Title: The Answer
Artist: Blue October
Key: A minor
Tuning:  Standard E A D G
Tab by: Grassy ([email protected])




There is an 8 bar guitar intro.  The bass comes in at :18.

  Verse Riff
G|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
D|——75—75—|——75—75—|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
A|———————7|———————7|——75—75—|——75—75—|————————|——353———|————————|————————|
E|5———————|5———————|0——————7|0——————7|33333330|35———530|5—55—303|5—55—303|
  :18

That repeats over and over until the Chorus.

  Chorus Riff
G|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
D|————————|————————|————————|——232———|————————|————————|————————|————————|
A|3—33—2—2|3—33—2—2|3—33—2—2|35———532|————————|————————|————————|———————2|
E|——————3—|——————3—|——————3—|————————|5—55—303|5—55—303|5—55—303|5—55—35—|
1:28

G|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
D|————————|————————|————————|——232———|————————|————————|————————|————————|
A|3—33—2—2|3—33—2—2|3—33—2—2|35———532|————————|————————|————————|————————|
E|——————3—|——————3—|——————3—|————————|5—55—303|5—55—303|5—55—303|5———————|


A quick theory lesson about the Chorus and why I play it the way I do: The Chorus
starts in C Major, so I put my 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the A string(C), and now
 the major scale falls under my fingers.  There are different ways to play it using
open strings, but this is why I do what I do.

The entire song is these 2 riffs.  If you have questions feel free to email me.



 bigbasstabs.

About Blue October

Blue October is a rock band originally from Houston, Texas. The band was formed in 1995 and currently consists of Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, piano, backing vocals), C.B. Hudson (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Matt Noveskey (bass guitar, backing vocals).

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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Blue October — The Answer bass tabs