Party At Ground Zero
by Fishbone
 
A total classic... I can't believe someone didn't get this one already.
 
 
These are the 3 main parts of the intro.  I left out a lot of the slides in
the second part.  You're smart:  listen!  :)
G|—————————————————9———————————————9————————————————————————————————|
D|*———————9——7————————————9——7————————————9——7—————————————————————*|
A|*————7———————10——————7———————10——————7———————10———8——7——————7————*|
E|————————————————————————————————————————————————————————10————————|
 
G|—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|*———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————*|
A|*————————3—3———————3—3———————————————————3—3———————3—3——————————————*|
E|————5——5——————5——5——————5———3———3———5——5——————5——5——————5——3——3——0———|
 
  3x   
G|———————————————————||—————————————————|
D|*——————3——————3———*||—————————————————|
A|*—————————————————*||——7———5———7——7———|
E|———0——————3————————||—————————————————|
 
  3x  
G|———————————————————||—————————————————|———————|———————————|
D|*——————3——————3———*||—————————————————|—whole—|———————————|
A|*—————————————————*||——7———5——————————|——rest—|———————————|
E|———0——————3————————||——————————4—————|———————|————4—————|
 
This is the main riff.  There is a lot of rhythmic variation but these are
the main notes
G|————————————————————————————|
D|*——————————————————————1———*|
A|*——————————2———4———2———————*|
E|——4——2——1———————————————————|
 
These are the "People appear, 'cause Fishbone is here to say..." parts
G|————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————6——————————————6———————————————3————|
A|——6———6——3———————6———6———3———————6——————|
E|————————————4———————————————4———————————|
 
G|—————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————5——————————————5———————————————2——2—3—2—3—2——|
A|——5———5——2———————5———5———2———————5———————————————|
E|————————————3———————————————3————————————————————|
 
G|—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|————6——————————————6———————————————6————————————————3————|
A|——6———6——3———————6———6———3———————6———6———3——————6————————|
E|————————————4———————————————4———————————————4————————————|
 
G|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
D|——4——4—4——4————————————————————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————6———6——6—6——6—6————————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————————7———6—6——6——4——1——4——6——4——1———|
Use the 6th fret on your B—string for these——^———————————^ if you have one.
It makes the pattern much easier!
 
This is for the 'bone solo section.  The guitar solo uses the main riff.
Oh, this section is used for the Johnny's Going to War section
G|——————————————————————————————————————————————
D|—————3——6——3——————————————————————————————————
A|———4—————————————3——6——3————4—4—6—6—————3—4———
E|———————————————4————————————————————4—6———————
The end of this measure is wrong, but all you need is any walking fill.
 
G|——————————————————————————————————————————————
D|—————3——6——3——————————————————————————————————
A|———4—————————————3——6——3————4—4—6—6—6—4—3—————
E|———————————————4——————————————————————————6———
 

 
 
 
Eric Somdahl
ICQ #67654004
[email protected]
http://www.esscowebdesign.com

About Fishbone

Fishbone is an American alternative rock band that plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk metal and more. The band was formed in 1979 in Los Angeles by John Norwood Fisher (bass, vocals) at 2010 Chariton where he and Phillip "Fish" Fisher (drums) his brother lived; also, Angelo Moore, who sometimes uses the stage name "Dr. Madd Vibe" (vocals, saxophones ranging from sopranino to bass, and theremin), Kendall Jones (guitar), "Dirty" Walter A. Kibby III (vocals, trumpet) and Christopher Dowd (keyboards, trombone, vocals). The group came from the same Los Angeles scene that spawned Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction.

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! 🎸

Forum

Fishbone — Party At Ground Zero bass tabs