Hamburger Train by Primus Originally tabbed by: John Becker (prison_bass_player@yahoo.com) John Becker's original tab of this song was very helpful to me in learning the basic groove of this tune. Nevertheless, I found that much could be added to what he had in his original tablature. Below you will find my
additions to John's tab. You can find his original all over the net, namely at http://www.ram.org/music/primus/tabs/hamburger_train.btab.html . This song has such a fun beat because of its non-standard meter. Most songs are 4/4, waltzes are 3/4, and so on. Other meters are 2/4, 6/8, etc. Hamburger Train is great because it seems to be 4/4 juxtaposed with 2/4. In other words, one measure is 4/4 and the next measure is 2/4. Then 4/4 and 2/4, etc. Tap your foot along to the song and you will hopefully pick up the rhythm. Learn the simplified version of the groove before you go for all of the clicks, slaps, mutes, pops, etc. Then, move on to the advanced groove. Once you've got the advanced groove down, you're on your own for deciphering the remainder of the song. Simplified (Notice the dropped D tuning) G--------------------------------------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------- A--------------------------------------------------------------------------- D--x------7-------12-----9\-----------x------7------12-----12h14------------ Advanced G--------------------------------------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------- A--------------------------------------------------------------------------- D--x-h7-7-7-------12---x---9\-------- x-h7-7-7------12--x--12h14------------ John's Original Tabs: G--------------------------------------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------- A--------------------------------------------------------------------------- D----x-7-7--------x-12-----x-12\-----x-7-7-------x-12------x-13h14---------- Alternate G--------------------------------------------------------------------------- D--------------------------------------------------------------------------- A-----t-----------------------------------------t--------------------------- D---777-7-------x-12--------x-12\-----777-7-------x-12------x-13h14--------- Alternate 2 G----------------------12-12----------------------------12------------- D----------------------12-12----------------------------12------------- A---------------------------------------------------------------------- D----x-7-7--------x------------12\-----x-7-7-------x-------x-13h14----- Sometimes a mixture of the two. Riff 2: This is the only other riff in the song that I know. G----------------0---------------------0----|-||-------------- D-------------------------------------------*|-||------------- A----------------------------t---------------*|-||------------ D--00-0-0-0------0-0-000-0-0--------|-||----0---4h5- (maybe 5h6) Good luck and have fun. Contact me with any questions. -RIch CHristiansen rich.c@bigfoot.com