Lacquer Head (Ver 2) Bass Tabs - Primus @ BigBassTabs.com

This song is different than most songs, if not most, then all songs. Its
simple and easy to play. Just very confusing to read the tablature. I hope
youve been doing some finger exercises, youll see why. The way Les plays
it, he keeps his index finger on a string, uses his middle and ring finger
to mute the stings, and keeps his little finger on top of his ring finger.
When he slaps during the verse, he keeps his thumb on the A string and mutes
it and lightly fingers it when he plucks the G. Refer to the song for counts,
timing, etc. Also, good ol Les, doing his thing by slapping the whole song.
Primus' CD, "Animals should not try to act like humans" is a great visual
reference.

h = hammer
p = pluck
/ = slide
x = mute
V = down strum
K = keep index finger on assigned string

**Note: For Fig. 1, mute it with left hand twice in between each first slap
and pluck. You should get a weird sound out of the G string for Fig. 1a. Fig.
2, keep a finger on the 4th fret, meanwhile tap the E string with your thumb,
and when you get up to the 5th fret hit the 4th fret with your finger that was
on it. Hit the E string five times.

Fig. 1a
G:———————p4x—————p4x——— G:————————— G:————————
D:————————————————————— D:————————— D:—p2—————
A:K3——x———x———x———x———— A:——4h3———— A:—————3——
E:————————————————————— E:——————2—— E:————————

V V
G:———3—————————————5————————————
D:———3—————————————5————————————
A:———3—————————————5————————————
E:——————————————————————————————

Fig. 1b Play this hard
G:——————————————————————————————————
D:K3———————p3—————p3—————p3—————————
A:————x—x——————x——————x——————x—x————
E:——————————————————————————————————

(Extremely fast!)
G:————————————
D:————————————
A:K3——————4———
E:————0h4—————

This comes out of the solo
G:———————————————
D:———————————————
A:——/15——————————
E:——/15———15/4———

Fig. 2
G:————————————————————
D:————————————————————
A:————————————————————
E:K4——22—T—A—P—5——h4——

Fig. 1c
G:—————————————p5h0——————————————
D:K3———————p3——p5~h0————————p3———
A:————x—x——————p4~~h0——x—x———————
E:———————————————————————————————

Fig. 1d Outro V
G:—————————————— G:——4/15————15/3——
D:K3————————p3—— D:——4/15————15/3——
A:————x—x——————— A:——4/15————15/3——
E:—————————————— E:————————————————

If youve followed my instructions carefully, you should sound like Mr.
Claypool himself!

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 — Lacquer Head (ver 2) bass tabs