Togenashi Togeari’s AGAINST ALL ANSWERS Bass TAB: Finding Your Sound

Table of Contents

If you’re working on Togenashi Togeari’s AGAINST ALL ANSWERS on bass, the notes are only part of the challenge. The real work is making each note feel intentional — from the initial attack to the way the note ends.

This guide is built around that idea. Instead of simply following a TAB from beginning to end, you’ll get practical ways to work on articulation, timing, dynamics, muting, fretboard movement, groove control, and consistency while learning the bass part.

The goal is pretty simple: don’t just play the right notes. Make the bass line sound controlled, musical, and connected to the rhythm.

If you’re looking for the wider collection, you can also visit the Togenashi Togeari Bass TAB or explore the Anime Bass TAB section.

AGAINST ALL ANSWERS Bass TAB at a Glance

Detail	Information
Artist	Togenashi Togeari (トゲナシトゲアリ)
Song	AGAINST ALL ANSWERS
Bass	4-string bass
Tuning	E A D G
Main Focus	Articulation, timing, dynamics, muting, groove, and consistency
TAB Format	Bass TAB for practical playing and study

Start With the Feel, Not Just the Notes

One of the easiest mistakes when learning a bass part is treating TAB like a checklist.

You see a number, play the number, move to the next number, and keep going.

Technically, that can work. Musically, though, it can leave the bass line sounding flat.

For AGAINST ALL ANSWERS, it’s worth paying attention to three things at the same time:

• where the note starts
• how strongly the note is attacked
• when the note stops

Those three details can completely change how a bass line feels, even when the actual notes remain identical.

Think of TAB as the map. Your timing, articulation, and dynamics are what make the journey sound musical.

4-String Bass Setup: E A D G

This bass part uses standard 4-string tuning:

String	Pitch	Basic Role
4th	E	Low foundation
3rd	A	Low-mid register
2nd	D	Mid register
1st	G	Higher register

Before practicing the song, make sure your bass is properly tuned. Standard tuning makes the TAB easier to follow and keeps the relationship between the written fret numbers and the instrument predictable.

Why Articulation Matters So Much

Articulation is basically the personality of a note.

Two players can play the exact same pitch at the exact same time and still sound noticeably different because their attack and release are different.

For this song, pay attention to whether each note feels:

• clean and separated
• short and controlled
• long and sustained
• strongly attacked
• lightly touched

Don’t automatically make every note equally loud.

A bass line becomes much more interesting when some notes sit deeper in the groove while others provide a little extra push.

Attack Consistency: The First Thing to Clean Up

Try playing a short section of the TAB using only one simple goal: make every attack intentional.

Don’t worry about speed yet.

Play slowly and listen to the beginning of every note. Ask yourself:

• Did the note start exactly where I wanted?
• Was the attack too aggressive?
• Did one finger produce a noticeably different volume?
• Did the string make unwanted noise?
• Did the note begin slightly late?

If the answer to any of these is yes, slow the phrase down.

Speed can hide small problems. Slower practice exposes them.

A Simple Attack Exercise

Take one short phrase from the TAB and repeat it several times.

Round	Focus
1	Play slowly and accurately
2	Focus on equal attack strength
3	Focus on clean note endings
4	Add the intended dynamics
5	Play along with the reference

This is a small exercise, but it can make a huge difference. The idea is to separate the technical problem into pieces instead of trying to fix everything at once.

Don’t Ignore Note Release

A lot of bass players spend all their attention on hitting the note correctly.

But when does the note actually stop?

That question matters.

If a note should be short but you let it ring into the next beat, the groove can become blurry. On the other hand, cutting a sustained note too early can make the line feel nervous or disconnected.

Practice the release just as carefully as the attack.

A useful mindset is:

Attack → sustain → release.

Every note has a complete life cycle.

Use Both Hands to Control Noise

Clean bass playing isn’t only about playing the correct frets.

Your hands also need to control strings that you are not playing.

This becomes especially important when moving between strings or shifting positions.

Problem	Possible Cause	Practice Fix
Extra string noise	Unused strings are vibrating	Use fretting-hand or plucking-hand muting
Notes blur together	Notes are being released too late	Practice deliberate note endings
Clicking sounds	Attack is too hard or inconsistent	Reduce force and work on consistency
Open-string rumble	Muting changes during movement	Slow down string transitions

Fretting-Hand Pressure: Less Can Be More

Try a quick experiment.

Play a note normally, then gradually reduce the pressure from your fretting hand until the note starts to buzz. Then add just enough pressure to make it clean again.

That little experiment helps you understand how much force you actually need.

Too much pressure can create unnecessary tension, especially when playing for a longer session.

The goal is not to squeeze the neck.

The goal is to use just enough pressure for a clean note.

Fretboard Economy: Don’t Move More Than You Need To

When a phrase contains several notes close together, look for the smallest comfortable movement between them.

You don't always need to jump around the fretboard simply because another fingering exists.

Before deciding on a fingering, ask:

• Can I play this phrase without unnecessary position changes?
• Can one finger prepare for the next note?
• Would staying on the same string make the rhythm cleaner?
• Would changing strings make the phrase more comfortable?

There isn't always one “correct” fingering.

The better choice is usually the one that lets you maintain timing, clean articulation, and relaxed movement.

Practice the Groove Before Chasing Speed

If the song feels difficult, don't immediately assume the solution is more repetition at full speed.

Strip the phrase down to its rhythm.

You can even mute the strings and practice only the right-hand motion while counting the rhythm.

This separates rhythmic understanding from note selection.

Once the rhythm feels natural, put the notes back in.

That approach can make complicated passages feel much less intimidating.

Think Like a Drummer for a Minute

Bass and drums are basically roommates. If one gets messy, the other usually notices.

When practicing AGAINST ALL ANSWERS, try to hear the rhythmic foundation rather than listening only for the bass notes.

Ask yourself:

• Where does the bass lock with the kick?
• Which notes feel like they push the groove forward?
• Which notes feel more relaxed?
• Where does the bass create space?

This changes the way you listen.

Instead of thinking, “I need to play this sequence of notes,” you start thinking, “I need to make this rhythm sit in the track.”

Dynamic Control: Don’t Play Everything at One Volume

A common beginner habit is playing every note with almost identical intensity.

That makes the bass line technically consistent, but not necessarily expressive.

Try creating three basic levels during practice:

Level	Playing Idea
Light	Relaxed attack, softer presence
Normal	Balanced groove and articulation
Strong	More aggressive attack without losing control

The important part is control.

More attack does not automatically mean more energy.

Sometimes the strongest musical choice is actually playing a little softer and leaving more room for the rest of the arrangement.

Try the “Three Clean Runs” Method

Here’s a practical way to test whether a difficult phrase is actually ready.

1. Play the phrase slowly and cleanly.
2. Repeat it at a comfortable tempo.
3. Play it again without stopping or correcting yourself halfway through.

If you can complete three clean runs in a row, move slightly faster.

If you make the same mistake repeatedly, don't keep forcing the full phrase.

Isolate the two or three notes around the problem area and rebuild it from there.

Practice Difficult Sections Backward

This one is surprisingly useful.

If the last part of a phrase keeps falling apart, start practicing from the end of the phrase and gradually add earlier notes.

For example:

Last 2 notes → last 4 notes → last 6 notes → full phrase.

This gives your brain a stronger landing point and helps prevent the common problem where you play the beginning confidently but lose control near the end.

Change Where You Start

Another useful trick is to start the same phrase from different points.

Instead of always starting from beat one, occasionally begin from the middle of the phrase.

Why?

Because real playing doesn't give you unlimited time to prepare. Your hands need to be able to enter the groove from different moments without needing a full reset.

This is especially helpful once you start practicing with the original recording.

Ear Training: Use the TAB, Then Look Away

TAB is extremely useful, but your ears should eventually take over some of the work.

Try this:

1. Read a short section from the TAB.
2. Play it several times.
3. Listen closely to the original phrase.
4. Look away from the TAB.
5. Try to reproduce the rhythm and articulation from memory.

If you miss a note, that's okay.

The point isn't to prove that you memorized everything. The point is to connect what you see on the page with what you hear in the music.

Fingerstyle or Pick?

There isn't a universal answer here.

Use the technique that gives you the combination of timing, attack, comfort, and tone you want.

Approach	What to Watch	Useful Practice Goal
Fingerstyle	Even volume between fingers	Consistent attack
Pick	Consistent pick depth and angle	Stable rhythmic attack
Either	Unwanted string noise	Clean transitions

Don't switch technique just because one section feels difficult. First figure out whether the real problem is timing, fingering, muting, or tension.

A 30-Minute AGAINST ALL ANSWERS Practice Session

You don't need a three-hour practice session to make progress.

A focused 30 minutes can be much more useful.

Time	Practice
0–5 min	Warm up and play the bass line slowly
5–10 min	Work on attack and note release
10–15 min	Isolate the hardest phrase
15–20 min	Practice with a steady pulse
20–25 min	Play along with the reference
25–30 min	Record one complete attempt and review it

Record Yourself — Seriously

You don't need a fancy studio setup.

A simple phone recording can reveal things that are almost impossible to notice while you're concentrating on your hands.

After recording, listen for:

• rushing before difficult transitions
• notes that are accidentally louder
• unwanted string noise
• inconsistent attack
• notes that ring longer than intended
• timing that drifts away from the groove

Don't try to fix everything in one session.

Pick one problem, work on it, record again, and compare the result.

Use a Metronome Without Making Practice Boring

A metronome doesn't have to be the enemy.

Start at a tempo where you can play the phrase comfortably. Once the movement feels automatic, increase the tempo gradually.

If your playing becomes tense or messy, step back.

A slower tempo that sounds clean is much more useful than a faster tempo full of accidental noise.

What to Do When You Keep Making the Same Mistake

If the same mistake keeps appearing, repeating the entire song probably isn't the answer.

Break the problem into smaller pieces.

Symptom	Try This
You rush the phrase	Practice with a slower pulse
You miss a fret	Practice the position change separately
The groove feels weak	Focus on rhythmic placement rather than speed
The bass sounds messy	Work on muting and note release
Your hand gets tired	Reduce unnecessary pressure and take a short break

Listen for Space, Not Just Sound

One of the more underrated bass skills is learning when not to add extra movement.

If a bass phrase has space between notes, don't automatically fill that space with unnecessary movement or extra articulation.

That silence is part of the rhythm.

Good bass playing isn't about constantly showing what your fingers can do. Sometimes the strongest part of a groove is the space between the notes.

Reference Video

Use the reference below to compare your timing, articulation, and overall feel while practicing.

The video is provided as a listening and practice reference. The educational material on this page focuses on the bass-playing approach, practice process, and original guidance presented here.

VIEW BASS TAB PDF

Ready to work through the written bass part?

VIEW BASS TAB PDF →

Turn the Song Into a Practice Tool

The best thing about learning a song isn't simply being able to play that one song.

Try to take one skill from this practice session and carry it into your other playing.

For example:

• better note release can improve your overall groove
• cleaner muting can make faster passages easier
• controlled attack can improve your tone
• better fretboard movement can reduce unnecessary tension
• recording yourself can expose timing problems you didn't notice before

That's where a TAB becomes much more useful than simply being a set of numbers.

It becomes a framework for improving how you actually play bass.

A Quick Final Checklist

Before considering the song comfortable, check these points:

• ✓ Bass is correctly tuned to E A D G
• ✓ You can play the main phrases without stopping
• ✓ Your attacks are reasonably consistent
• ✓ Note endings are intentional
• ✓ Unused strings are controlled
• ✓ Position changes feel comfortable
• ✓ The groove stays steady at a slower tempo
• ✓ You can play along with the reference without constantly losing your place
• ✓ You have recorded yourself at least once

About This Bass TAB

This page is intended as an educational resource for bass players who want to study and practice AGAINST ALL ANSWERS by Togenashi Togeari.

The transcription and recording presented through rikytone are independently created materials for this project. They are not presented as official materials from Togenashi Togeari or its rights holders.

Artist names, song titles, and related trademarks belong to their respective owners. The purpose of this page is to provide original bass-playing guidance and an independent transcription reference for study.

As with any music-related material, the presence of an educational explanation or independent transcription does not itself determine copyright ownership or permission. Rights remain with the applicable copyright holders.

Keep Practicing, Keep Listening

AGAINST ALL ANSWERS is a good reminder that bass playing isn't just about finding the right fret.

Timing, attack, release, muting, dynamics, and consistency all shape the final result.

Take the TAB one section at a time, listen carefully, and give yourself room to build the groove instead of rushing toward full speed.

Once the notes become familiar, start listening less to what your fingers are doing and more to how the bass sits inside the music.

That's where the fun really starts.