Beastie Boys: Sabotage

[phxlbrmpf]

Call me stupid or lazy but I simply can't figure out exactly what notes are strummed in this neat little riff, the tabs I've found online seem to match what his hands do in the live videos but they just don't sound right. Can someone share the "secret" of this neat riff with me? Thanks a lot in advance.

 

[dfp]

i don't know exactly but i recall back in the day fooling around with that and thinking it was likely tuned down a 1/2 step, so the open strings could be part of the "secret" sorry can't offer better help, that was a nice part...

 

[ChristsBassist]

I'd really like to know how this song goes, too.
It's really impressive. The first time I heard it, I thought the bass was a guitar.

 

[bste9]

I think alot of it has to do with with MCA's effects. He is using some sort of distortion metal, maybe a big muff. Try it with a pedal.

 

[MakiSupaStar]

He's got some ampeg overdrive grit on it too.

 

[missionlessdays]

Hey phx this might help, it's the isolated bass track. Live there's a bit of different stuff going on.


main riff is on the E flat at the 11th fret on A string and the accent note is the 11th Fret G string F#. those are what you can work off of.
the turn around riff starts on A flat on the E String.

Also, try a very fuzzy pedal that has some octave up frequencies (I believe he used a Univox Superfuzz) Wounded Paw and Black Cat make a couple pedals similar to the circuitry used.

For the studio I think it was an Acoustic series amp they used.

Hope that helps!