Decadence Dance by Extreme
Released in 1990 on the Pornograffiti album, Decadence Dance is a high-energy groove rocker built around a tight, syncopated guitar riff. Nuno Bettencourt's guitar work—clean, punchy chords mixed with fast runs—drives the track, while Gary Cherone's swaggering vocal lines anchor the groove. The song captures Extreme's blend of funk-metal swagger and pop-friendly hooks that defined the era.
In the studio, the band layered rhythm guitars with punchy drums to lock in the groove, and the track's appeal grew as MTV and radio embraced Extreme's virtuosic yet accessible sound. Today, it remains a fan favorite and a staple of Extreme's live shows, illustrating the band's signature fusion of groove, melodic lead playing, and tight rhythm guitar that helped define Pornograffiti's era.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson you'll learn the song's signature groove riff, how to lay down the verse and chorus using power chords with precise muting, and a short lead lick that captures Bettencourt's phrasing. We'll cover alternating picking and palm muting for the riff, dialing in a punchy, funk-influenced tone, and how to lock in with a metronome to nail the syncopated accents. We also discuss dynamics and phrasing to recreate the track's feel, plus a simplified path if you want to focus on rhythm parts first.
Intermediate. Prior skills in palm muting, power chords, and clean, precise alternate picking will help you tackle the groove and any lead-style licks.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Count the off-beats and practice the groove at a slow tempo with a metronome before accelerating to the song's speed.
- 💡Dial in a percussive tone by applying light palm muting and keeping the strings quiet between muted hits to lock with the drums.
- 💡Practice the lead lick separately, using pull-offs and small bends to mimic Bettencourt's phrasing, then blend it into the rhythm part.
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