Opiate (Ver 2) Bass Tabs - Tool @ BigBassTabs.com

Ok, here are the TOOL bass lines I promised way back when.  I figgured I'd
do something to "redeem" myself for my sins.  Bassists, for your jamming
pleasure I have transcribed (sometimes only parts of) "Prison Sex", "Bottom",
"Opiate", and "Sober".  I broke the songs down into riffs but you'll have to
listen tho the albums to get the exact tempo an rhythm.  Also, the E—string
is dropped to D (this is common in, I think, ALL TOOL songs.)

Tips on playing these songs:
        1)  Play with a pick.  Paul does.  Although, sometimes I do it
            w/ my fingers.
        2)  Boost your Treble and Mid a few notches to get a sharper sound.
            But, you still want to keep the low end rumbling.
        3)  Don't be afraid to experiment.  Paul varies his bass lines a lot,
            give it a try as well.  It's just easier to tab it when it's
            straight forward.
       |4)  Use a 'chorus' effect, 'specially w/ Sober. ——Bucky]
Enjoy!

        ——Rich T. Viking


Opiate by TOOL
==============
Originally posted to the TOOL mailing list on 12/4/94 by
Richard Pedersen 
Retabbed in BTC by Bucky LaDieu 


Intro:
                 
+—*5*—————+———————+
|—*5*—————|*—————*|
|—————0—2—|*—0—2—*|
+—————————+———————+

Riff 1  (with adlib)            Fill:
                       23       
+——————————4——————0———2——+      +—————————4—4—————4———4—+
|*———————————0—2————3———*|      |———————————————————————|
|*—2—2—2—2——————————————*|      |—2—2—2—2—————2—2———2———|
+————————————————————————+      +———————————————————————+

Riff 2
                 8
+——7—7——7—7——*5*——+
|*—0—0——0—0——*5*—*|
|*—5—5——5—5——————*|
+——0—0——0—0———————+

Riff 3
                          4
+———————————7—7—7—7—7—7—7——+
|*—7—7—7—7——7—7—7—7—7—7—7—*|
|*—5—5—5—5————————————————*|
+——0—0—0—0—————————————————+

Riff 1

Break
             4                   7
+——*5*————————+———*5*—————————————+—*5*——————————+
|*—*5*———————*|*——*5*————————————*|—*5*——————————|
|*——————2——0—*|*———————2—2—2—2—0—*|——————2—2—2—2—|
+—————————————+———————————————————+——————————————+

Riff 1          x12
Riff 2          x8
Riff3           x4

Outro
           4        8      (ad—lib rhythm till end)
+———————————+——7—————+————————
|*—————————*|*—0————*|————————
|*—————————*|*—5————*|—5——————
+——0—0—0—0——+——0—————+—0——————

Notes:  Paul D'Amour uses a chorus effect on Intro, Riff 1, and during the
        break.  This makes the harmonics come out better.
        
==========================================================================

                Created using the Bass Tab Creator
     __         by Mario D'Alessio (motcid!marble!dalessio)
   +|oo|+
   +|oo|+       Notes:  w = Whole  h = Half  q = Quarter
     ||                 e = 8th    s = 16th  t = 32nd  x = 64th
     ||
     ||                 Capital durations are dotted notes
     ||                   (equal to 1.5 times the duration value)
     ||
     ||             #
     ||         +————+                   +————+
  _  ||  _      |*——*+  = MEASURE        |4:——|  = TIME
  _||_//      |*——*+    REPEATS        |4:——|    SIGNATURES
   |  |       +————+   (#=Num Repeats) +————+
   | || |
  /          + = TIE         ^  = TRIPLET           > = BEND
  ______/      H = HAMMER ON     = SLIDE TO FRET     R = Rest
                P = PULL OFF    X = SLIDE TO NOWHERE  ~ = Trill

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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