybe youll find some cool variations 
of your own.

About Alice In Chains

Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist Jerry Cantrell and vocalist Layne Staley. Although widely associated with grunge music, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and acoustic elements. Since its formation, Alice in Chains has released four studio albums, three EPs, two live albums, four compilations, and two DVDs. The band is known for its distinct vocal style which often included the harmonized vocals of Staley and Cantrell.

How to Read Bass Tabs

Bass tablature (tabs) is an easy way to learn songs without needing to read traditional sheet music. Here’s a quick guide to understanding the symbols and techniques commonly found in tabs:

1. The Basics

Strings and Frets:
Each line in a tab represents a string on your bass:
- The top line is the highest-pitched string (G on a 4-string bass).
- The bottom line is the lowest-pitched string (E on a 4-string bass).
Numbers on the lines indicate which fret to press. For example:
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------------------|
A|---3---------------|
E|-------------------|
            
```
This means you play the 3rd fret on the A string.

2. Common Techniques

Hammer-On (h):
Play the first note by picking it, then press down on a higher fret with another finger without picking again.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5h7---------|
            
```
Pull-Off (p):
Pluck a note and then "pull off" your finger to let a lower fret ring.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------7p5---------|
            
```
Slide (/ or \):
Move your finger up (/) or down (\) the fretboard while maintaining pressure.
```
G|-------------------|
D|-------5/7---------|
            
```

3. Advanced Techniques

Bend (b): Push the string up or down to raise the pitch. Example: G|-------7b9---------|
Vibrato (~): Shake the string slightly after playing a note to create a vibrating sound. Example: G|-------7~----------|
Muted Notes (x): Rest your finger lightly on the string without pressing a fret and pluck for a percussive "click" sound.

4. Rhythm and Timing

Tabs don’t always indicate timing, so listen to the song while reading the tab. Wider spaces between numbers mean longer pauses, while closer numbers indicate quicker notes.

5. Slap and Pop

Slap (s): Strike the string with the side of your thumb for a percussive sound.
Pop (p): Pull the string away from the fretboard and let it snap back.

Practice Makes Perfect

Tabs are a great tool to learn songs, but mastering the techniques takes practice. Listen carefully to the original track and play along to lock in the rhythm. Don’t rush — smooth, accurate playing is more important than speed. Happy jamming! 🎸

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Alice In Chains — No Excuses (standard Tuning For Beginners) bass tabs