How to Master Ghost’s ‘Infestissumam’ Guitar Cover

If you’ve ever been haunted by the riff‑laden intro of Ghost’s Infestissumam, you’re not alone. The track packs a mix of melodic juxtapositions and subtle tremolo work that can feel intimidating for anyone not steeped in occult‑rock. This guide walks you through the essential parts, offers practice tips, and points out the little tricks that make the cover sound genuinely eerie without forcing you into a full‑blown studio setup.

What Makes This Song Tick?

Before you even pick up the guitar, it helps to understand why Infestissumam stands out in Ghost’s catalog. The song intertwines:

• A clean arpeggiated intro that floats over a dark, reverb‑drenched atmosphere.
• A chunky, palm‑muted rhythm that drives the verses.
• A soaring lead line that mirrors the vocal melody, often played with subtle slides.

Knowing which section you’re tackling will keep you from mixing up techniques and, frankly, from blowing a lot of strings.

Gear You’ll Need (And What You Can Skip)

You don’t have to own a vintage Les Paul to sound convincing, but a few basics will smooth the learning curve.

Guitar

• Standard‑tuned electric guitar (E A D G B E). A humbucker‑rich mahogany body gives the warm mid‑range that suits the track.
• If you only have a single‑coil, roll off some treble and crank the neck pickup for a thicker tone.

Amplifier Settings

• Gain: 3–4 (just enough to add a bite without drowning the clean arpeggios).
• Bass: 6, Mid: 5, Treble: 4 – tweak to taste, aiming for a balanced low‑end that still lets the high notes sing.
• Reverb: 30–40 % for the intro; dial back to ~15 % for the verse crunch.

Pedals (Optional)

• Overdrive pedal for the rhythm sections – keep it subtle.
• Delay (quarter‑note) can add space to the lead lines if you’re playing solo.

Breaking Down the Intro – The “Ghostly” Arpeggio

The opening spans four measures of clean picking, using a simple D‑minor shape with a lifted bass note on beat 2 of each bar. Here’s a quick tab snippet (standard tuning):

e|-----5-------5-------5-------5---|
B|---6---6---6---6---6---6---6---6-|
G|-7-------7-------7-------7-------|
D|---------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------

Key pointers:

• Timing is everything. Play each note just barely ahead of the metronome’s click to capture that “floating” feel.
• Use a light touch with the pick; too much attack will strip away the airy vibe.
• Engage the tremolo bar ever so slightly at the end of each phrase – a gentle dip mimics the original’s wavering ambience.

Verse Groove – Palm‑Muted Power

When the drums crash in, the guitar shifts to a brisk, palm‑muted rhythm on the low E and A strings. The chord progression is essentially:

Em   C   G   D

Strumming pattern (per measure): down‑down‑up‑up‑down‑up, with a tight mute on every downstroke. A couple of tips:

• Rest the side of your picking hand just behind the bridge – this gives you instant muting without sacrificing speed.
• Don’t lock into a mechanical pattern. Slightly vary the velocity of each stroke; the human element keeps the groove alive.
• Listen for the subtle, syncopated accent on the “&” of beat 2 – that’s where the song gains its uncanny push.

Lead Melody – Riding the Vocal Line

The lead part is where the track’s “haunted” character really shines. It sits mostly on the B and high E strings, weaving around the vocal melody with a mix of hammer‑ons, pull‑offs, and a few tasteful bends.

e|---8b10r8-7---5---7---8---10-8---7-|
B|-------------------8---------------|

Notice the bend from 8 to 10 on the high E string – you want a full‑step bend, then release cleanly back to 8. It’s a classic Ghost move that adds a touch of drama without sounding over‑the‑top.

Practice approach:

1. Isolate the bend and release; repeat until the pitch lands exactly on the target note.
2. Combine the bend with the subsequent hammer‑on/pull‑off pair, keeping the rhythm tight.
3. Play the whole phrase slowly with a metronome, then gradually increase speed in 5‑bpm increments.

Putting It All Together

Now that you’ve tackled each section separately, it’s time to stitch them into a seamless performance. Here’s a practical workflow:

• Sectional looping. Record a 4‑measure loop of the intro, then add the verse groove on top once you feel comfortable.
• Dynamic switching. When transitioning from the clean intro to the gritty verse, momentarily mute the amp, then re‑engage the gain – this mimics the studio’s natural build‑up.
• Feel over perfection. Ghost’s music thrives on atmosphere. If a note sounds a tad raw, that’s often more authentic than a polished, sterile take.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Even seasoned players stumble on a few recurring issues with this song:

• Over‑muting the lead. The lead line needs sustain; keep the palm‑mute only on the low strings during verses.
• Rushing the bends. Use a metronome to lock the bend duration to a quarter note – it prevents the phrase from sounding jagged.
• Neglecting the tremolo bar. A subtle dip at the end of each intro phrase adds the signature “ghostly” wobble. Skip it, and the vibe flattens.

Final Tips for a Convincing Cover

When you record or stream your cover, a few production tricks can boost the overall atmosphere:

• Layer a faint room reverb on the intro while keeping the verse dry.
• Add a slight tape‑saturation plugin to the rhythm tracks for that vintage warmth.
• Consider a tiny delay (single repeat) on the final lead note – it hints at the song’s haunting echo without overwhelming the mix.

With patience and a willingness to experiment, you’ll capture the eerie elegance of Infestissumam and maybe even add a personal twist. Grab your guitar, set the amp right, and let the spirit of Ghost guide your fingers.