"The Creator Had A Mastertape"
Track 9 on In Absentia
By Porcupine Tree

Tab by APerfectTool77


This is my third tab now, all three being PT tabs.  It always sucked that I couldn't
find them elsewhere so I decided to start making my own.  They might not be perfect
but its most certainly a start.  Any questions, comments, or requests please send to
[email protected] or on AIM s/n: APerfectTool77

Thanks, and enjoy!


Drop D tuning
p— Pull off
h— Hammer On


Riff 1
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|  Main riff, timing is
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|  odd, but listen to
A|————————6——0————————————————————————————————————————|  get the hang of it.
D|———7——7——————0h5————————————————————————————————————|



Riff 2
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|———6——5——0—————6——5——0—————6——5——0—————6——5——0——0h3—|
D|——————————h7——————————h7——————————h7————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|——8——7——0h3——8——7—0h3——8——7——0h3——8——7——0———————————|
D|—————————————————————————————————————————h7—————————|

G|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|  Chorus riff.  Again,
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|  listen to the song
A|———6——5——0—————6——5——0—————6——5——0—————6——5——0——0h3—|  for the correct timing.
D|——————————h7——————————h7——————————h7————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|——8——7——0h3——8——7—0h3——8——7——0h3——8——7——0———————————|
D|—————————————————————————————————————————h7—————————|

G|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|——777——222——66——————————————————————————————————————|



Riff 3
G|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————————————————————————|  Ending riff.  Once again,
A|———————5——0—————————————————————————————————————————|  listen to the song for the
D|———77———————0h5—————————————————————————————————————|  correct timing.



Order:

Riff 1 00:15—01:39

Riff 2 01:39—02:05

Riff 1 02:05—02:52

Riff 2 02:52—03:19

Rest   03:19—03:30

Riff 3 03:30—end.


Thanks for checking out my tab!  Comments appreciated!!

About Porcupine Tree

Porcupine Tree are a progressive rock band formed by Steven Wilson in 1987 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. Their music is difficult to categorize, being associated with both psychedelic rock and progressive rock, yet having been influenced by trance, krautrock and ambient due to Steven Wilson and Richard Barbieri's liking for the Kosmische Musik scene of the early '70s, led by bands such as Tangerine Dream, Neu! and Can. Since the early 2000s, their music has been leaning towards progressive metal.

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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Porcupine Tree — The Creator Had A Mastertape bass tabs