Song:      "The Dreaming Tree" (Studio)
Artist:    Dave Matthews Band (Stefan Lassard/Bass)—(Greg Howard/Chapman Stick)
Album:     Before These Crowded Streets
Tabbed by: Phillip Adrian Trujeque
http://www.Guttwrench.com/

Any comments, questions, jokes, threats, suggestions,
corrections, thoughts or concerns...
Please feel free to email me: [email protected]

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As you all know, the bass parts are somewhat hard to decipher so,               |
Use your best judgement when playing this song. I know I fucked the chorus part |
Because of the picking being used. I just can't hear what the hell he's doing!  |
If you can make it out... hell, you let ME know!                                |
             Guttwrench.com baby!                                               |
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Fingering notation:  L1 = left index    R1 = right index
                     L2 = left middle   R2 = right middle
                     L3 = left ring     R3 = right ring
                     L4 = left pinky    R4 = right pinky

Tuning: "Drop D" low to hi (D—A—D—G)
"Intro Theme"
  0:21
7/4
  A          G           F           D     (D) 
G|——————————|———————————|———————————|———————————||
D|——————————|———————————|———————————|———————————||
A|——————————|———————————|———————————|———————————||
D|7————(7)——|5———(5)———|3—————(3)——|0—————(0)——||

  A    (A)   G   (G)     A     (A)   C      A
G|——————————|———————————|———————————|———————————||
D|——————————|———————————|———————————|———————————||
A|——————————|———————————|———————————|———————————||
D|7————(7)——|5———(5)———|0—————(0)——|10—————7———||


"Main Theme" played by: Greg Howard/Chapman Stick
   
      0:48  Dm
            R1   R4    R1 R4  R1   R4   R1 R4                             
          G|—————————————————————————————————||   Repeat 
          D|15———19———————————15———19————————||   During
          A|———————————15—19————————————15—19||   Verses I, II & Outro
          D|————————12———————————————12——————||
 Verse:             L1               L1
VI Standing here... 
V2 From the start...
Outro:........................Take me back...


  Pre—Chorus:       Play 8 x's      A              (A)
G|———————————————————————————||   ||—————————————————————————————||
D|———7————2—————3——————2————:||   ||—————————————————————————————||
A|5————x—3—3—1—————0—3———(3):||   ||0——————————————(0)———————————||
D|———————————————————————————||   ||—————————————————————————————||


 Although this part has the higher—registered Chapman Stick licks in it,
 I wont transcribe it because it can only be done using a 6 string which I dont have.
 It can also be done on the guitar but, I'll just have to send that part to a Guitar—Tab site.

 (this part is picked somewhat lightly)                            
  Chorus:
  A                G                  F                  D        Play 3 x's
G|————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————||
D|————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————||
A|————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————||
D|7————7———7777———|5————5———5555————5|3————3———3333————3|0——0—0————0000———0||
  L1               L1  (repeat L1 pattern)
...Oh, have you no pity, this thing I do


  A                G                  F                  D       A
G|————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————||
D|————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————||
A|————————————————|——————————————————|——————————————————|5——————0—————————||
D|7————7———7777———|5————5———5555————5|3————3———3333————3|——————————————————||
  L1               L1                       ...won't you speak   please!    

Back to "Intro Theme"


***********************************************************************************|
Here's a little treat for you Bass players who actually have the balls to take the |
forefront. You'll need a 24 fret neck to do this or a 6 string bass.               |
I use a Yamaha TRB—4 24 fretter. Stuff like this is always fun at the music store. |
This is the acoustic guitar intro transposed to bass using the two—hand technique. |
Remember: this intro piece is mostly all right hand technique.                     |
The two—hand technique is made up of all hammer—on's and pull—off's.               |
Have fun and don't loose any hair trying this. It's all about fun baby!      |
***********************************************************************************|

Intro: as interpreted by bass guitar.

Fingering notation:  L1 = left index    R1 = right index
                     L2 = left middle   R2 = right middle
                     L3 = left ring     R3 = right ring
                     L4 = left pinky    R4 = right pinky

7/4
  R2    R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2       R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2
G|23————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23||
D|—————————————21——————————————————21————|—————————————21——————————————————21————:|   Repeat
A|12——————————————————(12)———————————————|12——————————————————(12)———————————————:|    until
D|———————————————————————————————————————|———————————————————————————————————————|| vocals enter
  L1                   L1                 L1                   L1

|*********************************************************************************|
  0:21
  A                   (A)                 G                   (G)                          
        R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2       R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2
G|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23||
D|—————————————21——————————————————21————|—————————————21——————————————————21————:|
A|———————————————————————————————————————|———————————————————————————————————————:|
D|7———————————————————(7)————————————————|5———————————————————(5)———————————————||
  L1                   L1                 L1                   L1


  F                   (F)                 D                   (D)
        R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2       R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2
G|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23||
D|—————————————21——————————————————21————|—————————————21——————————————————21————:|
A|———————————————————————————————————————|———————————————————————————————————————:|
D|3———————————————————(3)————————————————|0———————————————————(0)————————————————||
  L1                   L1                 pull off                  

  A                   (A)                 G                   (G)
        R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2       R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2
G|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23||
D|—————————————21——————————————————21————|—————————————21——————————————————21————:|
A|———————————————————————————————————————|———————————————————————————————————————:|
D|7———————————————————(7)————————————————|5———————————————————(5)———————————————||
  L1                   L1                 L1                   L1
  
  D                   (D)                 C                     A
        R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2       R1  R2 R1  R2      R1  R2  R1  R2
G|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23|——————21——23—————23——————21——23——————23||
D|—————————————21——————————————————21————|—————————————21——————————————————21————:|
A|———————————————————————————————————————|———————————————————————————————————————:|
D|0———————————————————(0)————————————————|10————————————————————7————————————————||
  pull off                                L1                    L1                             

|*********************************************************************************|
No "Tab—ware" programs were used in any way, shape or form to tab this.
This was all blood—sweat—tears from the ears baby! I'll be tabbing out a lot of 
TOOL basslines pretty soon.

About Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is an American rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. Founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, violinist Boyd Tinsley, drummer Carter Beauford, and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. In August 2008, LeRoi Moore died due to complications from an ATV accident. Grammy Award-winner Jeff Coffin, of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, has since filled Moore's spot as the band's saxophonist. Rashawn Ross and Tim Reynolds have also become full time touring members of the band. With musicians who each have roots in differing genres, including jazz, classical, soul, rock, bluegrass, and hip-hop, the band has come together to create an eclectic sound which has earned them fans from a variety of quarters.

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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Dave Matthews Band — The Dreaming Tree bass tabs