Paradise City - Guns N' Roses

Step into the vibrant and high-energy world of Paradise City by Guns N' Roses with our in-depth, note-for-note guitar lesson at LickLibrary.com. This iconic track from the legendary album Appetite for Destruction is a masterclass in hard rock guitar playing, offering a rich array of techniques and musicality that will both challenge and inspire guitarists of all levels.

Whether you're aiming to capture the soaring intro riff, the blistering solos, or the gritty rhythm work, this lesson delivers a detailed breakdown of every guitar part. Our experienced tutors guide you through each section with precision and clarity, ensuring you not only play the parts correctly but also understand the techniques behind the music. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarists

Paradise City showcases the unmistakable guitar work of Slash and Izzy Stradlin, whose dynamic interplay defined much of Guns N' Roses’ early sound. Slash, known for his expressive phrasing, blues-influenced licks, and emotive bends, delivers solos packed with flair and fire. Izzy, on the other hand, anchors the track with solid rhythm work and clever chord voicings, making the dual-guitar arrangement both tight and melodically rich.

Their influence on rock guitar cannot be overstated—Slash’s style blends technical skill with raw emotion, and Izzy’s rhythm playing adds depth and drive. Together, they created a blueprint for countless rock bands that followed.

Song Breakdown & Techniques

Opening Riff and Verse Rhythms

The instantly recognisable intro riff uses power chords, open-string riffs, and alternate picking to create a driving momentum. This section is a great workout for precision picking and right-hand coordination.

Benefits: Learning this riff will improve your timing and control when using open strings, as well as enhance your rhythm chops with steady downstroke and alternate picking control.

Chorus Chord Progressions

The chorus relies on energetic chord progressions with ringing open chords and a strong rhythmic pulse. The transitions are quick and demand accurate fretting and strumming.

Benefits: This teaches chord fluency and strengthens fret-hand stamina, vital for any rhythm guitarist.

Slash's First Guitar Solo

This solo is filled with expressive string bending, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides that require fluid technique and attention to detail. Slash’s melodic sensibility shines here, and the phrasing needs to be executed with feel, not just precision.

Benefits: You'll learn to connect scales musically and increase finger dexterity while exploring melodic solo construction.

Middle Breakdown Section

Here, the tempo changes and the playing becomes more atmospheric. Expect palm muting and sustain to play a big role, along with double stops and expressive vibrato.

Benefits: This section helps develop dynamic control and tone shaping, key components in creating musical tension and release.

Final Solo and Outro

The closing solo explodes with Slash’s signature bluesy bends, fast legato runs, and fierce unison bends. There’s also tasteful use of pinched harmonics and intricate double-stop bends that demand precision.

Benefits: This part sharpens your soloing vocabulary, improves pitch accuracy, and teaches you how to add emotional weight to your playing.

Guitar Techniques Used in 'Paradise City'

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Double-Stop Bends
• Unison Bends
• Pinched Harmonics
• Chord Progressions
• Pull-Offs
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Hammer-Ons
• Double Stops
• Slides
• Sustain
• String Bending
• Open-String Riffs
• Bluesy Bends

Explore our Paradise City lesson today and take a deep dive into the tone, feel, and techniques of one of the most iconic guitar-driven tracks in rock history. Whether you're looking to expand your technique or emulate your guitar heroes, this lesson is an essential addition to your practice routine.