Bad

Videos

Dual delays 1/8 into 1/8dotted see my video at the right to test the sound.

Here's a great acoustic version:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=baldzcla-Jc

Tutorial

Submitted by Michael O'Hare

Part 1

A little more info on Bad for those learning the song. I am still practicing to get it perfect, but here is some more detailed steps I came up with:

Getting the timing is difficult because there is different emphasis on different strings on the 8th note beats (meaning not on the 1234 quarter note beats), while at the same time the delay is occurring between the 8th note beats. For beginners like me it takes time because the pronounced strikes are on 1 and 2& beats, and then the E comes up quickly just two 8th beats later on the 3& beat. They don't line up with the simple 4/4 count. There is a natural tendancy to switch to C# on the 3 beat (and emphasize it), which is not correct.

Mick's suggestion to start slow is a good one, and now that I understand where the pronounced notes are placed, it's easier to learn the pattern without a delay.

Step 1

First, set your tempo and count:

1    &    2    &    3    &    4    &

Step 2

Then play the open A and the D on the 12th fret (D string) with a muffled right hand. Pick on each 8th beat. IMPORTANT: you lift your finger and go to the C# (11th fret) on the 2& beat (at first, play it simple and don't pronounce anything):

1    &    2    &    3    &    4    &
A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A
D    D    D    C#   C#   C#   C#   C#

Step 3

When you get comfortable with this, then add emphasis to the 1 and 2& beats (strike down a little harder on these two beats (the first beat and when you change to C#)

>              >
1    &    2    &    3    &    4    &
A    A    A    A    A    A    A    A
D    D    D    C#   C#   C#   C#   C#

You can now hear the rhythm of the riff coming together.

Without the delay, this is not too difficult. BUT MAKE SURE YOU ARE REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THE TWO EMPHASIZED NOTES. I humbly believe that this is one spot where many make a mistake with this riff - they change to C# on the 3 beat (too late - perfectly half way through the measure). Based on what I hear in the actual song, the pattern above is correct (I can't even count how many times I listened to it, but you can definitely hear Edge change to the C# on the 2& beat and not the 3 beat).

Step 4

When you are comfortable with this, now add the high E with a little emphasis (not too much but it should be pronounced).

>              >         >
1    &    2    &    3    &    4    &
A    A    A    A    A         A    A
D    D    D    C#   C#        C#   C#
                         E

I miss hitting the A and C# muffled notes on the 3& beat. Obviously you don't strum them all here, so you have to skip them and just quicly hit the E. To learn the above, I actually emphasized the 1, 2& and 3& beats in my head. Again, practice this without the delay until you are very comfortable. I think you will find that it is now starting to sound very close.

Step 5

Throw in the delay now and you can easily lose track of which notes are which. Why? Because the delay should be a dotted 8th and land between the 8th beats (see tutorial below). This is why Bad can cause people so much trouble - you have to maintain the tempo and play on the 8th note beats (with the above emphasized notes) and let the delay fill in the rest. Beginners tend to let the delayed notes set the tempo and they end up playing right on top of the delay, turning the delay into an 8th note and not a dotted 8th (per the BPM and Delay Settings tutorial).

When you turn on the delay, be sure to keep counting and remember to continue to pronounce the 1 and 2& beats and then softly hit the muffled notes on the 3 beat, and quickly hit the pronounced E on the 3& beat. I had to spend at least 15 minutes doing this, and then finally I didn't need to count anymore. If you play everthing above correctly with the delay (with the right tempo), it comes together nicely. It all has to do with the timing of the two pronounced notes on the muffled A and D strings and the perfect timing of the E on the 3& beat, AND then not paying attention to the delay.

It's best to have a delay with a tempo light setting or tap tempo and then set the delay to a dotted 8th. Then set your tempo (as described above) to the tap and NOT the time between the delayed notes.

I hope this explanation helps articulate the timing issues associated with this riff. I will try to get out a tutorial clip of my own with and without delay.

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