War Pigs Cover by Cake- Tone/Technique Advice

[BigThumps]

Hi All,

My band is going to be playing the Cake cover of War Pigs which has a quick pulsing/throbbing bassline. As a converted guitar player I feel more comfortable playing this with a pick with palm muting. Curious if any of you may have some other suggestions on how to really nail this tone? Perhaps technique or effects that can really help bring out the fast throbbing soft staccato. I'm thinking it would probably be best to finger pluck with a mute, but I am still developing my chops and struggle with that speed and consistency of the notes at the moment.

If it helps, I have a DG Hyper Luminal, Source Audio Spectrum and Aftershock, Behringer Bass Limiter, and DOD chorus pedals available.

Grateful for any tips you may have. TIA!

 

[Groove Doctor]

Feel free to play it with a pick, if that’s what you prefer (or the only way you can). Rock out and have fun with it !!

 

[FunkHead]

P-Bass, Flats, Tone knob cranked. Simple. Fingers or pick.

 

[BigThumps]

P-Bass, Flats, Tone knob cranked. Simple. Fingers or pick.

Thanks man sometimes the secret sauce is really just a simple recipe!

 

[chris_b]

I've just listened to the track (I wasn't familiar, I liked it) and if I was asked to play this song, I would use either my P bass or Jazz, which ever bass I was using at the time. IMO it isn't a bass dependent bass line. Any bass would sound right. It's how you play it that makes it work or not! But I think you already know that.

It's just a low mid pulse and any bass can easily do that. I wouldn't deaden the strings. IMO it's a regular 2 finger plucking line. Hold the note with your fretting hand and use your plucking fingers to provide the separation of the notes. Keep it smooth and even and don't over exaggerate that separation.

Sounds like it would be a good exercise for your new bass fingers. Run it through a few times and it'll get easier every time. Good luck.

 

[BigThumps]

I've just listened to the track (I wasn't familiar, I liked it) and if I was asked to play this song, I would use either my P bass or Jazz, which ever bass I was using at the time. IMO it isn't a bass dependent bass line. Any bass would sound right. It's how you play it that makes it work or not! But I think you already know that.

It's just a low mid pulse and any bass can easily do that. I wouldn't deaden the strings. IMO it's a regular 2 finger plucking line. Hold the note with your fretting hand and use your plucking fingers to provide the separation of the notes. Keep it smooth and even and don't over exaggerate that separation.

Sounds like it would be a good exercise for your new bass fingers. Run it through a few times and it'll get easier every time. Good luck.

Appreciate you taking the time to listen and share your thoughts!

 

[feterpatch]

I'm quite familiar with playing that bass line and IMO it's very much a technique thing as opposed to bass, strings, etc.
Also, I'm not very good at explaining technique that works for me but here goes...
To achieve that consistent speed and staccato I focus on both right and left hand technique. I find it's important to subtly release or dampen (?) my fretting finger on every single note to achieve that uniform pulsating feel. To start, try playing just a single note for several bars, using your fretting hand to dampen every note as explained above. It feels awkward at first but will eventually become second nature and can be applied to many bass lines for a really tight feel.

 

[BigThumps]

I'm quite familiar with playing that bass line and IMO it's very much a technique thing as opposed to bass, strings, etc.
Also, I'm not very good at explaining technique that works for me but here goes...
To achieve that consistent speed and staccato I focus on both right and left hand technique. I find it's important to subtly release or dampen (?) my fretting finger on every single note to achieve that uniform pulsating feel. To start, try playing just a single note for several bars, using your fretting hand to dampen every note as explained above. It feels awkward at first but will eventually become second nature and can be applied to many bass lines for a really tight feel.

Thanks for the tips man. Being new to bass this sounds like a great technique to work on. Something that never really came into play for me playing guitar. I'll add it to my regimen. Thanks again!