Sick Muse - Metric - Guitar Cover

Hi, my name is Karl Markis and I am performing a guitar cover of Metric's Sick Muse. The song Sick Muse is the third single from the Canadian rock group Metric's fourth studio album Fantasies. The song was written by Emily Haines and produced by John O'Mahony. The song was written at Bear Creek Studios outside of Seattle like most of the songs on Fantasies. It also was one of the songs to go through Metric's "campfire test" in which they strip down the song to just a piano and acoustic guitar with vocals.

Please give feedback as to my guitar cover. Do you like how I play the riff? What about the effects I throw in for the chorus? Do they fit in well? Give me your feedback!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• sick
• muse
• metric
• guitar
• cover
• fantasies
• help
• im
• alive
• lesson
• tab
• how
• to
• karl
• markis
• emily
• haines
• canadian
• rock
• pop
• indie
• alternative
• new
• shred
• 80s
• retro

[imbaeric]

3. The guitar neck should rest against your THUMB, not against your palm! In the chourus your thumb looks like a skyscraper or something. No, but seriously, it makes it alot easier to play if you keep your thumb at the back of the guitar neck.

4. In the main riff, try altenate picking. It should remove the "sloppyness". The half struck notes that is. (Don't know how to explain it, hope you understand)

[KarlMarkis]

@imbaeric My guitar's neck is V-neck, which forces you to play thumb over neck. You are assuming I have a modern C-neck, which allows thumb behind neck. I enjoy the 50's-60's style of thumb over neck. Whichever thumb position you choose is preferential, one isn't innately better than the other.

Alternate picking is not meant for this style of riff. Strict down plucks create a more machinist, sterile tone because of the repetitive attack of the pick. The Metric guitarist is known

[KarlMarkis]

@imbaeric for his strict use of down-plucked notes on many riffs because of the uncomfortable nature it ads to the notes' attack. He recorded this riff using only down strokes.

I play sloppy but with intentional technique and specific purpose.

[imbaeric]

These are MY opinions on this cover.

1. I don't know how your other covers are made, but a good cover should have some sort of backing track.

2. How long have you been playing? Your technique look so tense, especially your left hand. Try and make smaller movements!

[KarlMarkis]

@imbaeric Some of my covers utilize backing tracks, others don't. The guitar part of this song is very unnerving and sharp, highly contrasting the rest of the instruments played. I prefer it alone without a backing track. The "tense" feel of my hands is intentional; I play the riff striking the pick at the opposite 45 degree angle towards the strings near the bridge to create a more erratic tone, just like the Metric guitarist does. The sudden, jittery fretting movements are for effect

[KarlMarkis]

@imbaeric The last thing you want to do is play the riff legato, with smooth transitions between notes. This riff is much more hectic and deserves some accentuated fretting movements.

[sickmuse1]

buenisimo



[KarlMarkis]

@durff33 I play a MIM Strat, it goes out of tune after playing one chord because the nut was cut imperfectly, and the action's been ghetto leveled for no whammy use so either the G or every other string has to be out of tune to play chords down the neck somewhat in tune lol. I have a lot of issues with tuning and my guitar, thanks for pointing that out, though your "shame" comment is a little condescending.

[durff33]

your guitar is a bit out of tune man, shame

[BlackWolfgang70]

well done and well explained ... great video recording !