Over The Falls Bass Tabs - Primus @ BigBassTabs.com

Song: Over The Falls
Artist: Primus
Album: The Brown Album
Bassist: Les Claypool
Tabber: Daniel Gilbert

There was stuff missing from Neal Conway's ([email protected]) so here
is my version. The song is played on an acoustic stand up bass (check the
video) so to get a better sound slide to all notes on the same string
(I'll mark this with a / when needed). There are loads of variations, 
some of which I tabbed but in order to sound a pro just use the E minor
pentatonic scale (a crude version of which is at the bottom of this tab) to
improvise. These timings are only rough, listen to the song to get it right.

Played in a steady 3/4 time

Intro

G—————————————I     I—0———————7———I     I/9———9———9———I    
D————————0—2——I     I—————7———————I     I—————————————I
A—————————————I     I—————————————I     I—————————————I
E——0———3——————I  x7 I—————————————I x1  I—————————————I x3
   1 + 2 + 3 +        1 + 2 + 3 +         1 + 2 + 3 +

G—9———7———7——I9———9———9——I9—7—————7——I———————————I———————————I   
D———————9————I———————————I————9——————I9—7—5———7——I9———7———5——I
A————————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I
E————————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I x1
  1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 +

Verse main part

G————————————I occasionally G—————————0——I
D—————2——————I              D—————2——————I
A————————————I              A————————————I
E—0—————0—3——I              E—0——————————I
  1 + 2 + 3 +                 1 + 2 + 3 +

Other Verse parts

G————————————I———————————I Although not played on      
D————————————I———————————I the cd, it sounds better
A————————————I———————————I if you octave these notes
E3/5——————5——/8———————8—I 
  1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 +
As he stood by and waited to be called...

G————————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I
D————————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I
A————————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I———————————I
E3/5——————5——/8———————8——7———————7——/6———————6——5——————————I3———2——————I
  1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 +
As he stood by and waited like the others before....

E minor pentatonic scale (E G A B D E)
those notes on each string up to the 12th fret are
G—0—2—4—7—9—12

D—0—2—5—7—9—12—

A—0—2—5—7—10—12—

E—0—3—5—7—10—12—

Comments suggestions requests corrections to [email protected]

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 — Over The Falls bass tabs