Ride the Lightning- Bass Track - (1/3) - Metallica

[spazboy26]

Cliff's not dead he's just giving god bass lessons

[TheButtle]

If you listen to this bass line and the actual song, it sounds so cool. try syncing it up. A bit tricky, but well worth it.

[TheButtle]

I'm sure Metallica wouldn't have aged so fast and lost their groove had Cliff still been alive.

I idolize this man. Pretty much sparked my interest in bass playing.

[hugopereira14]

Cliff Burton's basslines were so complex for his time.

[nicobal666]

Can you please, please, please, please, please, PLEEEEEAAAASSSSSEEEE make bass, drums and guitar tracks for the call of ktulu?????

[TheSuperLTD]

Fuck yeah! Cliff Burton for the win!

[dc17commando]

6:29 What? XD

[bassistchris2]

@2:52 sounds steve harris-esque. good stuff

[HabAnagarek]

2:52 - nice

Overall, I think he's rushing the tempo

He really whacked the hell out of his bass! Awesome.

[AFNYOAQIS]

What tuning is this in?

[beserker1912]

@AFNYOAQIS e

[Clike666ness]

@AFNYOAQIS E

[stenback31289]

@AFNYOAQIS e standard

[ell3y]

@AFNYOAQIS Standard (E-A-D-G)

[HarrisWuzHere]

i hardly hear the bass when i listen to songs i hear it a few times but if u took it out u can raly notice the diffrence

[NejiHyuga900]

@HarrisWuzHere - And the only way to take the bass out of a song is if you let Neversoft or Harmonix to do it (since they do it for Guitar Hero/Rock Band games).

[9MinamiKe6]

I think my heart stops beating, this is so awesome.

But now something entirely different, OP, how are you supposed to remember your username?

[xbox50000]

so this is why everyone loves cliff, i could never hear the bass in the songs, so now i hear it hear, its.. SO GOOD MAN!

[specialforcepro1]

bassist people do not get enough credit

[Soxpert]

I would love to see the tab for the bunch of notes he is playing around the 2:00 mark.

RIP Cliff, awesome stuff.

[DrKillinSpillin]

Easy song at first, but gets fucking painful cause it's so fast after a while.

[stenback31289]

@DrKillinSpillin just keep playing, your fingers get used to it.. if you really want to build endurance, play the verse riffs of war ensemble with your fingers.

[ErikBassRock]

How do you get that special bass sound like this?

[NakeRtHeRoCkEr]

@ErikBassRock add a bit of distortion. it's that simple

[clintsaunders]

@ErikBassRock Cliff uses a Big Muff pedal most likely with the tone cranked to 10

[SlayerSp777]

R.I.P. CLIFF...

[ErikBassRock]

@TheCrisar ur retarted this was taken from the original song, it's just that he sped it up so he could put it in youtube

[dbzsony]

@TheCrisa

Ride the Lightning lasts for 6 minutes and 37 seconds.

This bass track lasts for 6 minutes and 40 seconds.

And if you had decent ears, you can hear the bass in the actual song and it's exactly how it is.

[TheCrisar]

Unfortunally.. this us a fake bass.. Make a simple experience and you will see: put the original music at the same time and is CLEAR that this bass is much faster than the original bass. So, it's not the original sound of bass that is in Ride The Lighting. It may be Cliff (i dont think so), but if its him, its not the original recording. Sad...

[SuperRockinMuffin10]

vien chinogn

[lilfili123]

yh i got the sound now lol but it only sounds like it when u record

[RO2BER3TO]

CLIFF HERA UN GRAN BAJISTA

[CoyBlackenedDeath]

@RO2BER3TO El Mejor de Todos carnal

[cliptheracer]

This sounds is also due to an awesome set of fresh roundwound strings... and a bit of distortion... oh and a badass bass player like mr Cliff Burton XD

[tuegos34]

I just love this! now I hear this on earings and can play the song on guitar with the bass in the earings and it sounds so good!

[chrisslipknt444]

hear that? thats the awesome noise that we call cliff burton. cliff is like the god of bass! R.I.P cliff

[lilfili123]

HOW DOES HE GET THIS SOUNDDDD

[blackgenocide]

magic

[thegreatbungholio707]

i hate that whining noise when he hits the strings. No disrespect to Cliff, but god thats annoying,

[lilfili123]

yh it does get a bit annoying but it sounds funny loool

[JeissonCardenas2102]

UPLOAD "AM I EVIL"? PLEASE.

[Anemonicus]

im tabbing this bass track right now, without bass in my hands, and im getting FUCKING CRAZY

[ErikBassRock]

@Anemonicus ur a fuckin retard

[zeikgps]

6:26....wff!?..lol..RIP CLIFF

[Simonx90]

@zeikgps

He's muting all the notes.

[dbzsony]

Spider chord sounds great on bass.

[thegreatbungholio707]

If im not mistaken, there is no spider chord in this version of the song, there used to be, when Dave was in the band, but they changed it when it came to recording the song. i found this out when i went to get tabs for this song. and there was no spider chord,

[dbzsony]

@thegreatbungholio707

You sure? When Metallica are playing live, it looks just like the spider chord. But then again I don't play guitar at all so I wouldn't know.

Also, Metallica credited Dave in this song, so besides the spider chord I don't know what Dave wrote.

[RandomoVideos]

this si the sound jason got with his pick XD man i love playing thsi song with my fingers, with a pick it's boring.

I'm also proud i got my bass tone to sound really similar to this! :D who wouldn't be, it's fucking awesome!

[bergAgreb]

i love the chorus especially that little thing at 1:05 - 1:06

[Melermometal]

Cliff's bass sound really improved in this album from kill em all.

[JackieHakalaJackson]

Now I can play a bit on bass, but my fingers will simply break if I'd try this xD

Damn, he's really good. Not always the cleanest his his playing (only hearing that now I'm listening to some isolated bass tracks), but defenitely /good/.

[name2567]

use ur fingers it will give a smother bass sound

[Simonx90]

This is Cliff playing and he used fingers o.o

[BlessureK]

2:34 onwards. like, wow

[RandomoVideos]

he's got a badass sound on that bass :D

[chefkdowg]

dude try your fingers cause the pick scraps too much and makes it sound crappy

[neonarco]

Dude is Cliff!!! Cliff recorded this track!!!! Is the original bass track :D

[chefkdowg]

well cliff was the only member of metallica to to have know and read music, and knew theory

[seg940]

wtf was that at 6:28 and so fourth is that no it is Jazz notes *sighs

[RediForKing]

His bass lines sound nothing like the guitar lines! Now that's a good bass player !

[dbzsony]

Didn't know that he used the spider chord on the bass. Sounds badass.

[salareddia]

Cliff played with dave moustine so it's normal that he used the spider cord u.u

[spike007980]

Um...are you mental? Spider Cording is just simple and a wise thing to do when playing guitar or bass to not let the notes slide as much unless the sliding is called for

[mccliffton]

has anyone heard whether they are going to put out the original master tracks for some of the other songs that didnt make it to guitar hero, whether they are going to add songs to the game or just release the tracks? and does anyone know if they seperated the master tracks for all the songs for future use or just the ones for the game?

[6ftUnder92592]

these bass tracks are really helping me learn the actuall bass line note for note. can i request some oldschool metallica songs?

[emiliowildhorses]

Distorting used........?? sounds great

[emiliowildhorses]

:O

my fuckin god!! hear that! imposible track!

INCREDIBLE =P

[KrentorPwnsyou]

best bass line ever!

[Obling95]

Nice dude... crazy fingers ! CLIFF ROCKS ! ANYONE WHO LOVE HIM TOO ?

[Thunderbirdgibson87]

This is my opinion cliff's best bass line no question about it.

[sekretsu]

To anyone who says Cliff was overrated

Listen to this song and tell me that again, I fucking DOUBLE DOG DARE you!

[stenback31289]

cliff= overrated.... psych. cliff will always be number one in my book. all i had to do was listen to anesthesia and that got me into bass right away

[Lenin64]

That was pretty much the case with me, too, except it took a little while.

[specialforcepro1]

honestly if a bassist can play a song that involves more than 4 frets, they are heroes alongside cliff in my book

[apricotjuice120]

no most bass lines use more then 4 frets. Just saying, they're r a lt of better bassists then cliff. For example les claypool, geddy lee, john myung, jaco pastorius, geezer butler, micheal anthony, and many more

[1CoheedandCambriafan]

Steve Harris! But still, Cliff was a beast. Haven't you ever heard the into to For Whom The Bell Tolls? That is amazing. And Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)

[Georgeous129]

and this song of course

[Georgeous129]

and if anyones wondering, that comment i left was a reply to '1coheedandcambriafan's comment

[ariesrising1975]

I am sorry...did you say that Michael Anthony from Van Halen is better than Cliff Burton? Surely you gest?...Michael Anthony sucks balls. I can play his basslines with my fucking toes.

[apricotjuice120]

I am sorry, Idk how that name snuck in there. I rest my case with the others. I can play cliff burton stuff

[FINPutkonen]

Lol'd my ass off! xDDDDDD

[Soxpert]

@ariesrising1975

He is actually a pretty good player, but was never really allowed to show it in Van Halen. Catch him live when he is just jamming with other bands and the man can play a wide range of styles.

He's good.

[MonsterxSGx209]

@ariesrising1975 cliff burton would pwn any sissy bass player today

[MattBodossian]

@ariesrising1975 try playing his bassline to light up the sky with ur toes

[ariesrising1975]

@MattBodossian one of his better bass lines but it is still simple! I like challenging bass lines,like Steve DiGiorgio (Death),John Myung (Dream Theater),Steve Harris (Iron Maiden),Adam Nitti,Billy Sheehan,Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne).Now those are a challenge,not Michael Anthony lines.My comment was to someone that said MA was better than Cliff Burton.90% of MA bass lines are on 2 strings only and not at all fast! Seriously, I play Running w/ the Devil with my toes for fun to entertain friends!

[MattBodossian]

@ariesrising1975 no problem with that man, but steve harris basslines and john myung/ steve digiorgio basslines are a big difference man, id probably say micheal anthony is a better bassist than steve harris. micheals a great bassist but aton of his basslines do not show it. listen to mean streat, he has some verry creative fills in that.

[ariesrising1975]

@MattBodossian Matt I have to disagree with you on that man. Steve Harris is one of the most influential rock/metal bassist around. Certainly more technical and creative the MA, not to mention he writes about 95% of all Maiden songs. MA does just enough to get the job done, which is fine if that's your thing. I have watched him with VH and ChickenFoot numerous times and have never been even slightly impressed with anything he has done. Watch his live solos, they are Godawful!

[MattBodossian]

@ariesrising1975 yeah man, it seems on his live solos he just gos up there drunk as hell and doesnt give a fuck he just makes a fool of himself. steve harris created his own signature style which is alot different from most other bassists which makes him so influential, but his bass playing sounds really good in the mix, but if u listen to some of his bass tracks they can be a bit sloppy, like his bass track for 2 minutes to midnight.

[ariesrising1975]

@MattBodossian 2 Minutes to Midnight has a shitload of runs and fills, and he is playing with his fingers unlike MA on Mean Street who used a pick only in the early days. I think his bass line is still very solid in that song even with the little slop here and there which gives the song character. It is easy to play clean when you minimize the number of notes...lol! From a technical standpoint 2M2M kills any MA line. I will say MA is a better back up vocalist than SH, but that's it.

[MattBodossian]

@ariesrising1975 but dude i couldnt finish the comment didnt have enough letters left, but have u heard the bass line to van halens mean street? it has some damn good fills in it. plus when micheal anthony plays mean street live in 83 its pretty damn good, and when he pplays so this is love live, he throws in some really good fills in the beginning. hiss live solos are a bit shitty he just gos up thee drunk and makes a fool, but hes really actually a smooth and versatile bassist.

[Jaildale]

@ariesrising1975 Hahaha, I'm not disagreeing with that, but I just love how fans like you are so quick to defend Metallica...both bands are good.

[chrisslipknt444]

@Jaildale most fans of metallicas music from this time period mostly defend cliff. not the rest of the band lol

[canitasteyou321]

@ariesrising1975

cliff burton fucking sucks

[KamuelaKamike]

@canitasteyou321 Well, he does now 'cos he's kinda dead... -ish.

Cliff kicked ass, but it seems from your profile info that you've made a page dedicated to Metallica bashing, waste of food.

[Simonx90]

Brilliant. The overdrive makes it all!!!

[Flaciformio]

what a fast fingers...

[eddymetallica8]

Cliff Bass no?

[IMaiden89]

does anyone know if all these (cliffs bass lines)  are in torrents?

[ShdwDnutProductions]

Gotta love the occasional fart sounds, lol.

He wasn't the cleanest player, but he still was innovative as hell.

[kingosprites]

It's not that hard to hear the bass in this song, it's just making out the notes it's playing, like at 2:00 and up, I never knew Cliff played it like that. Thanks for the vid man

[killakobra]

that's what he's know for.

[maxio94]

I think Metallica bass are very many times on disorotion. Who agree with me? I play bass from 1 year and I think Metallica is easy to play bass.

[undertakerfreak1127]

This bassline, for the most part, mirrors the guitar track, and you can still make it out better on RTL than Jason's in ...AJFA.

[IMaiden89]

i cant here this on the cd, i reckon the did this for guitar hero metallica

[Picklesisftw]

you have to have an ear for it... if you over lapped the guitar track and bass tracks you'd probably hear it better because it sounds more like the song. If you listen for the deeper sound, then you might hear it better, just try to differentiate the higher pitched guitar playing.

and no, this is most likley the exact bass track, it doesn't sound like Rob's playing

[IMaiden89]

sorry, i ment the distortion/overdrive, i can here the bass fine but i never reaslised it was so heavy, i play bass & i think it would sound so much better clean

[Picklesisftw]

yeah, Cliff used a lot of distortion in his bass playing, I personally like the way it sounds, I don't like when the sounds is plain (no offense)

[IMaiden89]

yeh it kool, cause no one else did it at the time

[SirCanealot]

Nope, it's a master track :)

Find a copy of a vinyl rip of this album -- the bass is much easier to pick out.

[IMaiden89]

yes it is on vinyl, wonder y, i an here this fine on the cd but i didnt realise it had gain

[spike007980]

If your ear is trained right the bass is apparent in the vinyl but people would just say I don't think that's the bass it's probably James which is true, james swallowed a lot of Cliff's tone to beef up his guitar, but if you separate and re-record the bass track to be more superior sounding the bass track can be like this master track for example makes it apparent the bass is very much needed in bands.

[agentkro]

I can never quite get the chromatic 1 e + a 2 + a 3 + e a 4 + a progression :(.

[Gh0stR1d3r666]

you mean from master of puppets? thats a bitch on bass

[agentkro]

no, I'm talking about this. I'm talking about the part when Hetfield goes "Oh someone help me, oh please help me!". The bass line/guitar riff move down chromatically starting on C and the rhythm is a hard 1 e + a 2 +a 3 e + a 4 +a that is a bitch to play with the fingers.

[82mtlhead]

R.I.P Cliff

[dreamtheat3r]

how do u isolate these tracks?

[555skom]

hey if anyone JUST HAPPENS to live in, or around Rockingham NC and u play drums, guitar, sings, or plays bass, and is 99.9% influenced by Metallica, and is in between tha ages of 10-14, e-mail me. lol. im startin a new band. the last one sucked

[jamethe2]

haha i fit that description except i don't live near rockingham and if I did I wouldn't be replying to this message

[JoeAuriun]

How do I know these are the original tracks?

[cliffdimerandy]

wow cliffs really funky in this bass track. cant really tell with the rest, but i hear alot of slapping in here. awesome stuff

[mastadon1111]

cliff is awesome, he dominates all other bass players

[TwistedGold0]

RIP Cliff Burton

[bladeslinger15]

I don't like the clackiness. Amazing song though, very fun to play.

[Flarga1]

try turning down the treble and up the bass. Its not too bad on my comp, but it is there.

[Akira625]

It's because of guys like Cliff that I learned to appreciate finger bass playing.

[shalevtm02]

cliff is an idle to all bass players

[Rocker095150]

idol?

[Tartarsauce24]

Naw man Idle

[conehead246]

this just goes to show how much even the highest rated tabs can miss out.

R.I.P cliff

[HBK1337]

haha so true

thats why i try to learn songs by ear now

[SoenAfEnkaelling]

That is the easiest way to learn songs for me... Even though i might not get it right it's still the easiest way for me...

[slaytak]

Cliff's playing is amazing, it's really great to be able to clearly hear what he was doing. It's surprising to me that he went with that sound though. You'd figure he'd try to clean it up a bit.

[tucktimosprime]

ive just stuck a guitar backing track for this song in my vids,,becouse theres no guitar in the track,you can hear cliffs playing very clearly,,plus theres a few other metallica tracks in there, that might help you guys...

[bozzi90]

Now i understand why this song sounds so epic, there are so many hidden bass notes that make it bigger! RIP cliff.

[robdelabassist]

i'm sure he used big muff on this recording, the clickin sounds same as on pulling teeth

[FamousNateNat138]

thats why i said it isnt cliff

[theblitz8]

cliff never played with a pick

[erl4nd0]

he actually did on some songs on ride the lightning, only on the studio recording though

[theblitz8]

yeah im sure you know this cause you hung out with cliff and metallica in the studio. thats pretty sweet

[superste53]

you talk to erl4nd0 as if hes wrong

but did you hang out with metallica in the studio or on stage?

most likely not

and i bet at some point in cliffs life he used a pick to play bass

w.e man, this track is so coooool

[blackspider0]

Maybe in his life he did, but on studio he didn't, at least that's what James or someone said once, can't remember exactly who...

[HeavyMetalFreak1984]

I play bass and you can make the same sound with your fingers as you can a pick. If you ever saw Cliff play life you will see how hard he plays; this will also cause Distortion and 'clicking" because your strings will hit the pick ups and it produces this sound

[hxclion7861]

thats not a pick fucktard.. I play with a pick it does not make that clicking sound you are hearing, thats his finger picking

my bass makes that sound when I play finger picked really hard on the strings.

[FamousNateNat138]

haha then my bass makes this sound on both

[UltimateEnd622]

It's because of the string bouncing off of the fret as a result of low action and hard plucking.

Fucking love it!

[theoffspringrox77]

cliff was the best R.I.P

[topgearownz]

if youve got ride the lightning on your computer try playing it and this at the same time, it makes the song sound so much better

[edward2868]

OMG!! I can play this song but more umm "normal" you included some tricks. You got any tabs???

[MexicanSeadude]

This is actually cliff, its from the multitrack

[forkv]

At 6:27 I wonder how he played those fast muted notes. Sounds like slapping? :o

[Wdss21MetallicA]

Amazing....CLiff rulles!/,,/!

[Akira625]

6:27 Like the way Cliff ended the song, wish I could've heard it in the final mix, though.

[RIOTandDontYouFakeIt]

Although Cliff wasnt very tight, he still has tons of respect for me.He is mostly praised because of his musical ideas and creativity he had.Just listen to the FWTB and Orion basslines.Amazing.

[longisland1331]

I love Cliff, but the only thing amazing about FWTBT is the intro. the rest is kind of boring.

[morepiepleaseTV]

Is this a cover or is this really cliff?

[biringhead]

This is cliff.

Dxbrbnkhd ripped the original bass track from rock band.

[forkv]

It is fingers with the strings action set very low and/or hitting the strings very hard. There's obviously some tubey overdrive going on to add grit. Not a pick!

[Dobodo4]

hes not using a pick. If you own a bass, try attacking the strings harder with your fingers so the string rebounds off the frets. You get a nice clanky metal tone.

[TheOriginalOwnage]

Happens on guitar also, people that say this is a pick player are stupid.

[Denthedragon]

kinda like Geddy Lee, right?

[Dobodo4]

yup, he also uses his fingernails almost like flamenco guitar

[EvilWiiDriector]

yeah or stevie harris AKA the best bassiest ever

[Asdolbo]

@Dobodo4 Exactly. Just as Geezer, Cliff used to position is hand on a weird... well... position! And by that, the string could hit the frets resulting that unique sounding...

Take a alive vid from him playing a solo or such and you will understand what all we are talking about.

Cheers...

[dxbrbnkhd]

Thanks for the 17,000+ views!!!! A big accomplishment for me!!!!