Song: Set the Ray to Jerry
Artist: Smashing Pumpkins
Album: 1979 Single
Tunning: Eb Ab Db Gb

Easy song...kind of cool bass line too.

Riff 1
Gb|—————————————————————————————————————————————|
Db|—————————————————————————————————————————————|
Ab|————————————————————————————————————4—4—4—4——|
Eb|0h4—4—4—4—4—4—7—7—7—7—0—0—0—0h2—2—2——————————|

After Riff 1 their is a small Fill I play this Fill up
on the 12th fret but you can use the 7th fret on the A
String if it would be easier for you. This is used throught the whole
song, if you miss it its no big deal. It will sound fine without it.

Fill 1    Here is what it would look like using A string 
Gb|—————————————————|——————————————|
Db|—————————————————|——————————————|
Ab|—————————————————|7—7——————7—7——|
Eb|12—12—0—0—12—12——|————0—0———————|

This is the Chorus Part(During "And i want you, And i need you"  stuff)

Riff 2
Gb|—————————————————————————————————————————————|
Db|—————————————————————————————————————————————|
Ab|—————————————————————————————————————————————|
Eb|0h4—4—4—4—4—4—7—7—7—7—0—0—0h2—2—2—2—5—5—5—5——|

After the chorus is over play a quick Fill 1 then go to Riff 1
If you decide to use the Fill it is used after you finish Riff 1
Everytime. After you play Riff 1 a couple of times Go to Riff 2
for the chorus. Right Before billy Sings "Well you say that you are
forever my star" Before that start into this Riff

Riff 3
Gb|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
Db|———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————|
Ab|—————————————————————————————4—4—4—4—4—4———————————————————|
Eb|0—0—0—0h4—4—4—4—4—4—7—7—7—7———————————————0—0—0—0—0—0—0—0——|

After you play that Billy sings "Let roar these fears...." when he sings
that go back up to Riff 1(Note: using Fill 1 when needed) after that is 
played a bit billy will start in the Chorus when this happens play Riff 2.
Then he will sing "Well you say that you are..." When he sings this Play
Riff 3. End the Song with a Riff 2.

This tab was made by Nathan Amber. Send Questions/Comments to
[email protected]

About Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins is an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan (vocals, guitar) and James Iha (guitar, backing vocals), the band has included D'arcy Wretzky (bass guitar, backing vocals), Jimmy Chamberlin (drums, percussion), and Melissa Auf der Maur (bass guitar) amongst its membership.

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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Smashing Pumpkins — Set The Ray To Jerry bass tabs