Guided By Voices — Game of Pricks
Written By Bob Pollard
Tabbed by Andrew Morrison

There are 2 versions of this song; the EP version and the one that's on the album
Alien Lanes. As far as it concerns the bass, the album song is slower than the
EP version and because of it has a different feel. Play to taste; I've arranged the
song to my own.

The intro is taken up almost entirely by guitars; you can play a soft alternation of 
A to G, but I feel that this muddies the mix ; the intro should be clear as glass.
At the very end of it is the same line as the verse,which is where the bass comes
in.

Intro
G|22222222|6666————|77777777|22222222|————————|77777777|
D|————————|————4444|————————|————————|66664444|————————|
A|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
E|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|


Verse (root notes of power chords mostly, but the end parts are very interesting)

G|22222222|6666————|77777777|22222222|————————|77777777|
D|————————|————4444|————————|————————|66664444|————————|
A|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
E|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|————————|
After this, the bass will do any one of three lines; mix it up to your liking. 

line 1:
G|44444444|4446—4—2/|77777777|976—4—2—|
D|————————|———————— |————————|————————|
A|————————|———————— |————————|————————|
E|————————|———————— |————————|————————|

line 2:
G|44444444|4446—4—2/|77777777|777/9—7—6|
D|————————|———————— |————————|——— —————|
A|————————|———————— |————————|——— —————|
E|————————|———————— |————————|——— —————|

line 3:
G|44444444|4446—4—2/|77777777|91197———|
D|————————|———————— |————————|—— ——119|
A|————————|———————— |————————|—— ——— —|
E|————————|———————— |————————|—— ——— —|

After that, the verse ends with this bar;
it is played 3x on the very last time as an outro and ends on A
                             (very last time)  
G|————————|44446666|77777777|2———————|
D|77776666|————————|————————|————————|
A|————————|————————|————————|————————|
E|————————|————————|————————|————————|

Note: the bass has a very warm tone in this song; you can get it by 
transposing down a string (move all notes to the next—lowest string
and five frets higher)

Intro
Verse x3 (2 verses, then the third verse is split between an interlude and
the outro)

About Guided By Voices

Guided by Voices (often abbreviated as GBV) was an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard. Guided by Voices disbanded in 2004, though many of its former members remain musically involved in solo careers or other projects.

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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Guided By Voices — Game Of Pricks bass tabs