Transcribed by:  Jeff Rossmeissl ([email protected])


Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons — The Pixies
— off the record "Trompe le Monde"
Written by Black Francis, all lyrics by Black Francis
1991 — Elektra Records

Bass tab — Normal tuning

G—————————————————————————————————
D——7—7—6—7—7—7—6—7—0—0—0—2—2—2—2—2   —cntd—
A—————————————————————————————————
E—————————————————————————————————

G—————————————————————————————————————————
D——7—7—6—7—7—7—6—7—0—0—0—0————————————————
A——————————————————————————4—4—4—4—2—2—2—2   —cntd—
E—————————————————————————————————————————

G—————————————————————————————————
D——7—7—6—7—7—7—6—7—0—0—0—2—2—2—2—2   —cntd—
A—————————————————————————————————
E—————————————————————————————————

G——————————————————————————————————————————
D——————————————————————————————————————————
A—0—0—0———0—0—0———0—5—5—5—5—4—4—4—4—2—2—2—2
E———————4———————4——————————————————————————


After this the vocals come in, and are played over
that bass section up there, with these lyrics:

Speed leaving without warning
I need some place to sleep tonight
blowing in the rocking of the pine



After this is the chorus, and I have some guitar chords over
the lyrics of them (actually, powerchords).
You'll have to listen for when the bass is playing with
the song, but pretty much the whole time (the section above).
Actually, there's a whole bunch of guitars in the background
with weird noises, but they're about impossible to tab out,
and it's not very important anyway, so please forgive me.


A = 5 7 7 x x x
D = x 5 7 7 x x

About Pixies

The Pixies are an American alternative rock band that formed in Boston in 1986. The group disbanded in 1993 under acrimonious circumstances but reunited in 2004. Black Francis (lead vocals and guitar), Joey Santiago (guitar), Kim Deal (bass), and David Lovering (drums) have been the band's continual members. While the Pixies found only modest success in their home country, they were significantly more successful in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe, although never achieving mainstream success with their studio albums.

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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Pixies — Bird Dream Of The Olympus Mons bass tabs