Learn to Play "Dream Warriors" by Dokken

At Licklibrary.com, our note-for-note guitar lesson for "Dream Warriors" by Dokken is your gateway into the virtuosic world of George Lynch — one of the most iconic and influential guitarists of the 1980s. Known for his lightning-fast licks, signature tone, and a creative fusion of melody and aggression, Lynch’s playing in "Dream Warriors" showcases a treasure trove of guitar techniques that every rock and metal guitarist can benefit from mastering.

In this detailed lesson, we break down "Dream Warriors" section by section, giving you the tools to replicate the distinctive lead and rhythm work George Lynch delivers throughout the track. Whether you're an intermediate player looking to elevate your technical vocabulary or an advanced guitarist refining your style, this lesson is a goldmine of actionable instruction and musical inspiration. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist: George Lynch

George Lynch, best known as the lead guitarist for Dokken and later Lynch Mob, carved a unique niche in the glam metal era with his soulful phrasing, technical prowess, and unconventional note choices. His playing is both aggressive and fluid, often mixing pentatonic-based licks with exotic scales and dramatic vibrato. "Dream Warriors," the theme song for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, stands out as one of his most memorable performances, capturing both his melodic sense and high-octane shred style. His influence has inspired countless guitarists across hard rock, metal, and shred guitar circles.

Song Breakdown and Techniques Covered

Intro and Verse Riffs

The intro sets the tone with crunchy power chords and tight palm-muted rhythms. This gives players a practical way to develop right-hand control and left-hand synchronisation. Practicing these parts refines your ability to lock into a groove and deliver punchy, articulate rhythm guitar playing.

Benefits: Tightens rhythm playing, improves muting accuracy, and builds dynamic control.

Main Riff and Verse Accents

The main riff introduces string bending, subtle slides, and vibrato, showcasing Lynch’s expressive touch. These techniques add life and emotion to even the heaviest riffs and are essential for building a personal voice on the guitar.

Benefits: Enhances expressiveness, trains intonation, and improves fretboard fluidity.

Pre-Chorus and Chorus Sections

These sections make use of double stops and unison bends, staples of 80s rock lead playing. The use of pinched harmonics adds a screaming edge to selected notes, helping students develop control over harmonics and articulation.

Benefits: Builds bending strength, improves pitch control, and adds tonal variety.

Guitar Solo Breakdown

George Lynch's solo in "Dream Warriors" is a masterclass in 80s shred vocabulary. It features alternate picking, rapid-fire legato runs, tapped harmonics, and even a few whammy bar tricks like dive bombs. This section is ideal for players looking to break into advanced lead guitar techniques.

Benefits: Increases speed and stamina, trains hybrid technique execution, and opens creative soloing options.

Outro and Embellishments

Toward the end of the track, Lynch combines pull-offs, hammer-ons, and trills, creating an intricate but musical finish to the solo. These techniques are essential for fluid legato phrasing and melodic improvisation.

Benefits: Strengthens finger independence, enhances musical phrasing, and improves overall legato playing.

Why Learn "Dream Warriors"?

Learning this track not only allows you to play one of George Lynch’s most iconic guitar performances, but also helps you internalise a wide range of advanced rock guitar techniques in a musical context. Each riff and lick serves a musical purpose and provides real-world application for the techniques you’re learning.

Whether you're playing to improve, to perform, or simply to challenge yourself, "Dream Warriors" offers a highly rewarding learning experience. With Licklibrary's accurate transcriptions and professional step-by-step guidance, you’ll be equipped to play this classic with confidence and style.

Techniques Covered in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Tapped Harmonics
• Double Stops
• Double Stop Bends
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Trills
• Dive Bombs
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Slides
• Whammy Bar Tricks
• String Bending

Ready to master the fretboard like George Lynch? Dive into our Dream Warriors guitar lesson today and elevate your playing to metal legend status.