'80s Rock Guitar Primer by Sam Bell

Immerse yourself in the electrifying world of '80s rock guitar with the comprehensive online course, '80s Rock Guitar Primer, meticulously crafted by Sam Bell. This course offers detailed, note-for-note explorations of some of the decade's most iconic riffs and solos, encompassing a wide range of techniques that defined the era. Whether you're a beginner eager to learn the basics or an intermediate player looking to refine your skills, this course is tailored to elevate your guitar prowess through structured lessons and hands-on practice.

Motley Crue's 'Looks That Kill'

Learn the quintessential elements of hard rock with Motley Crue’s 'Looks That Kill'. This lesson focuses on pedal tone riffs, where a constant bass note underpins the riff, providing a driving rhythm. Accented notes and power chords add a punchy, aggressive sound that captures the essence of the '80s rock scene. Mastering these techniques enhances your rhythmic precision and chordal power, essential for any rock guitarist.

Van Halen's 'Running with the Devil'

Dive into the innovative guitar style of Eddie Van Halen with 'Running with the Devil'. This lesson covers triad riffing, which involves playing three-note chords that are foundational in rock music. Chord hammer-ons and muted strumming introduce dynamic and rhythmic variety, while position shifting across the fretboard improves your agility and fretboard navigation. These techniques are vital for adding expressiveness and complexity to your playing.

Journey's 'Don't Stop Believing'

Journey’s anthem, 'Don’t Stop Believing', is explored through its use of the E major scale, perfect for developing melodic intuition. The lesson also enhances technique development, string bending, and pre-bends; essential for emotional expression in solos. Learning these techniques will help you create more expressive and impactful guitar solos, mirroring the soul-stirring leads of classic rock.

Whitesnake's 'Still of the Night'

Get gritty with the F# Blues scale through Whitesnake's 'Still of the Night'. This lesson focuses on pull-offs and string skipping, which are crucial for fluid, fast-paced solos. Isolating difficulties in tricky passages helps in mastering complex riffs. These skills are invaluable for adding speed and precision to your playing, giving you the tools to tackle advanced solos and improvisations.

Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer' Solo

The iconic solo from Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer' highlights the E minor scale, string bending, double stops, and speed bursts. These techniques are key to creating the high-energy, emotive solos typical of '80s rock hits. By mastering these, you’ll be able to inject spontaneity and flair into your solos, making them both powerful and memorable.

The Benefit of Performance Context

Each lesson in the '80s Rock Guitar Primer not only teaches you the techniques but also culminates in a full performance by tutor Sam Bell. Watching these performances allows you to see how each technique is applied in a real musical context, enhancing your understanding and appreciation of the music. It also provides a clear example of how to integrate these techniques fluidly into your playing, offering inspiration and a model for performance.

List of Guitar Techniques Used

• Power Chords
• Hammer-Ons
• Pull-Offs
• String Bending
• Double Stops
• Pre-Bends

By learning through the '80s Rock Guitar Primer, you not only gain technical skills but also develop a deeper connection with the music, enabling you to play with more feeling, accuracy, and confidence. Sign up today and start your journey to mastering the guitar like your rock heroes of the 1980s!