Bass Tab for:

Title: Today
Artist: Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Siamese Dream
Year: 1993

Tab Author: Matt Gery

Tuning: Standard: E, A, D, G


NOTES:
This song does use the low Eb, which would require you to tune down a half step, 
at least on the E string, if you have a 4—string bass.  However, to make things easier, 
you can keep it in standard tuning and just play the Eb notes an octave up 
(6th fret of the A string).  If you decide to tune down, then play all of the notes in 
this tab one fret higher on strings that you tuned down.  If you have a 5—string bass with 
the low B string like me, then you should play all of the Eb notes on the 4th fret of the 
B string (except in the second verse when he does actually use the higher octave).

There are a bunch of in—between notes that are missing from most tabs.  I think the 
ones I put here are pretty accurate, but it changes from section to section and bar 
to bar.  So just use the in—between notes that I put here as a guideline and play 
whatever sounds right or feels right to you.  At some points I just use different 
in—between notes from bar to bar just to show which ones you can use, even though 
it may not be accurate.  Also, these notes work best if you hammer—on, pull—off, or 
slide to them, I just didn’t put that in the notation for this because each 
note or “—“ represents a 16th note and the timing would get thrown off.  You could 
also go without playing the in—between notes and it would still sound fine.

Every tab I’ve seen for this has what I call the “Alternate Chorus” either the 
same as the other choruses or missing.  I’m pretty sure I have it right.

Every note or “—“ represents a 16th note.

OTHER TUNINGS: I will also post tabs for 4—string basses tuned down a 
half step and for 5—string basses.




Intro:
(0:00 — 0:11) 


G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————————————|

(0:11 — 0:35) 


G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—664—444—444—444443|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—68————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—664—444—444—444446|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—668—8—8—864—4—4—43|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—68————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—664—4—4—4—4—4—4—4—|


Verse:
(0:35 — 0:46)
“Today is the greatest....”


G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————————————————————|
E|————————————————————————————————|

(0:46 — 0:58)
“I'll burn my eyes out....”

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—664—444—444—444443|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—68————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—668—8—8—8—8—8—8—8—|


Chorus:
(0:58 — 1:21)
“I wanted more....”

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————3—333—333—333—31|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—43————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————3—333—333—333—35|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—46————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————3—333—333—333—31|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—43————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————————————5—5—5—5—|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—443—3—3—3—————————|


Verse:
(1:21 — 1:44)
“Today is the greatest....”

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—664—444—444—444446|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—664—444—444—444443|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—664—444—444—444446|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—|
E|————————6—6—6—64————————————————|


Alternate Chorus:
(1:44 — 2:07)
“Pink ribbon scars....”

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————6—6—6—68————————|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—43————————6—6—6—64|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————6—6—6—65————————|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—46————————6—6—6—66|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————6—6—6—68————————|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—43————————6—6—6—64|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————————————5—5—5—5—|
E|1—1—1—134—4—4—443—3—3—3—————————|


Interlude:
(2:07 — 2:35)
“Today is the greatest....”

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—68————————6—6—6—6—————————|
E|————————6—6—6—64———————64—4—4—44|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————6—6—6———————————|
E|————————6—6—6—64——————464—4—4—44|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—68————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—668—8—8—864—4—4—4—|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—|
E|————————6—6—6—6—————————————————|

G|————————————————|
D|————————————————|
A|3—3—3—3—3—3—3—3—|
E|————————————————|


Bridge:
(2:35 — 2:55)
“I want to turn you on....”

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————3—3—3—3—3—333333|
E|1—1—1—1—4—4—4—4—————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————3—3—3—3—3—333333|
E|1—1—1—1—4—4—4—4—————————————————|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|————————————————3—3—3—3—3—333333|
E|1—1—1—1—4—4—4—4—————————————————|

G|————————————————|
D|————————————————|
A|————————————————|
E|1—1—1—1—4—4—4—4—|


Outro:
(2:55 — End)
“Today is the greatest....”

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—668—8—8—864—4—4—46|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—68————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—668—8—8—8646444644|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—65————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—668—8—8—864—4—4—46|

G|————————————————————————————————|
D|————————————————————————————————|
A|6—6—6—68————————————————————————|
E|————————6—6—6—668—8—8—864—4—4—44|

G|————|
D|————|
A|6———|
E|————|

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 — Today [4-string, standard tuning] bass tabs