Song Rig

Decadence Dance

Nuno Bettencourt · Pornograffitti · 1990

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Extreme's hardest rocking track — a funk-metal hybrid that shows Nuno's unique ability to combine slap-influenced right-hand techniques with heavy Marshall distortion. The guitar has a tight, percussive quality in the verse that contrasts with the full-power chorus distortion.

Signal Chain

1Washburn N4 (or N2, bridge pickup)
2Marshall JCM800
3Boss OC-2 Octave (subtle sub-octave on main riff)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume8

Bass7

Mid7

Treble7

Presence7

The sub-octave from the OC-2 adds weight to the main riff without using heavier distortion — Nuno's approach to heavy sound includes harmonic layering rather than just more gain.

Technique

How to Play It

Percussive slap-and-tap rhythm — Nuno hits the strings with the flat of his right hand (slap) while simultaneously picking individual notes, creating a bass-guitar-influenced rhythm guitar technique unique in the hard rock context.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Superstrat → Boss OC-2 (sub-octave at low mix) → Marshall JCM800 → study funk slap bass technique and apply equivalent percussive attacks to the guitar strings.

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