Take A Picture (Drop-D & Standard Tuning) Bass Tabs


Song: Take a Picture
Artist: Filter
Album: Title of Record
Bassist: Frank Cavanaugh
Tuning: Drop D (D,A,D,G) & Standard (E,A,D,G)
Tabbed by: T. Webster([email protected])


The Drop D version is definately the correct version to use, 
but if you want to play it with a band in E, I've offered an alternative. 
I created the standard tuning version so I could play it with 
a friend who was just starting out on bass, and I thought it would 
be a simple song for him to learn. So the standard tuning version 
was essentially created for a beginner, but if I ended up playing 
it live, I'd end up using the standard version since I only have 
one bass and don't want to mess with the tuning in the middle of 
a set. So pro, beginner, or if you're just plain lazy like me, 
these will work. Enjoy.

______________________________________________________________________________


=— Drop D Tuning Version —=

INTRO/VERSE
 G)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————| 
 D)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————| 
 A)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————| 
 D)—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—| 


CHORUS
 G)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————| 
 D)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————| 
 A)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————| 
 D)—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0—9—9—9—9—9—9—9—9—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—| 


OUTRO
 G)———|
 D)———|
 A)———|
 D)—7~|

______________________________________________________________________________


=— Standard Tuning Version —=

INTRO/VERSE
 G)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
 D)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
 A)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
 E)—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—3—3—3—2—2—2—2—3—3—3—2—2—2—2—|

CHORUS
 G)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
 D)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
 A)—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
 E)—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—10—10—10—10—10—10—10—10—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—7—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—5—|

OUTRO
 G)———|
 D)———|
 A)———|
 E)—5~|

______________________________________________________________________________

ORDER/STRUCTURE
 
1.) INTRO 8x 
2.) CHORUS 4x 
3.) VERSE 7x 
4.) CHORUS 4x 
5.) VERSE 4x 
6.) CHORUS 6x 
7.) OUTRO
______________________________________________________________________________

KEY

~ = Let note ring
______________________________________________________________________________

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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