
Let me start of by saying this is like the coolest bass line ever 
(right up there with
one bites the dust, seven nation arm {though the white stripes 
don't exacly have a bass}
feel good inc., jeremy, and Ice Ice Baby {even though vanilla 
ice totally stole that
from Queens Under pressure song}) This is my first bass tab and 
hope that its good.
rate and enjoy!


This is the Main Riff of the song but if you notice he will mix up 
how he plays it. It
only changes while jeff is singing...usually.
G—————————————————————————————————————|
D—00—0—3—5—77—55—3—0——12—12—7—55—3—0——|
A—————————————————————————————————————|
E—————————————————————————————————————|

Variation

G———————————————————————————————————————————| sometimes right after the sevens he
D—00—0—3—5—77—55—3—00—3—5—77—555—3—0————————| will play a few 9's and slide up to
A———————————————————————————————————————————| a 7 or a 5.
E———————————————————————————————————————————|

when jeff is singing the part "two hits and the joint turn brown" 
play this...

G—————————————————————————————————————|
D—00—0—3—5—77—55—3—0——————————————————|
A————————————————————0—5—3—5——————————|
E—————————————————————————————————————|

That is pretty much it. Im not going to sit here and tab every little 
bit of the song
there are many versions of the song becuase it is a sort of Jam 
Band. Just remember that
mixes up the frets he plays almost constantly.

About Yonder Mountain String Band

The Yonder Mountain String Band (abbreviated YMSB) is an American progressive bluegrass group from Nederland, Colorado. Composed of Dave Johnston, Jeff Austin, Ben Kaufmann, and Adam Aijala, the band has released four studio albums and several live recordings to date.

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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Yonder Mountain String Band — Two Hits And The Joint Turned Brown bass tabs