A Song For Jeffery Bass Tabs - Jethro Tull @ BigBassTabs.com

This file is the author's own work

A Song for Jeffery
Jethro Tull
Bass transcribed by Kyle Plesniak

Album: This Was
Written by: Ian Anderson


I have no idea what sort of time signature they are using
or how to count this, but the closer the numbers are to each
other, the closer they are played.


INTRO  (on some versions I think he plays barre chords)

G—————————————————————||  Repeat 10 times
D—5/7——7—7—————7—5—3—*||
A————————————————————*||
E—————————————————————||



BREAK RIFF

G———————————5——3—||   Repeat 4 times
D————5——5——5————*||
A———————————————*||
E—3—3——3——3——————||

VERSE RIFF

G—————5—5—3————————5—3—————————5—5—3————————————|| Repeat 2 times
D———————————5——————————5—5———————————5—————————*||
A——————————————————————————————————————————————*||
E—3——3———————3——3—————————3——3——————1——2——3——3——||

PRECHROUS

G—————————————————————————————————————————————||
D—————————————————————————————————————————————||
A—————————————————————————————————————————————||
E—13—13—15—15—13—13—15—15—13—13—153—3—3—3—3——||

CHROUS

G————————————————————————————————————————————————————||     Repeat 1 time 
D————————————————————————5——5—5———5——5—5———5————————*||     and end with
A—3——3—3———3——3—3—1——1—1————————————————————————————*||          A—5—||
E—————————————————————————————————————————————3—3————||          E———||

FLUTE SOLO

G—————————————————————||   Repeat 4 times
D————————————————3———*||
A—5——5—5——5—5——5———3—*||
E—————————————————————||

That's all the progressions the order is as follows:

Intro
Break
Verse
Prechrous
Chrous
Flute solo
Break
Verse
Prechrous
Break
Intro
Break (just the Gs and ending on Bb)

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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Jethro Tull — A Song For Jeffery bass tabs