Monster Mash Off Cuts From The Crypt Bass Tabs

The Misfits— Monster Mash
Bassist: Jerry Only
Album: Cuts From The Crypt
Standard tuning (EADG), use enough distortion for a good fuzz sound 

Verse/Chorus  
G————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
D————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
A——————————————————————————————5(x16)———————7(x16)———
E———5(x16)——————2(x16)———————————————————————————————

Bridge
G—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
D—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
A———5(x16)———————7(x16)———————5(x16)———————7/1—————(note: quick slide from 7 to 1)
E—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Song Structure
verse x1
chorus x1
verse x1
chorus x1
bridge x1
verse x1
chorus x1
bridge x1*
chorus x1
bridge x1
chorus x3

*This is the Monster Mash off of the Cuts From the Crypt album, the other version of the 
song (possibly the one from the monster mash E.P.) is missing the 2nd bridge that goes:

Out of his coffin Drac&#8217;s voice did ring
Seems he was troubled by just one thing
Opened the lid, and shook his fist
And said &#8220;Whatever happened to my Transylvanian Twist?&#8221;

There are many different tabs for this song, (many use 8th notes, but listen to the song, 
it&#8217;s 16th notes, and they forget the slide at the end of the bridge, once again 
listen to the song carefully and you can hear it) but in the Monster Mash video this is 
how Jerry Only plays it, download the video off of kazza and watch his fingering.

Tab by: Peter Klein



Lyrics:
Good evening!
I was working in the lab late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
My monster, from its slab, began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise

He did the Mash, he did the Monster Mash
The Monster Mash, and it's a graveyard smash
He did the Mash, it caught on in a flash
He did the Mash, he did the Monster Mash

From my laboratory in the castle east
To the master bedroom, where the vampires feast
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the Mash, they did the Monster Mash
The Monster Mash, it was a graveyard smash
They did the Mash, they caught on in a flash
They did the Mash, they did the Monster Mash

The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolfman
Dracula, and his son

The scene was rocking, all were digging the sound
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds
The Coffin Bangers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, The Crypt Keeper Five

They did the Mash, they played the Monster Mash
The Monster Mash, it was a graveyard smash
They played the Mash, they caught on in a flash
They played the Mash, they played the Monster Mash

Out of his coffin his voice did ring
Seems he was troubled by just one thing
Opened the lid, shook his fist, and said
"Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"

It's now the Mash, it's now the Monster Mash
The Monster Mash, and it's a graveyard smash
It's now the Mash, it caught on in a flash
It's now the Mash, it's now the Monster Mash

Now everything is cool, Drac's a part of the band
My Monster Mash is the hit of the land
For you, the living, this Mash was meant, too
When you get to my door, tell them Only sent you

Then you can Mash, then you can Monster Mash
The Monster Mash, another graveyard smash
Then you can Mash, you'll catch on in a flash
Then you can Mash, you did the Monster Mash

The Monster Mash...

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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Misfits — Monster Mash Off Cuts From The Crypt bass tabs