Song Title: Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
Artist: Pearl Jam
——————————————————————————————————————————————

Ament wrote a pretty easy bassline for this song, but sometimes it's not 
the difficulty that makes music special, but instead, the feel and soul
you put into it.  And don't forget to add those "little things" that give
a song flavor. (just listen to the song a couple of times, you'll hear what 
I mean)     


guitarvedder intro for 2 bars


first verse:  

         D  C  G/B  C  G/B                      D  C  G/B  C  G/B
    ————|——————————|————————|                  |——————————|——————————|                   
    ————|——————————|————————| play 2x then     |——————————|——————————|  
    *0*3|5——3——2———|3——2————| small variation  |5——3——2———|3——3—2———2|
    ————|——————————|—————3——| on 3x:——————>    |——————————|——————————|
 *pick—up only on 1x
                        
   "....haunting familiar yet....."         "...lifetimes are catching up..."


bridge:

       C      A7                          Em
     ||———————————|                      |————————————||
     ||———————————| play 3x then——————>  |————————————||
     ||3——3—3—0——0|                      |7—————7——7—||
     ||———————————|                      |———0————————||
      "all these changes..."              "taken me..." 
   

chorus: (if you can't tell, it's the same as the verse riff)

       D  C  G/B  C   GB 
     ||——————————|—————————|
     ||——————————|—————————| play chorus 2x
     ||5——3——2———|3———2————|
     ||——————————|——————3——|
      "hearts and thoughts they fade...  fade away..."


verse 2:

     same as verse 1 (played 4x and with no pick—up)


bridge:

     same as the first time 


verse 3:

     same as verses 1 and 2 (played 4x and once again with no pick—up)


chorus:

     same as first chorus (played 2x) 


fade:

     continue playing the chorus and slowly fade away.................


Submitted by:  Whisper ([email protected])

About Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guitar), Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), and Mike McCready (lead guitar). The band's current drummer is Matt Cameron, also of Soundgarden, who has been with the band since 1998.

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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Pearl Jam — Elderly Woman bass tabs