• Song:

    Geek Usa

  • Artist:

    Smashing Pumpkins

Geek USA by the Pumpkins


 - Tuning: (low to high)  Eb A# D# G# B# E# ..., or , you could just drop your
   ------    low E to D and play with a capo, but that's pretty un-Corgan like.
             Whichever you do, bear in mind I transcribed this having changed
             all 6 of my strings.

 INTRO - Heavy Distortion :)
 =====

     |---------------------------------------------------------------|
     |-----5-/-7----7-7-7---7-7--10-----5-/-7----7-7-7---7-7---5-----|
     |-----5-/-7----7-7-7---7-7--10-----5-/-7----7-7-7---7-7---5-----| repeat
     |-----5-/-7----7-7-7---7-7--10-----5-/-7----7-7-7---7-7---5-----|  twice
     |-----3-/-5----5-5-5---5-5---8-----3-/-5----5-5-5---5-5---3-----|
     |-----0---0----0-0-0---0-0---------0---0----0-0-0---0-0---------|

   - The strumming pattern isn't right, so play it any way you think sounds      good.
   - Over the above, lay these licks...

     |---------------------------------------------------------------|
     |---------------------------------------------------------------|
     |--/14-vib.------------14-vib.\---------------------------------|
     |------------/15-vib.-------------------------------------------|
     |--------------------------------14/15b(15.5)-------------------|
     |---------------------------------------------------------------|

VERSE - hammer on the lower 3 strings with your index and 3rd finger:
=====
     "love, love  let's pretend ...etc"
   |----------------------------------------------------------------
   |----------------------------------------------------------------
   |----------------------------------------------------------------
   |---0------10-----0--0-0----5h7-3---0--0-0--10--0--0-0----5h7-3--
   |---0------10-----0--0-0----5h7-3---0--0-0--10--0--0-0----5h7-3--
   |---0------10-----0--0-0----5h7-3---0--0-0--10--0--0-0----5h7-3--

   "...cast into the world with apple eyes...    ......to wish, wish...
                                          ------------------------------
                                          ------------------------------
                                          ------------------------------
                                          -0--7--6--0--5-----0----10----
                                          -0--7--6--0--5-----0----10----
                                          -0--7--6--0--5-----0----10----

    -  This is the basic fast-tempo metal format of the song; various bridges
     and things include bars on the 10th, 3rd, 5th and zeroth frets.  It would
     take up less space if I ommitted those.

CHORUS:
======   "shot full of diamonds                        and a million years
       |--------------------------------------------------------------------
       |--------------------------------------------------------------------
       |--------------------------------------------------------------------
       |-3-3-3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5-5------------------------3-3-3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5-
       |-3-3-3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5-5--5-p-3-p-0-------------3-3-3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5-
       |-3-3-3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5-5------------6-p-5-3--0--3-3-3-3-3-3--5-5-5-5-
                                 ...the disappointed dis  a  pear (etc.)
       ---------------------------------------------------------------------|
       ---------------------------------------------------------------------|
       ---------------------------------------------------------------------|
       -0-0-0---10---0-0-0--(10)-----3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5--3---5---12--3---5---0-|
       -0-0-0---10---0-0-0--(10)-----3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5--3---5---12--3---5---0-|
       -0-0-0---10---0-0-0--(10)-----3-3-3-3-5-5-5-5--3---5---12--3---5---0-|
                         James only                     (many strums.....)

   -Again, the strumming pattern isn't perfect.  Repeat the intro part and the
  next verse.  For that 2nd "shot full of diamonds", Billy slaps on a positive
  Octaver.  Also, add these licks over the 2nd intro (confused yet?)

     |----------------/17b17.5----------------------------------------------|
     |---15\13-vib.--------------15\13--------------------13b13.5-----------|
     |---------------------------------14-12-----------12-------------------|
     |---------------------------------------15--12h15----------------------|
     |----------------------------------------------------------------------|
     |----------------------------------------------------------------------|

     "if by chance       or circumstance              we should fail
SLAP |-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 ON  |-----------------------------------------------------------------------
OCT- |-----------------------------------------------------------------------
AVER |------(12)b11b12b11b12-hold--12-11-10-9--------------------------------
HERE |---------------------------------------13-12-10--10----10---10\9-------
     |-----------------------------------------------------------------------

           don't be too  sad...      ...and a million years
     ------------------------------   ---------------------------------------
     ------------------------------   ---------------------------------------
     ------------------------------   -----17\16-vib.-----10b12--------------
     ---------------------10-/-12--   ---------------------------------------
     --10---9---10---12------------   ---------------------------------------
     ------------------------------   ---------------------------------------

     the disappointed  dis a pear
     ----------------------------13-----13-----13-----13------16b17---------|
     ------------------------------15p13--15p13--15p13--15p13---------------|
     -------------------10--12---------------------------------------10--12-|
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------|
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------|
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------|

THE LOUNGE ACT - unless your guitar plays backwards, play the following :)
==============
       "In a dream...wrist, t I knew w had forsaken...
     |--------------------  -------------------------|
     |--------------------  -------------------------|
     |--------------------  -------------------------|
     |----7b8b7---4-------  -----0------2-----5------|
     |---------------4--5-  -----0------2-----5------|
     |--------------------  -----0------2-----5------|

      t I Knew w h forsaken            expelled f paradise
COR- |----------------------------------------------------------?------I------
GAN  |-------------------------------------------------------------------N----
WITH |---11----------------------------11-------------------?---?-------S--T--
OCT- |------11-12-14-12----------/12------11-12-14------------------------O--O
AVER |---------------------12-10-------------------10----?-?-?-?-?----------L-
     |--------------------------------------------------------?---------------O
                           ? ? ? ? ?

   - Those notes at the question marks still piss me off...

SOLO - the only thing I attempted here was the following:
====
      ...to my disease, of my needs...
     |--------------------------------------------------|
     |--------------------------------------------------|
     |-11-11-11-11\10-10-10-10\9-9-9-9/12-12-12-12------|
     |----------------------------------------------etc.|
     |--9--9--9--9\-8--8--8--8\7-7-7-7/10-10-10-10------|
     |--------------------------------------------------|

OUTRO - wait for bass to do 4 bars, then do a heavy pick scrape and play this:
=====
     "she really loves to break...
   |--------------------------------------------------|r
   |--------------------------------------------------|e
   |--------------------------------------------------|p
   |--0--0--0--7--0--0--0--0--10-10--0--9--9--9--2h3--|e
   |--0--0--0--7--0--0--0--0--10-10--0--9--9--9--2h3--|a
   |--0--0--0--7--0--0--0--0--10-10--0--9--9--9--2h3--|t


  then toss your guitar in a corner of your room and relax to Mayonnaise...
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