Creatures Of The Night – Kiss

In this note-for-note Creatures Of The Night guitar lesson, Sam Bell dives deep into one of KISS’s heaviest and most aggressive recordings. Released at a time when the band leaned hard into a darker, more powerful metal sound, this track is a masterclass in tight rhythm guitar, driving downpicked riffs, and searing lead work that cuts through with attitude and precision. The lesson breaks down every guitar part in detail, giving players a complete understanding of how the song is constructed and how each technique contributes to its relentless energy.

From the opening riff through to the explosive lead lines, this tutorial focuses on accuracy, tone, and feel. You’ll learn how the guitars lock in with the drums to create that unmistakable, pounding groove, while also developing the control needed to execute expressive lead phrases that sit perfectly on top of a dense mix. Whether you’re a classic rock player moving into heavier territory or a metal guitarist looking to refine your fundamentals, this lesson offers essential skills you can apply far beyond this song.

Rhythm Guitar Techniques and Approach

At the heart of Creatures Of The Night is a rhythm guitar style that’s all about precision and power. The lesson breaks down the main riffs and verse sections note for note, focusing on how the picking hand and fretting hand work together to maintain clarity at high energy levels.

Alternate picking is used extensively throughout the song to maintain speed and consistency. Learning to alternate pick these riffs cleanly helps develop right-hand efficiency and endurance, allowing players to tackle faster passages without tension or fatigue.

Palm muting plays a crucial role in shaping the song’s aggressive tone. By controlling how much the strings are dampened near the bridge, you’ll learn how to create tight, percussive riffs that punch through the mix while still retaining clarity and definition.

Power chords form the backbone of the rhythm parts. This lesson shows how to voice and move these shapes efficiently across the neck, reinforcing strong timing and helping you build confidence in heavy rock and metal rhythm playing.

Galloping rhythms appear in several driving sections of the song. Mastering this rhythmic feel improves your sense of timing and stamina, making it easier to lock in with a drummer and maintain momentum across extended riff passages.

Lead Guitar Techniques and Expression

The lead guitar work in Creatures Of The Night is bold, aggressive, and full of character. This lesson carefully dissects each lead phrase, focusing on the techniques that give the solos their unmistakable bite.

String bending is central to the solo’s vocal-like quality. You’ll learn how to hit pitch accurately and consistently, improving your intonation and expressive control across all styles of lead playing.

Vibrato is used to add sustain and emotion to held notes. Developing a controlled, even vibrato helps notes sing and gives your solos a more professional, confident sound.

Slides connect phrases smoothly across the fretboard, helping you navigate positions fluidly. Practising these slides builds fretboard awareness and creates a more polished, flowing lead style.

Pinched harmonics are used to inject attitude and aggression into key moments. Learning how to reliably produce these harmonics enhances your dynamic range and gives your playing that classic hard-rock edge.

Tremolo picking appears in faster lead passages, demanding precision and stamina. This technique strengthens picking-hand control and allows you to articulate rapid notes clearly at higher tempos.

Harmonics and controlled sustain add texture and drama to sustained notes. Understanding how gain, vibrato, and picking attack interact helps you shape longer notes with confidence and authority.

Guitarists and Their Influence

The guitar work on Creatures Of The Night is primarily credited to Paul Stanley and Vinnie Vincent, whose combined styles helped define this heavier era of KISS. Paul Stanley’s tight, aggressive rhythm playing anchors the track with authority, while Vinnie Vincent’s fiery lead work introduced a more overtly metal approach, packed with speed, attitude, and technical flair. Vincent’s influence can be heard in his fearless use of aggressive picking, expressive bends, and high-energy phrasing—elements that inspired a generation of 1980s metal guitarists.

Why Learn This Song?

Learning Creatures Of The Night isn’t just about mastering a classic KISS track—it’s about building core rock and metal guitar skills. This lesson strengthens your rhythm precision, improves your picking stamina, and sharpens your lead technique, all within the context of a real, performance-ready song. The techniques explored here translate directly into countless hard rock and metal styles, making this an invaluable addition to any guitarist’s repertoire.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Alternate Picking
• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Galloping Rhythms
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Pinched Harmonics
• Tremolo Picking
• Harmonics
• Sustain
• Whammy Bar Tricks