Band: Killswitch Engage
Song: The Element Of One
Album: Alive Or Just Breathing
Bassist: Mike D'Antonio
Tabbed By: BurnTheBassistMX ([email protected])
Tuning: C G C F
Ok.... this song was a mission to tab, it's seems ok when playing it, but, hell, i'm probably 
way off.(I think the song is played in C Minor)

Chorus (0:15)
F |——————————————————————————|
C |——————————————————————————|
G |——————————————————————————|
C |——8~—000—323—10~—000—232——|

Fill (0:47)
F |———————————|
C |———————————|
G |———————————|
C |——000—000——|

Verse 1 (0:50)
F |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
G |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |——000—10—8—10—000—10—8—10—000—8—7—8—000—7—5—7——|

F |——————————————————————————————————————————|
C |——————————————————————————————————————————|
G |——————————————————————————————————————————|
C |——000—10—8—10—000—10—8—10—000—12——14——15——|

Verse 2 (1:02) (play as fast as if your life depended on it)
F |———————————————————————————————|
C |———————————————————————————————|
G |———————————————————————————————|
C |——0—10—0—12—0—12—14—000—14—000—|

F |—————————————————————————————————————|
C |—————————————————————————————————————|
G |—————————————————————————————————————|
C |——0—10—0—12—0—12—14—000—14—15—14—12——| (alternatively you can just bend the 
first 14 and pull off to 12.... it's what i do, sometimes)

Verse 3 (1:13) (different from verse one... odd riff)
F |———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
G |———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |——000—10—8—10—000—10—8—10—000—14—12—14——12—10—12——10—8—10——|

F |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
G |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |——000—10—8—10—000—10—8—10—000—8—7—8—000—7—5—7——|

Verse 2 (1:28)
Chorus (1:49)

Bridge 1 (2:35)
F |—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
G |—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |—12—000—12—000—12—000—14—00—15—00—14—00—15—00—14—0—12—0—10—0—8—0—|

Bridge 2 (2:51) (NOT the exact number of notes to be played)
F |———————————————————————————————|
C |———————————————————————————————|
G |———————————————————————————————|
C |——000000000000002222222222222——|

F |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
G |———————————————————————————————————————————————|
C |——0000000000000033333333333332222222000000000——|

Chorus (3:07)

Ending (3:38)
F |—————————————————————————|
C |—————————————————————————|
G |—————————————————————————|
C |——10~———10~———10~———10~——|

Now go and play this to the one you love... just remember who taught you...

About Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999 after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock. Killswitch Engage's current lineup consists of vocalist Howard Jones, bassist Mike D'Antonio, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, and drummer Justin Foley. The band's membership has changed in the decade since its founding as illness, changes in life-situation, and new interests have drawn the men in different directions. The band has released five studio albums and one DVD.

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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Killswitch Engage — The Element Of One bass tabs