A Bass Player’s Take on Togenashi Togeari’s PUFF OF SMOKE

Updated: 28 Sep, 2026 • 0 • min read

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PUFF OF SMOKE by Togenashi Togeari bass tab with pdf file

If you're working on Togenashi Togeari’s PUFF OF SMOKE and the lower tuning has you doing a double-take, you're definitely not alone.

This Bass TAB is arranged for a 4-string bass in D# G# C# F# tuning, so the first thing to understand is that you're not dealing with the usual E A D G setup. The tuning is only one semitone lower across all four strings, but that small change can affect the feel of the instrument, your fretboard reference points, your string tension, and even the way your hands approach familiar shapes.

That's actually what makes this song a useful practice piece.

Instead of treating the TAB as a bunch of fret numbers, this article looks at how to approach a lower-tuned bass properly, how to stay comfortable on the neck, how to keep your timing clean, and how to make the transition from written TAB to actual playing feel natural.

So grab your 4-string, check that tuning, and let's get into PUFF OF SMOKE.

PUFF OF SMOKE Bass TAB at a Glance

Item	Details
Artist	Togenashi Togeari (トゲナシトゲアリ)
Song	吹き消した灯火 (PUFF OF SMOKE)
Bass	4-string bass guitar
Tuning	D# G# C# F#
Main Focus	Lower tuning, fretboard awareness, timing, articulation, muting, and practice technique

The important detail here is the tuning:

D# – G# – C# – F#

Every string is lowered by one semitone compared with standard E A D G tuning.

That might sound like a tiny change, but if you're used to picking up your bass and automatically expecting the open E string, your hands will notice the difference pretty quickly.

The First Thing to Do: Tune Before You Practice

This sounds painfully obvious, but it's worth saying anyway.

Don't start learning the TAB until your bass is actually in the correct tuning.

With D# G# C# F#, every open string is lower than standard tuning. If your bass is still sitting in E A D G, the fret numbers you're reading won't produce the intended pitches.

Quick Tuning Check

Lowest string: D#
Second string: G#
Third string: C#
Highest string: F#

Play each open string slowly and let it ring for a moment.

Don't just rely on the tuner. Listen too.

Getting used to recognizing the sound of your own tuning is a surprisingly useful skill for any bassist.

What Changes When You Tune Down a Semitone?

Here's where things get interesting.

Lowering all four strings by one semitone changes more than the note names.

The strings also feel slightly different under your fingers because the overall tension is lower.

That can affect how aggressively you attack the strings, how much pressure you use with your fretting hand, and how much unwanted movement you get from the strings.

Change	What You May Notice	What to Do
Lower pitch	The open strings sound lower than usual	Re-map your open-string references
Lower tension	Strings can feel slightly looser	Use controlled fretting and attack
Different reference pitch	Familiar shapes sound different	Trust the tuning and listen carefully
Different string feel	Attack may feel slightly different	Adjust your right-hand control

You don't need to completely change your technique.

Just become aware of what the instrument is doing differently.

Don't Let the Lower Tuning Mess With Your Muscle Memory

This is probably the biggest mental adjustment.

If you've spent a lot of time playing in standard E A D G, your hands have probably built a bunch of automatic references.

You see a familiar shape.

Your fingers move.

Done.

With D# G# C# F#, the physical fret positions remain the same, but the actual pitches are lower.

So you need to separate two things:

Where your fingers go
What pitch comes out

That's a really useful distinction for bass players in general.

Think in Fretboard Relationships

Instead of memorizing only note names, pay attention to the distance between notes.

For example, if a phrase moves from one fret to another, notice the physical interval between those positions.

That relationship doesn't suddenly disappear because you've tuned down.

Your fingers can still learn the same physical movement while your ears learn the new pitch environment.

Use Your Ears to Recalibrate

Before playing the actual TAB, spend a couple of minutes just exploring the tuning.

Play the four open strings.

Then play a few notes higher up the neck.

Listen.

You're basically giving your ears a quick reset.

A Two-Minute Tuning Exercise

Play D# slowly.
Play G# and listen to the distance between the strings.
Play C#.
Play F#.
Repeat the four open strings.
Play a few fretted notes on each string.
Listen for how the fretboard now feels and sounds.

This little warm-up can make the rest of the practice session feel much less foreign.

Read the TAB With the Tuning in Mind

Once the bass is tuned correctly, the TAB becomes much easier to understand.

But don't fall into the habit of reading only the fret numbers.

Look at the entire phrase.

Notice which strings are being used, how the notes move between strings, and whether your fretting hand can stay in one comfortable area.

Three Questions to Ask While Reading

Which string is this note on?
Where is my hand positioned right now?
Where does my hand need to go next?

Those questions help turn TAB reading into a physical map of the bass neck.

Make the Fretboard Feel Smaller

One of the easiest ways to get overwhelmed by TAB is trying to think about the entire neck at once.

Don't.

Make the playing area smaller.

Pick the section you're working on and identify the small region where most of the movement happens.

Once your hands know that area, the rest of the phrase becomes easier to connect.

Use Position Anchors

A position anchor is simply a fret or hand position you mentally use as a reference.

For example:

Start the phrase from a familiar fret.
Notice which finger handles the first important note.
Keep your hand relaxed around that position.
Move only when the phrase actually requires it.

This keeps unnecessary hand movement under control.

Don't Overlook String Tension

Lower tuning can make the strings feel a little softer under your fingers.

That can be nice.

It can also make it easier to accidentally push a note sharp if you squeeze too hard.

So try using only the amount of fretting pressure you actually need.

Try the Light-Pressure Test

Play a single fretted note.

Use normal pressure.

Then slowly reduce the pressure until the note starts to buzz.

Increase the pressure just enough to make the note clean again.

That is roughly the kind of efficient fretting pressure you want to develop.

You don't need to crush the neck with your hand.

Clean Muting Becomes Even More Important

Lower-tuned strings can have a different physical feel, so muting deserves extra attention.

When you're playing one string, the others still need to stay under control.

That means both hands have a job.

Hand	Main Job	What to Watch
Fretting hand	Control notes and unwanted ringing	Don't let fingers accidentally excite nearby strings
Plucking hand	Attack and string control	Keep unused strings quiet

Try playing the phrase at a very low volume.

Quiet playing exposes unwanted string noise surprisingly well.

Pay Attention to the Attack

Once the notes and tuning are under control, start listening to how each note begins.

Are your attacks even?

Does one note jump out louder than the next?

Does your hand tense up when the phrase gets faster?

Those details can make a bass line feel much tighter without changing a single note.

Even Attack Exercise

Pick a short repeated pattern from the TAB and play it slowly.

Don't try to make it loud.

Instead, aim for every note to have roughly the same basic attack.

Then gradually increase the tempo while keeping that consistency.

This is a great way to build control without simply chasing speed.

Rhythm First, Speed Later

When a bass line starts feeling difficult, the temptation is usually to play faster until your hands somehow catch up.

Yeah... that strategy usually ends in chaos.

Instead, separate the problem.

First learn the rhythm.

Then learn the notes.

Then combine them.

Try the Three-Pass Method

Pass One: Tap or clap the rhythm without playing the bass.
Pass Two: Play the notes slowly while keeping the rhythm steady.
Pass Three: Gradually increase the tempo.

This makes the practice process much more controlled.

Don't Let the Tuning Become a Distraction

It's easy to spend so much time thinking about D# G# C# F# that you forget you're supposed to be learning a song.

The tuning is just the environment.

Once your bass is correctly tuned, stop obsessing over it and focus on the actual music.

Listen for the rhythmic shape of the phrase.

Pay attention to the spaces between notes.

Notice where your hand moves.

That's where the real learning happens.

Fingerstyle or Pick?

Either approach can work as long as you can maintain consistent timing and control.

Instead of worrying about choosing the “perfect” technique, focus on what your hands are actually doing.

Approach	Watch For	Practice Goal
Fingerstyle	Uneven attack between fingers	Consistent volume and timing
Pick	Uneven pick direction or attack	Stable rhythmic movement
Either	Tension as tempo increases	Relaxed and repeatable movement

If your hands feel relaxed and the groove stays consistent, you're heading in the right direction.

Practice the Difficult Transition by Itself

Here's a little trick that saves a ridiculous amount of practice time.

When a transition keeps breaking, don't play the entire phrase.

Play the two notes immediately before and after the transition.

Again.

And again.

Then slowly add the surrounding notes.

The Transition Builder

Identify the exact point where the movement fails.
Play one note before the transition.
Move to the next position.
Play the first note after the movement.
Repeat slowly.
Add one note on each side.
Return to the full phrase.

This isolates the actual problem instead of making you repeatedly practice everything you already know.

Use Short Loops Instead of Endless Full Takes

Playing the entire song over and over can feel productive, but it isn't always the fastest way to improve.

If 90% of the song is already comfortable, spending another ten minutes replaying those easy sections isn't doing much for your weak spot.

Build short loops around the difficult section instead.

A Good Practice Loop

Start slightly before the difficult phrase.
Play through the difficult movement.
Continue slightly beyond it.
Stop.
Reset.
Repeat.

Once the section becomes reliable, connect it to the next part of the song.

Train Your Fretboard Awareness

One thing that separates memorized playing from real fretboard confidence is knowing where you are without constantly looking down.

You don't need to memorize every single note on the neck overnight.

Start with the areas you actually use in the song.

Try This Simple Drill

Choose a short phrase from the TAB.

Play it while looking at the fretboard.

Then play it again while looking less often.

Finally, try playing it mostly from memory.

If you miss a position, stop and check the TAB.

Over time, your hands start recognizing the physical geography of the phrase.

Listen for the Space Between the Notes

One of the easiest things to ignore while reading TAB is silence.

You see a note.

You play a note.

Next number.

Repeat.

But bass lines are also made of the spaces between those notes.

If you're playing a phrase from PUFF OF SMOKE, listen carefully to when a note stops and when the next one begins.

That release can change the feel of the entire phrase.

Three Ways to Practice Note Release

Let the note ring naturally.
Mute it slightly earlier.
Practice the phrase while focusing only on the spaces.

Then compare what you hear.

You'll start developing much better control over note length instead of thinking only about pitch.

Record Yourself in the Lower Tuning

A quick recording can tell you a lot about how the lower tuning is affecting your playing.

You may notice that your attack becomes heavier, your notes ring differently, or your fretting hand starts using more pressure than necessary.

None of that means you're doing something terrible.

It just gives you useful feedback.

Listen Back for These Details

Are the notes evenly attacked?
Are unwanted strings ringing?
Are you squeezing too hard with the fretting hand?
Are position changes audible?
Does the timing stay steady?
Are some notes noticeably louder than others?

A phone recording is enough for this kind of feedback.

A Focused 30-Minute PUFF OF SMOKE Practice Plan

If you want a simple routine, try this one.

Time	Focus	Goal
5 min	Tune and warm up	Get comfortable with D# G# C# F#
7 min	Read a short TAB section	Understand the fretboard movement
8 min	Work on difficult transitions	Make hand movement cleaner
5 min	Timing and note release	Improve groove and articulation
5 min	Play along and record	Check your overall consistency

Thirty focused minutes can be plenty.

You don't need to destroy your fingers for three hours to make progress.

What to Do If the Lower Tuning Feels Weird

If D# G# C# F# feels strange at first, don't immediately assume something is wrong.

Your hands are simply used to a different reference.

Try this:

Play the four open strings slowly.
Play the first few notes from the TAB.
Stop and listen.
Repeat the same phrase at a slower tempo.
Focus on relaxed fretting pressure.
Record yourself for a few seconds.

Give your ears and hands a little time to adjust.

Once the new tuning stops feeling unusual, you can focus on the music again.

Going Back to Standard Tuning

If you normally keep your bass in E A D G, remember that switching back after practicing PUFF OF SMOKE means recalibrating your instrument again.

Don't immediately jump into another song while assuming your hands will automatically reset.

Play the four open strings.

Check the tuner.

Play a few familiar notes.

Then move on.

That tiny reset can prevent a lot of confusion when you're practicing several songs with different tunings in the same session.

Use the Original Recording as Your Musical Reference

Once you've worked through the TAB, the original recording is still your best reference for hearing the song in its full musical context.

Instead of only asking, “Did I play the right fret?” listen for the bigger picture.

How does the bass sit with the rest of the arrangement?
Where does the phrase feel more active?
Where does the bass leave space?
How consistent is the attack?
How long do the notes ring?

Those questions turn a TAB session into actual musical practice.

Reference: Togenashi Togeari – 吹き消した灯火 (PUFF OF SMOKE).

VIEW BASS TAB PDF

Ready to work through the written bass part?

The independently prepared Bass TAB for Togenashi Togeari – 吹き消した灯火 (PUFF OF SMOKE) is available through the link below.

VIEW BASS TAB PDF →

Use the TAB as a playing reference while you practice. Once a section starts feeling familiar, try looking away from the page and playing the movement from memory.

Common Problems When Playing in Lower Tuning

Problem	What May Be Happening	Try This
Notes feel loose	Lower tuning changes string tension	Use a lighter, more controlled touch
Notes sound sharp	Too much fretting pressure	Reduce pressure until the note remains clean
TAB feels unfamiliar	Your ears are expecting standard tuning	Play the open strings first
Unwanted ringing	Unused strings aren't being muted	Practice slowly with both hands controlling noise
Timing falls apart	Too much attention on the new tuning	Return to slow rhythm practice

Don't Confuse Difficulty With Speed

Sometimes a phrase feels difficult simply because you're trying to play it faster than your hands can comfortably control.

That's not a badge of honor.

Slow it down.

Seriously.

When you can play a phrase cleanly at a slower tempo, your brain gets a much better chance to build the correct movement.

Then increase the speed little by little.

A Simple Tempo Ladder

Slow: learn the notes and movement.
Comfortable: stabilize timing.
Faster: maintain clean transitions.
Near performance: focus on endurance and consistency.

If the groove breaks, drop back one step.

No drama.

Use Your Ears Before You Check the TAB

Once you know a section reasonably well, try a small ear-training challenge.

Listen to a short phrase.

Pause.

Try to hum the bass movement.

Then find the starting note on your bass.

See how much of the phrase you can figure out before checking the written TAB.

This isn't about proving that you have perfect ears.

It's about gradually building the connection between:

What you hear → where it lives on the fretboard → what your fingers do.

That skill will help you with way more songs than just PUFF OF SMOKE.

Why Learning Different Tunings Is Worth Your Time

Learning a song in a different tuning can actually make you a more flexible bassist.

You start paying more attention to the relationship between the strings instead of relying completely on memorized note locations.

You also become more comfortable adapting your technique when the instrument doesn't feel exactly the way you're used to.

Skills You Can Take to Other Songs

Skill	Why It Matters
Tuning awareness	Helps you adapt quickly between songs
Fretboard mapping	Makes unfamiliar phrases easier to learn
Efficient fretting	Reduces unnecessary hand tension
Muting	Keeps your playing clean
Ear training	Makes you less dependent on written TAB

A Note About This Bass TAB

The Bass TAB presented on this page is an independently created transcription prepared for educational and bass-playing practice purposes.

The transcription is not presented as an official publication by Togenashi Togeari or its rights holders.

Artist names, song titles, recordings, compositions, and other original works remain associated with their respective rights holders. rikytone does not claim ownership of those works.

The article itself provides original bass-focused commentary, practice ideas, tuning guidance, and playing information intended to help musicians study the song.

An independent transcription or educational explanation should not be treated as a blanket authorization to reproduce copyrighted material. Copyright status depends on the specific material and applicable rights.

More Togenashi Togeari Bass TABs

If you're enjoying this song, there are more Togenashi Togeari Bass TABs being added to the collection.

Visit the main Togenashi Togeari Bass TAB collection to explore the other songs currently available.

New Bass TABs will be added and updated over time, so the collection will continue growing as more songs are prepared.

More Japanese Bass TABs

If you're exploring more Japanese music on bass, check out the Anime Bass TAB section on rikytone.

You'll find more artists and songs to explore, with each individual article giving the bass part its own space for practical playing information.

PUFF OF SMOKE Practice Checklist

Check your bass tuning: D# G# C# F#.
Play the four open strings before starting.
Give your ears a moment to adjust to the lower tuning.
Read the TAB as a fretboard map.
Pay attention to hand position.
Use efficient fretting pressure.
Keep unused strings muted.
Practice difficult transitions separately.
Start slowly.
Focus on rhythm before speed.
Listen carefully to note length and release.
Record yourself occasionally.
Use your ears together with the TAB.
Return to standard tuning carefully after practice.

Keep the Groove Moving

The cool thing about learning a song like PUFF OF SMOKE isn't just getting through the TAB.

You're also getting more comfortable with a tuning that sits outside your normal 4-string routine.

That means you're training your hands, your ears, and your fretboard awareness at the same time.

Take it slow, keep the notes clean, and let the lower tuning become part of the musical experience instead of something you have to fight against.

One phrase at a time. One groove at a time.