Slippery When Wet: A Guitarist's Guide to Bon Jovi's Seminal Album

"Slippery When Wet" is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released in 1986. This album propelled the band to global fame, with hits like "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Livin' on a Prayer," and "Wanted Dead or Alive." Featuring powerful vocals, catchy melodies, and impressive guitar work, it remains an iconic album in rock history.

In this comprehensive Bon Jovi guitar lesson course, Jamie Humphries takes you through a full breakdown of Richie Sambora’s guitar parts from each song on the album. From each classic riff to every lick of those fiery solos, so you can truly recreate the guitar playing featured on this 80’s rock guitar masterpiece.This in-depth analysis will focus on the guitar contributions from lead guitarist Richie Sambora, examining the techniques used in each song, scales, solo analysis, and more.

Richie Sambora's Contributions

Richie Sambora is the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for Bon Jovi. He brings a bluesy, soulful approach to the band's hard rock sound. Throughout "Slippery When Wet," Sambora's playing combines technical proficiency and emotive expression, demonstrating a wide range of techniques, such as vibrato, alternate picking, and legato. His solos are memorable and melodic, often using tapped harmonics, double-stop bends, and unison bends to create a unique sound.

1. Let It Rock

"Let It Rock" starts with a keyboard intro, transitioning into a heavy riff using power chords. Sambora employs palm muting to add percussive texture. The solo begins with a tremolo-picked melody, followed by a series of rapid-fire pull-offs and hammer-ons. The solo concludes with a blazing alternate-picked ascending run in the Mixolydian mode.

2. You Give Love a Bad Name

This song features a memorable opening riff utilising slides and power chords. The verses and choruses use open chords with a syncopated rhythm, making use of syncopated rhythms technique. The solo begins with a double-stop lick and then moves into a melodic lead line using the Aeolian mode. Sambora uses string bending and vibrato to give the solo an expressive, bluesy quality.

3. Livin' on a Prayer

This classic hit features a catchy, memorable riff utilising open-string riffs and palm muting techniques. The verses are driven by muted power chords and octaves, while the chorus employs open chords for a more expansive sound. The solo showcases Sambora's use of String Bending and Tremolo Picking to create a soaring, emotional lead. The solo is based on the Dorian mode and features a series of melodic bends and octave melodies that build intensity.

4. Social Disease

"Social Disease" starts with a galloping rhythm, employing galloping rhythms technique, and a sleazy blues-rock riff in the Mixolydian mode. The verses are driven by power chords and palm-muted pedal tones, while the chorus features open chords and syncopated rhythms. The solo showcases Sambora's blues influences, using bluesy bends, double-stop bends, and trills to create a raw, aggressive sound.

5. Wanted Dead or Alive

This iconic ballad begins with an arpeggiated chord progression on a 12-string guitar, using the arpeggiated chord progressions technique. The verses feature a combination of fingerpicking and Travis picking, showcasing Sambora's finger-picking and Travis picking skills. The electric guitar in the choruses uses power chords and barre chords to build intensity. The solo is a melodic and emotive piece, featuring String Bending, pinched harmonics, and sustain to create a memorable lead line.

6. Raise Your Hands

"Raise Your Hands" is an energetic anthem featuring a driving rhythm using power chords and palm muting. The verses use syncopated rhythms to create a dynamic, upbeat feel. The solo is a rapid-fire display of Sambora's technical abilities, employing alternate picking, legato, and sweep picking. The solo also features a section of two-handed tapping and dive bombs, showcasing Sambora's versatility as a guitarist.

7. Without Love

"Without Love" is a mid-tempo ballad featuring a clean, arpeggiated electric guitar intro using the arpeggios technique. The verses and choruses use a combination of open chords and barre chords, creating a lush harmonic backdrop for the vocals. The solo is a melodic and expressive showcase of Sambora's skills, utilising string bending, vibrato, and octave melodies to convey emotion. The solo is primarily based on the Aeolian mode and features some tasteful chromaticism for added colour.

8. I'd Die for You

"I'd Die for You" is a powerful, driving rock song that begins with an aggressive, palm-muted riff using palm muting technique. The verses and choruses use power chords and syncopated rhythms, with Sambora employing galloping rhythms for added intensity. The solo is a high-energy affair, showcasing Sambora's technical prowess with rapid alternate picking, legato, and sweep picking. Sambora also makes use of pinched harmonics and whammy bar tricks to add flair to the solo.

9. Never Say Goodbye

This heartfelt ballad begins with a clean, arpeggiated electric guitar intro, employing the arpeggiated chord progressions technique. The verses feature finger-picking and Travis picking, while the choruses use open chords for a full, rich sound. The solo is melodic and emotional, highlighting Sambora's ability to convey feeling through his playing. He uses string bending, vibrato, and slides to create a memorable lead line.

10. Wild in the Streets

"Wild in the Streets" is an upbeat, anthemic rock song featuring a catchy, driving riff using power chords and palm muting. The verses and choruses utilize open chords and syncopated rhythms, creating a lively, energetic feel. The solo is a high-octane display of Sambora's technical skills, including alternate picking, legato, and sweep picking. Sambora also incorporates tapped harmonics and unison bends to add excitement and variety to the solo.

Guitar Techniques Used in "Slippery When Wet"

Throughout the album, Sambora employs a variety of guitar techniques to craft a diverse and engaging soundscape. Some of the key techniques used include:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Tapped Harmonics
• Double-Stop Bends
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Trills
• Tremolo Picking
• Arpeggios
• Dive Bombs
• Harmonics
• Pull-Offs
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Barre Chords
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Sweep Picking
• Slides
• String Bending
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Open-String Riffs
• Whammy Bar Tricks
• Bluesy Bends
• Octave Melodies
• Galloping Rhythms