Song Rig

Get the Funk Out

Nuno Bettencourt · Pornograffitti · 1991

Tone Overview

What Makes This Sound Unique

Nuno at his most technically aggressive — a wah-driven funk rock riff with sharp, precise muting and blazing double-picked single-note runs. The Washburn N4 through the VHT at high gain, wah engaged for the rhythmic filter effect, is as far as possible from the acoustic sweetness of More Than Words. This track shows the full range of Extreme's guitar work.

Signal Chain

1Washburn N4 (humbuckers)
2VHT Pitbull or Mesa Boogie
3Dunlop Cry Baby wah (rhythmically)

Amp Settings

Gain / Volume8

Bass6

Mid5

Treble8

Presence8

High gain, treble and presence pushed — the funk rock riff needs aggression and bite. Wah engaged for the rhythmic filter effect on the main riff. Mids slightly scooped compared to the bluesy lead tones; this is about rhythmic attack more than warmth.

Technique

How to Play It

Wah-filtered downstroked funk rhythm combined with fast alternate-picked runs — the rhythm sections require precise right-hand muting with the wah filtering the attack. The fast lead runs use economy picking and hammer-ons for speed. Extremely demanding right-hand independence.

Budget Alternative

Achievable With

Humbucker guitar → Dunlop Cry Baby → high-gain amp (Mesa/Marshall/Peavey 6505). The wah pattern needs practice separately before combining with the picking runs.

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