Four Kicks – Kings of Leon

If you’re a fan of gritty, garage-rock guitar and want to sharpen your rhythm and lead chops, then “Four Kicks” by Kings of Leon is an essential addition to your practice routine. At LickLibrary, we provide a note-for-note guitar lesson that takes you deep into the raw energy and tight playing style that defines this track. Our expert tutors guide you through the parts with precision, ensuring you not only learn the riffs and solos, but also understand the techniques that give them their unique character. Michael Casswell breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Song Overview

“Four Kicks” is a punchy, high-energy track taken from Kings of Leon’s 2004 album Aha Shake Heartbreak. The song showcases the band’s signature blend of Southern rock, garage attitude, and post-punk edge. Clocking in under three minutes, this track wastes no time delivering attitude through angular riffs, syncopated rhythms, and ferocious tone. It's a fantastic study for guitarists looking to explore tight rhythmic control, gritty riff work, and raw tonal expression.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

Our in-depth breakdown of "Four Kicks" gives you the opportunity to master several core guitar techniques that will elevate your playing and add stylistic flair to your own riffs and solos.

Palm Muting

Used extensively throughout the main riff sections of “Four Kicks”, palm muting creates a punchy, percussive tone that tightens up the sound and adds aggressive articulation. This technique involves lightly resting the picking hand on the strings near the bridge while picking, muting the strings slightly. Mastering palm muting helps with rhythmic precision and dynamic control—key elements in both rock and metal playing.

Power Chords

A staple of rock guitar, power chords are the building blocks of the rhythm guitar parts in “Four Kicks”. Their simplicity makes them easy to play, but their impact lies in how they're used rhythmically and tonally. Learning to control power chords within a high-energy song improves your riff construction, right-hand coordination, and overall timing.

String Bending

While the solos in "Four Kicks" may not be overly technical, the expressive use of string bending adds tons of attitude. String bending is a fundamental expressive tool that allows you to push notes to new pitches and emulate vocal qualities on the guitar. Practicing bends helps improve intonation, finger strength, and phrasing.

Slides

Guitar slides are sprinkled throughout the track and help connect notes with a seamless, fluid motion. Slide techniques enhance legato playing and offer a smooth, expressive feel when transitioning between notes or chords. They're also fantastic for creating momentum in solos or building drama in riff sections.

Syncopated Rhythms

“Four Kicks” doesn’t stick to straight-ahead rhythm playing. The song’s riff work features tight syncopated patterns that challenge your timing and right-hand discipline. Learning these syncopated riffs improves your ability to lock in with a drummer, internalise complex rhythms, and tighten up your groove—especially when playing in a band setting.

About the Guitarist

Matthew Followill, the lead guitarist of Kings of Leon, brings a raw, understated style to the band’s music that’s deeply rooted in blues, punk, and classic rock. Unlike overly flashy players, Followill focuses on tone, space, and phrasing, using fuzzed-out tones and angular licks to carve out a sound that’s unmistakably his own. His work on "Four Kicks" exemplifies how a guitarist can create maximum impact with minimalist, purposeful playing. Learning from his style gives you insight into serving the song, not just the solo, and teaches you to craft guitar parts that stand out while staying in the pocket.

Benefits of Learning This Song

Taking on “Four Kicks” in our step-by-step LickLibrary lesson offers several musical benefits:

• You’ll gain confidence in your rhythm playing, developing the control needed to make tight riffs sound clean and punchy.
• You’ll explore essential rock guitar techniques like string bending, palm muting, and syncopated rhythms.
• You’ll enhance your timing and groove, learning to play precisely while maintaining the song's raw energy.
• You’ll gain stylistic insight into how minimalist rock guitar can be powerful and expressive.
• The song is also a great performance piece to add to your repertoire, with memorable riffs and engaging energy.

Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• String Bending
• Slides
• Syncopated Rhythms

Whether you’re looking to expand your technique, understand how to build compelling rock riffs, or simply want to jam along to one of Kings of Leon’s most electrifying tracks, our “Four Kicks” guitar lesson is a must-watch. Let LickLibrary help you unlock the gritty power and rhythmic drive that make this song a modern rock essential.