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How do I get that tone on Sweet Emotion?

#21
I read one time that that lick was actually recorded with the G string tuned up to an A, with Hamilton playing entire lick on that one string. It's a hell of a lot easier to play that way and especially if you're using a pick cause you don't have to jump strings.

The increased string tension could contribute marginally to the sound though I am in agreement with the majority here that it's pretty much just a vintage picked P sound.
 
#22
jaywa said:
I read one time that that lick was actually recorded with the G string tuned up to an A, with Hamilton playing entire lick on that one string. It's a hell of a lot easier to play that way and especially if you're using a pick cause you don't have to jump strings.

The increased string tension could contribute marginally to the sound though I am in agreement with the majority here that it's pretty much just a vintage picked P sound.
Click to expand...
If you watch the YouTube clip it pretty much confirms no pick and it's not really brain surgery to play it in standard tuning as he does. I never knew if it was a pick or not (I've done it both ways) until the YouTube clip, but as far as the fingering goes he's doing it exactly as I do it.
 
#25
What really throws folks here is that the album says (as I recall) that they there is "Bass Marimba" on that song -- so it's literally impossible to play a bass, by itself, and sound like the studio recording.

For my part, I've played it pretty much like folks have suggested: Pinky mute (I always have roundwounds), played near the neck, no effects. It sounds close... I guess... but you really need a bass marimba to get that percussive effect. So it goes. Damn Aerosmith - far too creative for our own good!
 
#27
When learning this song for the band I am in, I watched several Aerosmith You-Tube videos and saw a few different methods that Hamilton used.

There are some that have fingerstyle, and others had a combination of pick and fingerstyle similar to a bluegrass guitar player.

I just worked to get the notes right (standard tuning) and then went to work then on a more percussive fingerstyle attack to get it close.
 

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