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Nirvana — Swap Meet bass tabs



Song: Swap Meet
Artist: Nirvana
Album: Bleach
Tabbed By: Cheran Shunmugavel

This is a really simple song, but the bass is hard to hear over the
guitar. The rhythm is pretty much straight eigth notes, except for
the chorus.

Intro
G—|———————————|—————————|—————————|———————————|
D—|*——————————|—————————|—————————|——————————*|
A—|*——————————|—————————|—————————|——————————*|
E—|———0—3—2—r—|—0—3—2—0—|—0—3—2—r—|—0—3—2—1———|

Weird Verse
G—|——————————|——————————|
D—|——————————|——————————|
A—|——————————|——————————|
E—|——0—3—2—r—|—0—3—2p1——|

Verse
G—|———————————|———————————|
D—|*——————————|——————————*|
A—|*——————————|——————————*|
E—|———0—3—r—2—|—0—3—2p1———|

Chorus
G—|—————————|—————————|———————|———————————|
D—|*————————|—————————|———————|———————————|
A—|*————————|—————————|———————|———————————|
E—|———0——0——|—0—0—0—3—|——3—3——|—3—3—/12——|

G—|—————————|—————————|—————————|———————————|
D—|—————————|—————————|—————————|——————————*|
A—|—————————|—————————|—————————|——————————*|
E—|—0—3—2—1—|—0—1—2—3—|—0—3—2—1—|—0—1—2—3———|

Bridge

G—|————————|—————————|———————|————————|
D—|————————|—————————|———————|————————|
A—|————————|—————————|———————|————————|
E—|——0——0——|—0—0—0—3—|——3—3——|—3—3—3——|

G—|—————————|—————————|—————————————|
D—|—————————|—————————|—————————————|
A—|—————————|—————————|—————————————|
E—|—3—3—r—2—|—2—r—1—1—|—0—0—r—/12——|

Here's the order to play these parts.

Intro X 2
Weird Verse X 1
Verse X 15
Chorus X 2
Bridge X 1
Verse X 20
Chorus X 2
Bridge X 1
Verse X 28
Chorus X 2
Bridge X 1

End the song with an open E.


Some things to note:

The slide at the end of the bridge flows right into the verse riff.
That's one thing that I think makes this song so cool, how everything
just flows together.

I'm pretty sure that the second part of the chorus riff is wrong. If
anyone knows the correct version, please e—mail me at
[email protected].

That's all for now.




Tablature player for this song:
Nirvana - Swap Meet Bass Tab

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! 🎸

Other versions of Swap Meet

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