Song: Old West
Band: Five Iron Frenzy
Album(s): Upbeats & Beatdowns, Cheeses of Nazareth
Release Date(s): Upbeats & Beatdowns (1996), Cheeses of Nazareth (2003)
Label: 5 Minute Walk Records
Bassist: Keith Hoerig

BASS TAB
tabbed by ScorpioScipelli

Legend:

r  = let the note ring until the next note
x# = play the note repeatedly for # beats (you can change the timing to make it
     sound cooler)
*  = changes (check for footnotes)

[Intro: Part 1|

                                /G|————|
This part is in sync with last / D|————|
two notes of the guitar riff    A|0———|
                                E|——4—|

[Intro: Part 2|

  (A)              (B)              (C)
G|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|
D|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|
A|————————0—0—0———|————————2—2—2———|————————0—0—————|
E|0—0—0—4———————4—|0—0—0—4———————4—|2—2—2———————4—2—|

The order for this is ABAC.

 "Some cowboys were a ridin'..."

  (A)              (B)              
G|————————————————|————————————————|
D|————————————————|————————————————|
A|————————0r——————|————————2r——————|
E|0r————4———————4—|0r————4———————4—|

  (C)              (D)
G|————————————————|————————————————|
D|————————————————|————————————————|
A|————————0———————|————————0———————|
E|2r——————————4———|2r——————————4—2—|

The order for this is ABACABAD.

 "Kill them too..."

  (A)              (B)              (C)*
G|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|
D|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|
A|————————————————|0x7—————————————|2x6—————————2222|
E|2x7———————————4—|——————————————4—|————————————————|

 The order for this is ABAC.

*1st time: Play all four Bs at the end of part C. 2nd time: Don't play any of the
 Bs. 3rd time: Play the first and third B. (Listen to the song for the timing)

 "West or bust, in God we trust..."

Played exactly the same as [Intro: Part 2|. However, right before the bridge and at 
the very end of the song, part C changes like this:

  (Pre—Bridge C)   (Ending C)
G|————————————————|————————————————————|
D|————————————————|————————————————————|
A|————————0———————|————————0———————————|
E|2—2—2—4—————4———|2—2—2—2—————4———0———|



  (A)              (B)              (C)
G|————————————————|————————————————|————————————————|
D|———————2—2—2—2——|————————————————|222—2—2—————————|
A|4444—4——————————|———————4—2—0—2——|————————4—2—0———|
E|————————————————|4444—4——————————|——————————————4—|

The order for this is ABABABAC.



Intro: Part 1
Intro: Part 2 (played twice)
Verse
Pre—Chorus
Chorus (played twice)
Verse
Pre—Chorus
Chorus (played twice)
Bridge
Verse
Pre—Chorus
Chorus (played twice)

Email: [email protected]

About Five Iron Frenzy

Five Iron Frenzy (also known as Five Iron or FIF) was a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003.

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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Five Iron Frenzy — Old West bass tabs