Artist: Strapping Young Lad
CD: SYL
Tabbed by: Paul
Bass tuned from low to high: C,G,C,F

Intro
Let guitar play, then bass comes in
F————————————————————
C————————————————————
G————————————————————
C——5^———5———5———5^

Chorus
F——————————————————————————
C——————————————————————————
G——————————————————————————
C——3—5—5—5—3—5—3—6—5—3

Verse
F———————————————————
C———————————————————          on the 2nd verse, you play this part, but the time the notes are held  
G——————3———————1———          is shorter and there are some mutes thrown in as well. you'll know it when
C——3———————3———————          you hear it

Bridge
F—————————————————————————————————
C—————————————————————————————————       midway through the bridge, it goes back to the mutes that were in the
G—————————————————————————————————       second verse. 
C——13—13—13—13—13—13—13—13

That's it. Here's the order the song is played:

Intro 
Chorus x8
Verse x2
Chorus x8
Verse x4
Bridge 
Verse x4
Chorus x 8

This is my second tab and because no one has tabbed SYL, I figured I'd give "Devour" a shot.
 SYL is a great band and more people need to tab their stuff. Please rate this tab

About Strapping Young Lad

Strapping Young Lad was a Canadian extreme metal band formed by Devin Townsend in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1994. The band started as a one-man studio project; Townsend played most of the instruments on the 1995 debut album, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing. By 1997, he had recruited permanent members; this line-up, which consisted of Townsend on vocals and guitar, Jed Simon on guitar, Byron Stroud on bass, and Gene Hoglan on drums, lasted until the band's dissolution.

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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Strapping Young Lad — Devour bass tabs