“House Of Pain” by Faster Pussycat


Difficulty: Easy – Intermediate

Composer – Downe/Steele

Where to find this song – Wake Me When It’s Over track # 4

Release Date – April 1989

Hollywood metal band ( the name was lifted from a Russ Meyer flick ) Faster Pussycat released their first album in 1987 and peaked commercially two years later with the gold album, “Wake Me When It’s Over”, and the Top 40 single “House of Pain.”

Hear This Lesson:

Rhythm

Begin the first riff by placing your 3rd finger on the third fret on the “A” string. Place your 2nd finger on the second fret on the “D” string. Last, place your 1st finger on the first fret on the “B” string. Now, play that twice, and then WITHOUT MOVING YOUR FINGERS, use your 4th finger to pull-off to the third fret on the “B” string. A pull-off is when you go from a higher note to a lower note, only striking the first note(s). For the rest of the measure, just pick according to the tablature. As long as you left your fingers where they originally were, you will have no trouble.

Play the second measure by placing your 3rd finger on the third fret on the “D” string. Place your 2nd finger on the second fret on the “G” string, and then place your 1st finger on the first fret on the “B” string. Allow the “high E” to remain open and played. Next, pick accordingly until the pull-off. When you get there, just pull off as you did in the first measure. The rest of the measure is self-explanatory, but you will need to take your 1st finger off near the end to play the open note on the “B” string.

The third measure is basically and Am chord and a modified G chord. Play the Am chord by placing your 1st finger on the first fret on the “B” string. Place your 2nd finger on the second fret on the “D” string, and your 3rd finger on the second fret on the “A” string. Pick according to the tablature. To finish the measure, use your 2nd finger on the third fret on the “low E” string. Place your 3rd finger on the third fret on the “high E” string. Play according to the tablature.

The last measure is nothing more than an F chord just as you did at the beginning of the second measure. You’ll barre your 1st finger over the first fret on the “high E” as well.

Lead

This is actually the harmonica parts transcribed for guitar:

The lead part here is fun to play. Begin the first measure by placing your 3rd finger on the fifteenth fret on the “B” string. Slide to the seventeenth fret on the same string with your 3rd finger. Use your 1st finger to play the fifteenth fret on the “high E” string, and as long as you left your 3rd finger on the seventeenth fret than you will have no problem playing this until the end of the measure. At the end of this measure, use your 3rd finger to play the seventeenth fret on the “high E” string.

The second measure is pretty easy. Use your 3rd finger to play the fifteenth fret, and add a little vibrato on it by rapidly shaking the string you are playing. Next, you can use your 1st finger to play the thirteenth fret on the same string, and then use a little vibrato as you move to the twelfth fret with the same finger. Allow the vibrato for a few more seconds, and then move back to the thirteenth fret. To end the measure, barre your 1st finger on the twelfth frets of the “high E” string, the “B” string, and the “G” string. Use your 2nd finger to play the thirteenth fret on the “B” string. Pick according to the tablature.

The third measure is a little more difficult because you are utilizing more strings and the frets are farther apart. Begin this measure by placing your 1st finger on the twelfth fret on the “G” string. Next, use your 4th finger to play the fourteenth fret on the same string, and then use your 1st finger to play the thirteenth fret on the “B” string. Allow for some vibrato, and then use your 3rd finger to play the seventeenth fret. After you have done that, use your 4th finger to play the twentieth fret on the “B” string. To end the measure, use your 1st finger on the seventeenth fret on the “high E” string.

The fourth measure is just played on the twentieth fret with your 4th finger with a little vibrato on the “high E” string.

Riff Resources

Complete Transcription To “House Of Pain” (PDF)

Complete Transcription To “House Of Pain” (Power Tab)