The Answer Bass Tabs - Incubus @ BigBassTabs.com

Song: The Answer
Artist: Incubus
Album: Fungus Amongus
Bassist: Dirk Lance
Tabbed by: Jared Hannum

This song is in standard tuning. It's pretty easy to
do, but worth learning seeing to how the song is so
great. The whole thing is in order but each section is
only tabbed out the first time it appears in the song.
Enjoy, fellow bass player/Incubus fans. 

h=hammer on

Intro:
(Drums...)
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————| x2
A|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|—6—5—5—5—6—5——5—6———6—5—5—5—6—5——5—5————————————|
Let 5 on E ring after the fourth time until the verse.

Verse:
G|———————————————0h7—0h7——————————————————————————|
D|—8—8—7——8—7——7——————————————————————————————————|
x12
A|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
Slap the whole verse or else it will sound dumb.

Pre—Chorus:
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————| x4
A|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|—7—7—7—7——0—8—8—8—8—————————————————————————————|

Chorus:
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————| x8
A|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|—6—5—5—5—6—5——6—5———6—5—5—5—6—5——6—5————————————|
The chorus is almost the same as the intro but let the
notes ring.

Verse x8
Pre—chorus x4
Chorus x8

Bridge:
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|—8—7——8—7——7—7——7——7————————————————————————————|x20
A|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————————————————————————————|
Slap during the whole bridge.

Verse x8
Pre—Chorus x4
Chorus x8
Don't let the last note ring the last time you play
the chorus.

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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Incubus — The Answer bass tabs