"Firehouse" by KISS: Guitar Lesson

Ah, "Firehouse" by KISS! If you're a fan of classic rock and dynamic live performances, you can't go past this song. Featured on their groundbreaking 1975 live album, 'Alive!', "Firehouse" is a cornerstone of KISS's extensive repertoire and a great song for guitarists to sink their teeth into. Danny Gill shows you everything you need to know in this exclusive Lick Library video lesson.

Chord Progressions and Scales

KISS has always been about power chords and straightforward rock'n'roll progressions. "Firehouse" is mostly based around an E power chord, moving to A and then B. It doesn't get simpler than that, but sometimes less is more. You can easily get a powerful sound just by letting these chords ring.

The scales used here are equally straightforward. Most of the riffing and soloing work is based around the E Minor Pentatonic scale. Occasional sprinklings of the E Blues scale can be heard, especially in the solo, adding some character and flavour to the overall sound.

Guitar Solo Analysis

Let's talk about Ace Frehley's solo. The Spaceman! He never was one for speed or excessive technique, but man, could he make a guitar speak! The solo in "Firehouse" starts with a classic Ace bend, bringing it up slow before releasing it into a run down the E minor pentatonic scale. It's not about speed; it's about feel. And Ace nails it every time.

The phrasing is quintessential Ace Frehley: A lot of bends, some double stops, and a couple of pull-offs here and there. He doesn't reinvent the wheel, but he ensures that every note counts. Notice how he returns to the root note E occasionally, keeping the solo grounded in the overall context of the song.

Ace Frehley's Signature Style

Ace Frehley's style has always been about making simple things sound huge. His tone is massive, usually leaning on a Les Paul through a Marshall stack to get that chunky, creamy sound. He often employs double stops in his riffs to make a single guitar sound like a pair. He loves his trills, often uses slight palm muting to bring texture, and can dive-bomb with the best of them using his whammy bar. But what always stands out is his vibrato. It's not too fast, not too slow—it's just right.

Techniques

Now, for those of you who want to get right into the mechanics, here's a list of techniques you'll find in this track:

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Double Stop Bends
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Pull-Offs
• Hammer-Ons
• Slides
• String Bending

You may also notice a few other techniques, but these are the dominant ones that make "Firehouse" such a joy to play and listen to.

So, there you have it. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner looking to dive into classic rock, "Firehouse" offers something for everyone. It's a study in making straightforward techniques sound larger-than-life, a testament to Ace Frehley's enduring impact on rock guitar. So plug in, turn up, and rock out. "Firehouse" awaits you.