Metallica › The Shortest Straw Bass Tab

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The Shortest Straw Bass Tab

Send "The Shortest Straw" Ringtone to your Cell Phone


THE SHORTEST STRAW

Intro:

G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|-0-0-0----0-0-0--0-0-0-3--0-0-|

G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|-0-0-0----0-0-0--0-0-0-5--0-0-|

G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|-0-0-0----0-0-0--0-0-0-3--0-0-|

G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|------------------------------|
E|-0-0-0----0-0-0--0-0-0-0--0-0-|


Chorus:

G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------|
E|-0-1-0--0-0-000--0-1-0--0-3-0-5--0-1-0-0-0-000-|

G|----------------|
D|----------------|
A|----------------|
E|-0-1-0--0-5-0-3-|

A bar is repeatedly done after a number of the above 
Chorus lick. The bar is below (very simple).

G|----------|
D|----------|
A|----------|
E|-3-3--2-2-|



Verse:

G|----------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------|
E|-0-0-00--00-0-1-0-1--0-0-00--00-0-3-0-3-|

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|-0-0-00-00-0-1-0-1--0-0-00-00-0-3-2-1-|


After 2 or more times of the above, the same lick goes 
higher, demonstrated directly below.

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|-2-2-22-22-2-3-2-3--2-2-22-22-2-5-2-5-|

G|--------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------|
E|-2-2-22-22-2-3-2-3--2-2-22-22-2-5-4-3-|



Main lick (used in several parts of song, and after a 
few of the Chorus's...it is also used as a Pre-Chorus. When used 
as a 
Pre-Chorus, just do the first bar twice):

G|------------------------------------|
D|------8-7-8\------------------------|
A|---/7-------------------------------|
E|-0-------------0-0-0-00--00-0-1-0-1-|

G|----------------------------------|
D|------8-7-8\----------------------|
A|---/7-----------------------------|
E|-0-------------0-0-00--00-0-3-0-3-|

G|----------------------------------|
D|-------8-7-8\---------------------|
A|---/7-----------------------------|
E|-0-------------0-0-00--00-0-5-0-5-|

G|----------------------------------|
D|--------8-7-5\--------------------|
A|---7-8----------------------------|
E|-0--------------3-3-33-33-3-2-2-1-|



Another Bridge or Pre-Chorus is shown below.

G|---------------|-------------------|
D|---------------|-------------------|
A|-2-2-2-2-------|-7----7-7-8--------|
E|---------------|---0---------7h8-8-|

G|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
D|-----------------|----------------|-----------------|
A|-7h8p7p6-7h8p7p6-|----7-7-8-------|-7h8p7p6-7h8p7p6-|
E|-----------------|-5--------7h8-8-|-----------------|


Pre-Solo

G|---------|----------|---------|----------|
D|---------|----------|---------|----------|
A|---------|----------|---------|----------|
E|-0-------|-1--------|-2-------|-3--------|

G|----------|---------|----------|---------|-------|
D|----------|---------|----------|---------|-------|
A|----------|---------|----------|---------|-------|
E|-0--------|-1-------|-2--------|-3-------|-3-2-1-|

Chorus, then:

G|--------------|-------------|---------------|-------|
D|--------------|-------------|---------------|-------|
A|--------------|-------------|---------------|-------|
E|-0---0-1-0-1--|-0---0-3-0-3-|-0---0-1-0-1-0-|-3-2-1-|

G|-------------|-------------|---------------|-------|
D|-------------|-------------|---------------|-------|
A|-------------|-------------|---------------|-------|
E|-0---0-1-0-1-|-0---0-3-0-3-|-0---0-1-0-1-0-|-3-2-1-|

G|---------|---------|----------|
D|---------|---------|----------|
A|---------|---------|----------|
E|-2-3-4-5-|-2-3-4-5-|-5-4-3--1-|

Chorus, then back to the song (Verse and Chorus)



The ending is below:

G|---------|---------|-------|-----------------------|
D|---------|---------|-------|-----------------------|
A|---------|---------|-------|-----------------------|
E|-2-3-4-5-|-2-3-4-5-|-3-2-1-|-0-0-00-00-0-0-1-0-1-0-|

The Shortest Straw Bass Tab

Send "The Shortest Straw" Ringtone to your Cell Phone

Source: http://www.bassmasta.net/m/metallica/164283.html

Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques


No Picture Eric Average	#1 by Eric Talley at Feb 26, 1988 at 10:00 AM EST
	i think this song is talking about the older days, 40`s n 50`s. where racism was in play. doesnt really matter what kind of racism people all pretty much did the same thing. `The Fallaout Has Begun Oppresive Damage Done Your Many Turned to None To Nothing `think thats about goin on crazy modern day witch hunts which i think they did back in that time for colored people or certain religions

No Picture Zac Wanna Be	#2 by Zac McCollum at Nov 27, 1990 at 1:47 AM EST
	I don't know how correct this is but Wikipedia states that the song is about the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. They were American Communists that were put in trial and excuted for suppling nuclear weapons technology to the Soviet Union. There is supposedly some so called "evidence" that they did'nt actually do it. Hence the inspiraction for the lyrics. Since Wikipedia is a public domain of sorts I don't know how authorized the information is with regards to being the inspiration for the song. Regardless, the concept of this story is the real life embodiment of the lyrics and beliefs behind the song. It is the epitomal represention of McCarthy and his witchhunting. And it's not much further from our current administration and it's "Special" laws regarding homeland security and unconstitutional prisons. On a less morose note, this song is awsome!! One of the best on the album.

No Picture craig Average	#3 by craig gillespie at Sep 17, 1997 at 10:55 PM EST
	my english aint so good, so plz explain what blacklisting means

No Picture nick? Average	#4 by nick? at Nov 1, 1998 at 6:36 AM EST
	It's basically about McCarthy-ism and even some of todays attacks on people who are brave enough to make their controversial thoughts public.

No Picture Daniel Average	#5 by Daniel Gordon at Aug 25, 2002 at 8:32 PM EST
	this song is my favorite (lyrical) song (orion beats it by far, but this song still captivates me) and GREAT solo (i'm in the process of learning it and its going to take a little more than a bit)

No Picture jared Wanna Be	#6 by jared bobak at Mar 27, 2004 at 6:12 PM EST
	Blacklisting is putting your name on something so that people won't work with you or whatever. Some actors were blacklisted as being communist and could't work.

No Picture Blake Average	#7 by Blake B at Apr 25, 2006 at 4:37 AM EST
	Everytime I listen to this song it gets stunk in my head...which isnt a bad thing but I get on my friends nerves by saying "SHOREST STRAW!!" all the time lol

No Picture Michael Average	#8 by Michael Balzary A.K.A FLEA at Jul 30, 2006 at 1:26 AM EST
	This song is downright awesome. It rocks and the lyrics are good. From what i read somewhere, it was about the communist-hunts (witchhunts almost) in the US during the cold war. But the theme and song is valid to this day

No Picture mike Average	#9 by mike wellspeak at Sep 4, 2006 at 9:51 PM EST
	i think this song is about racism and the black people being outcast because af their color