Track: Bombtrack
Artist: Rage Against the Machine
Structure
Intro
Chorus Riff
Verse
Chorus
Verse
Chorus
Build up to Bridge
Bridge (continue playing the bridge in the guitar solo)
Chorus
End
Performance Notes
Timmy C has become one of the most influential rock bass players to emerge from the 90’s. His focus on
pocket playing, combined with a ferocious tone helped establish RATM as the unique Unit that has captivated
millions.
Even though the parts of this tune are fairly straight forward, there are still a few factors to consider.
Firstly, there are NO FILLS. That’s right; Timmy leaves all the fills and licks to the drums and guitar. Instead of
filling, he cuts phrases short and allows the other members to be heard.
Secondly, Try to get a warm, deep, fat tone with what equipment you have available.
And finally, make sure when you bend notes and use techniques such as “pull offs” that they are in synch with
the guitarist. This is very important if you wish to achieve that tight, “RATM” sound!
The structure is written above, but as this song is just riffs with no fills, you can simply listen to the track and
put the parts together like a musical jigsaw.
If you are still unsure on how to play this track, head on over to the video lesson.
All the best,
Mark Marxon
Transcribed by Mark Marxon
Bombtrack
Rage Against the Machine
Standard Tuning: E, A, D, G
q = 85
(Intro)
Bass Guitar
œ
? # 4 .. œ œ œ
œ
œ
œœœœœ
œœœœ œ
..
œ
œ
4 œ œ œœœœ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
repeat 3 times
Bass Guitar
.
.
T
A
B
2 0
0
2
0
2 0
2 0
3 0
0 2
2
0
2 0
0
2
0
2 0
2
3 0
0
2
3
.
.
2
(Chorus Riff)
3
œ œœ œ
? # œœ œ
œ
œ
œ
œ
œ œ œœœœ œ
œ œ œœœ˙
Bass
2 0
2 0
Bass
0
2
0
2 0
2 0
3 0
0 2
2
0
2 0
0
2
0
2 0
###
œ
œœ
4
4 2
œ œ œœ œœœ
3 0
0 2
0 2
0 2
6
? ###
Bass
œœ
œ
œœ n n œœ œ
œœ n n œœ œ
œ
œœ
œ
œ
œ
œœ œœ
œ œ œœ œœœ
œ œ œœ œœ
4
Bass
0
2
0 2
0
6
4
5
3
4
2
4
0 2
4 2
0 2
4
0 2
0
2
0 2
0
6
4
5
3
4
2
9
Bass
? ###
œœ
œ
œœ œœœ
4
Bass
0
2
œœ
4
0 2
0 2
œ œ
2
œ
œ nœ œ
œ
œœ
œ
n
œ
œ
œœ œœ
œ œ œœ œœœ
4
0
2
0 2
© 2014
0
6
4
5
3
4
2
4
0
2
4
0 2
0 2
2
Bombtrack
2
1/4
(Verse)
12
Bass
? ###
œœ .
.
œœ œœ œœ
˙˙ .
.
œ
4
Bass
0 2
0 2
0
Π..
≈
œ. œ. œ œ œ œ ≈ œ œ
.
. 2. 2.
6
4
0 2 2
2
œ. œ. œ œ œ
. .
2 2
2 5
œ œ œ nœ œ
4 2
0 2 0
4
3 2
1/4
œ.
5
1/4
16
Bass
? ###
Bass
≈ ≈ œ
œ. œ. œ œ œ œ œ
œ. œ. œ œ œ
. .
2 2
. .
2 2
0
2 2
2
2 5
œ œ œ nœ œ
4 2
0
2 0
4
3 2
œ. œ œ œ œ œ ≈ œ ≈ œ œ
. .
. 2.
5
2
0
2 2
2
2 5
1/4
19
Bass
? ###
Bass
œ. œ. œ œ œ
. 2.
2
œ œ œ nœ
4 2
0
2 0
4
œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ ≈ œ ≈ œ œ
. .
3 2
. 2.
5
2
0
2 2
2
2 5
œ. œ. œ œ œ
. 2.
2
0
..
Ó
.
.
2 0
22
Bass
? # # # (Build up to Bridge Section)
œœœœœœœœ
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œœœœœœœœ
Bass
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1/4
24
Bass
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1/4
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
1/4
(Bridge)
? # # # ..
Œ
œœœœœ œœœœœ
1/4
Bass
0
.
.
2 0 2 0 5 2 0 2 0 2
œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ nœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
1/4
2 0 2 0 5 2 0 2 0
1/4
4 0
3 0 2 0
2 0 2 0 5 2 0 2 0 2
Œ
Bombtrack
3
1/4
27
Bass
? ###
(Ending)
œœ n n œœ œ ‰ œ n œ œ Ó
œ
.
œ
n
œ
.
œ œb œ œ
œ œœ œœ œ œœ œ œ œœœ œ œ œœ œœ
1/4
Bass
2 0 2 0 5
2 0 2 0
4 0
3 0 2 0
.
.
4
0
2
0 2
0
6
4
5 4
3 2
4
2
3 2
1 0