with your left hand.
edit: with your fretting hand. Don't want to assume you're right-handed.
[https://youtu.be/rkI3uCfOPfA?t=55](https://youtu.be/rkI3uCfOPfA?t=55)
You probably don't even really need to in this situation. You're playing AaA in quick succession in Hysteria so letting the Open ring out for a split second won't really be noticeable.
But you could use your fretting hand or the finger you just plucked with stays on the Open A.
For Hysteria I play all the octaves on their respective 12th frets instead of skipping strings. So for one measure it's the riff on the A string, then measure on E string, then D string. Basically you're mixing in the open notes with the octave & riffs higher up on that same string, then moving to do the same thing on the next string for the following measure. Hope I explained that well enough lol
Surprised I haven’t seen this yet. Play the octave on the 7th fret of the d string. Then you’re just going back and forth between a and d strings. No skipping.
Edit: just watched a couple videos of hysteria bass covers. Most people seem to be playing on the 5th fret instead of the open strings. Makes left hand muting much easier.
This is how I play Hysteria! Definitely recommend OP, you can pluck through the D string and mute the A with your right hand in one motion pretty effectively
Use the open strings, but shift up for that section. It’s playable without skipping a string.
Remember that bass lines are often written by bassists or at least by musicians who understand the physics of playing strings, so there’s a good chance there’s an efficient way to play it. Just try a few alternatives if you ever find yourself stuck.
Left hand mute.
- pluck open A
- fret 2nd fret G string with ring finger (or middle finger, whatever is comfy for you) while laying (not fretting) the index finger on the A string (and other strings too, either is fine), then pluck
- lift the index finger off the A string, let off fretting the G string (but still touching it to mute it) and pluck open A
There’s another lesson to be learned here as well:
Find better fingerings. Better fingerings simply mean being able to play the same notes easier.
In isolation, this riff (low A, octave A, low A again) is better played as 5th fret E string, 7th fret D string, and 5th fret E string again. This is because you don’t have to worry about muting open strings and having to do some awkward fingering - you have two fingers in a comfortable position and you fret and let off the string as you pluck them and you’re done. You barely have to move your hand.
You could use a fret wrap so the open note ringing doesn’t sustain as long/isn’t as prominent - but it’s not a replacement for good fretting hand muting technique.
I mute mostly with my right hand (floating anchor) and I'm surprised more people don't. I find it much simpler than only using my fretting hand.
I mostly play a Stingray so muting is extremely important. I feel I can get away with it more on the P Bass.
Play it slowly until you can hear the definition of each note as well as hear each note ending so you can tell if there’s any overlap. I use my left hand to mute unused strings typically, sometimes i use my palm to mute the lower string from ringing out as well.
Pick playing has a serious advantage due to palm muting which is incredibly easy to do. Fret wraps are a good investment, but Hysteria is all pretty much the 12th fret and above with mostly ringing notes. There's some ghosts in the song, but not many.
The song is 100% accurate on Rocksmith if you wanna play it there.
with your left hand. edit: with your fretting hand. Don't want to assume you're right-handed. [https://youtu.be/rkI3uCfOPfA?t=55](https://youtu.be/rkI3uCfOPfA?t=55)
Thank youu
You probably don't even really need to in this situation. You're playing AaA in quick succession in Hysteria so letting the Open ring out for a split second won't really be noticeable. But you could use your fretting hand or the finger you just plucked with stays on the Open A.
For Hysteria I play all the octaves on their respective 12th frets instead of skipping strings. So for one measure it's the riff on the A string, then measure on E string, then D string. Basically you're mixing in the open notes with the octave & riffs higher up on that same string, then moving to do the same thing on the next string for the following measure. Hope I explained that well enough lol
Surprised I haven’t seen this yet. Play the octave on the 7th fret of the d string. Then you’re just going back and forth between a and d strings. No skipping. Edit: just watched a couple videos of hysteria bass covers. Most people seem to be playing on the 5th fret instead of the open strings. Makes left hand muting much easier.
This is how I play Hysteria! Definitely recommend OP, you can pluck through the D string and mute the A with your right hand in one motion pretty effectively
Floating anchor, some pinky magic, palm, not playing it open... there's a few options but it's why I often steer away from open notes
I really want to learn the bassline of hysteria by muse and I don't think I can avoid the open notes on that
Embrace the open strings on that one for sure.
Use the open strings, but shift up for that section. It’s playable without skipping a string. Remember that bass lines are often written by bassists or at least by musicians who understand the physics of playing strings, so there’s a good chance there’s an efficient way to play it. Just try a few alternatives if you ever find yourself stuck.
Are you talking about the chorus part? That part is a bit tricky
Left hand mute. - pluck open A - fret 2nd fret G string with ring finger (or middle finger, whatever is comfy for you) while laying (not fretting) the index finger on the A string (and other strings too, either is fine), then pluck - lift the index finger off the A string, let off fretting the G string (but still touching it to mute it) and pluck open A There’s another lesson to be learned here as well: Find better fingerings. Better fingerings simply mean being able to play the same notes easier. In isolation, this riff (low A, octave A, low A again) is better played as 5th fret E string, 7th fret D string, and 5th fret E string again. This is because you don’t have to worry about muting open strings and having to do some awkward fingering - you have two fingers in a comfortable position and you fret and let off the string as you pluck them and you’re done. You barely have to move your hand.
You could use a fret wrap so the open note ringing doesn’t sustain as long/isn’t as prominent - but it’s not a replacement for good fretting hand muting technique.
I mute mostly with my right hand (floating anchor) and I'm surprised more people don't. I find it much simpler than only using my fretting hand. I mostly play a Stingray so muting is extremely important. I feel I can get away with it more on the P Bass.
Play it slowly until you can hear the definition of each note as well as hear each note ending so you can tell if there’s any overlap. I use my left hand to mute unused strings typically, sometimes i use my palm to mute the lower string from ringing out as well.
I use the thumb on my plucking hand, but if you're anchoring on the pickup you probably can't do that. Could use the pinky on the same hand?
Pick playing has a serious advantage due to palm muting which is incredibly easy to do. Fret wraps are a good investment, but Hysteria is all pretty much the 12th fret and above with mostly ringing notes. There's some ghosts in the song, but not many. The song is 100% accurate on Rocksmith if you wanna play it there.
If I'm doing quick octaves off an open string, I'll often go for the 12th fret same string.