Hamburger Train Bass Tabs - Primus @ BigBassTabs.com

Artist: Primus
Song: Hamburger Train
Album: Pork Soda (1993)
Bassist: Les Claypool
Tuning: B—E—A—D—G
Notes:
— These are just the basic outlines of the riffs or specific example from a
  certain section of the song
— Add alot of fills (pops, chords, mutes, taps, hammer—ons etc.)
— Played on a fretted 6—string
— Use medium distortion

v — Downstroke with fingernails
^ — Upstroke
S — Slap
P — Pop

Riff 1:  / — You can hear this pop the first time but its optional
C|———————————————————————————————|
G|———————————————————————————————|
D|————————x——————————————————————|
A|—————————x5———————————x5—x5h7——|
E|——x—x4—4———x7——x—x4—4——————————|
B|———————————————————————————————|
    S SS SPSSSS  S SS S SS SS

Riff 2:    v^       v   ^
C|—————————x0———————5p4—8h9——|
G|—————————x0———————5p4—8h9——|
D|———————————————————————————|
A|———————————————————————————|
E|——x—x4—4————4—4h5——————————|
B|———————————————————————————|
    S SS S    S S

Riff 3: This tab is from taken from the riff played at 2:22 thru 2:33
        There are variations played othere times he plays this riff 
        The slaps are often muted
        Just stick around the notes listed and improv around them
C|——————————x——————————————————|
G|—————————x————————————x——————|
D|—————————————————————————————|
A|—————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————4h5——|
B|——x—x1—1————xx2—3x—x—————————|
    S SS S PP SSS SS S  P S   
     B/C       Db/D       Ab/A

Riff 4: Just listen, Les is slapping the F# and throwing in mutes and pull—offs
C|—————————|————————————————————————————|
G|—————————|————————————————————————————|
D|—————————|————————————————————————————|
A|————3h4——|————————————————————————————|
E|——2——————|——2—2p0—x2—x2p0—x2x2——2///——|
B|—————————|————————————————————————————|
   

Order: Riff 1 is variated heavily with chords throughout the song
Riff 1 0:03—0:31
Riff 3 0:31—0:37
Riff 1 0:37—1:00
Riff 3 1:00—1:06
Riff 2 1:06—1:34 
Riff 3 1:34—1:46 Palm muted
Riff 1 1:46—2:22
Riff 3 2:22—2:33
Riff 1 2:33—2:57  With variation 2 
Riff 3 2:57—3:19 Palm muted
Riff 1 3:19—4:07  With variation 2
Riff 3 4:07—4:18 Played without rests
Riff 1 4:18—5:14 Becomes muted about half way through
Riff 4 5:14—5:28
Riff 1 5:28—6:17 Into tap/chord solo 
Riff 1 6:17—6:27 Muted
Riff 3 6:27—7:18 Muted at first
Riff 1 7:18—8:00
Improv tapping 8:00—8:05

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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Primus — Hamburger Train bass tabs