Hey everyone! Welcome to my bass playthrough cover of “Hysteria” by Muse from their iconic album “Absolution” (2003). If you’re a fan of Muse, bass covers, or just looking for some bass inspiration, this video is perfect for you!
For this recording, I used the following gear:
- Bass: Warwick Thumb NT 5 88′
- Strings: Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 45 – 130 2736
- Tuning: Standard Tuning (GDAEB from high to low)
- Effect Pedal: Demonfx High Quality MICROTUBES A7K Analog Bass Preamp
- Moises App: Used to remove the bass part from the backing track
The Warwick Thumb NT 5 bass provides a rich, full-bodied sound that perfectly captures the essence of “Hysteria.” Paired with Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt strings, the tone is crisp and clear, ideal for this high-energy track. The Demonfx MICROTUBES A7K bass preamp adds a layer of warmth and depth, making the bass line stand out. Of course, this pedal doesn’t add the additional layer of synthesizer found in the original, but it’s a fantastic and affordable solution for achieving a fuzzy bass sound.
Using the Moises App, I was able to remove the original bass part from the backing track, ensuring that my bass part is clearly heard. This app is a game-changer for anyone looking to create their own bass covers or playthroughs, and it excels particularly well in removing the bass track from songs.
The bass part of “Hysteria” is very well-known and recognizable. In terms of learning to play it, the main riff is not as difficult as many comments on Muse performance videos suggest. The challenge lies in playing it consistently over an extended period. Chris Wolstenholme plays it with his fingers. I find that using a precise alternation of two fingers on the right hand works best. Only in the chorus should you deviate from this rule and play the octaves using economy of motion.
“Hysteria” is composed in A minor with added chromatic elements, has a tempo of 93 BPM, and is in 4/4 time. Analyzing Matthew Bellamy’s solo reveals that the guitar occasionally turns the Em chord into a major chord or colors it with other tones, adding a unique twist to the song’s harmony. When selecting the bass part, I recommend breaking down the guitar solo to better understand the song. The rhythm guitar parts are generally straightforward.
