Thieves Bass Tabs - Ministry @ BigBassTabs.com

Ministry — The mind is a terrible thing to taste
    For bass guitar. All songs are in standard tuning unless noted otherwise.
    I haven't transcribed Test because I don't have it.

    Thieves

    Intro — You don't have to play the repeated part but I do for fun. You must
    slide down from the 10th fret though in unison with the guitar.
       palm mute the 7's                                  x8
    G———————————————————————————————————————————————————————|——————|
    D*—————————————————————————————————————————————————————*|——————|
    A*—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—8———7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—*|—10——|
    E———————————————————————————————————————————————————————|——————|

    Verse                               x4
    G————————————————————|————————————————|——————|
    D*———————————————————|———————————————*|——————|
    A*———————7———————————|——————7————————*|—10——|
    E——0——0————0——0—0——1—|—0——0———0——0—0——|——————|

    Verse x3 then
    G———————————————————|————————————————————————|
    D———————————————————|————————————————————————|         
    A———————7———————————|——————7—————————————————|
    E—0——0————0——0—0——1—|—0——0———0——0—0——1b—hold—|

    Chorus           x15          x4                  x2          x4
    G———————————————————|———————————|———————————————————|———————————|
    D*—————————————————*|*—————————*|*—————————————————*|*—————————*|
    A*—————————————————*|*—————————*|*—————————————————*|*—————————*|
    E——0—0—0—1—0—0—0—3——|——0—3—2—1——|——0—0—0—1—0—0—0—3——|——0—3—2—1——|

                     x18          x4                  x2          x4
    G———————————————————|———————————|———————————————————|———————————|
    D*—————————————————*|*—————————*|*—————————————————*|*—————————*|
    A*—————————————————*|*—————————*|*—————————————————*|*—————————*|
    E——0—0—0—1—0—0—0—3——|——0—3—2—1——|——0—0—0—1—0—0—0—3——|——0—3—2—1——|

                     x10
    G———————————————————|——————————|
    D*—————————————————*|——————————|
    A*—————————————————*|——————————|
    E——0—0—0—1—0—0—0—3——|—0—1bhold—|

    Intro x4 including slide down from 10th fret.
    Verse x4 including slide down from 10th fret.          
    Verse x4 with bend and hold at first fret.
    Whole Chorus sequence.

    Outro                        x4
    G——————————————————————————————|——————|
    D*————————————————————————————*|——————|
    A*————————————————————————————*|——————|
    E——0—0—0—1—0—0—0—3—0——0—0—0—1——|—1——0—|
                                                
    Any comments/questions/suggestions? Mail me.
    ——————————
    Benjamin

    "Control your life through insanity" — Cliff Burton

    E—mail: [email protected]
    URL: http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/~j6872839/westy.html
    ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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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Ministry — Thieves bass tabs