Sticky Sweet – Motley Crue

Dive into the sleazy glam metal energy of Sticky Sweet by Mötley Crüe with our comprehensive note-for-note guitar lesson. This track is a shining example of the band’s signature blend of groove-driven hard rock, catchy riffs, and fiery lead work. At Licklibrary.com, we break down every detail of the guitar parts, focusing on the techniques that make this song a standout in Mötley Crüe’s discography. Whether you’re a seasoned shredder or an advancing intermediate player, this lesson will deepen your technical vocabulary and expand your rock guitar chops. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Song Breakdown and Guitar Techniques

Power-Packed Riffs and Palm Muting

The track kicks off with a gritty, low-end riff typical of ‘80s LA metal. It’s built around power chords and heavy use of palm-muting, offering players an excellent chance to tighten their right-hand control. Palm muting adds percussive dynamics and groove to the riff, which is crucial in keeping the rhythm section locked in.

Why it’s important: Mastering palm muting helps with muting unwanted string noise and creating tonal variation within riffs—perfect for both rhythm and lead players.

Lead Lines with Bite – Vibrato, Bends, and Slides

The lead guitar work in Sticky Sweet is a masterclass in expressive phrasing. Expect wide string bending, dramatic vibrato, and smooth slides, all of which enhance the vocal-like quality of each lick.

Why it’s important: These techniques develop your ability to phrase like a singer. Proper vibrato and bending also improve intonation and make your solos more emotive and powerful.

Tapped Harmonics and Whammy Bar Tricks

Nailing the subtle flair of tapped harmonics adds flash and attitude to the solo sections. Additionally, the whammy bar is used for both dive bombs and more subtle pitch modulation, showcasing another layer of ‘80s metal guitar theatrics.

Why it’s important: These techniques boost your stage presence and help you explore the more expressive side of electric guitar tone manipulation.

Pinched Harmonics and Bluesy Bends

Throughout the track, the lead guitar player injects tasteful pinched harmonics and soulful bluesy bends, adding attitude and aggression to the solo. These sounds cut through the mix and add a snarling edge to the playing.

Why it’s important: These elements add stylistic flair and aggression to your tone. Learning to control them opens doors to rock, metal, and blues lead styles.

Two-Handed Tapping and Legato Runs

The solo climaxes with fast two-handed tapping sequences, blending seamlessly into fluid legato passages. These licks combine speed and smooth articulation for a truly jaw-dropping finish.

Why it’s important: Two-handed tapping and legato are staples of shred guitar. They improve fretboard fluency and allow for extended phrases that are difficult to play with alternate picking alone.

About the Guitarist – Mick Mars

Mick Mars is the sonic architect behind Mötley Crüe’s gritty tone and aggressive riffs. Known for his dark, blues-influenced style, Mars fused raw energy with technical savvy. In Sticky Sweet, you can hear his signature touch—a combination of powerful rhythm playing and searing leads that are never overplayed. His influence on the glam metal genre cannot be overstated, bringing blues soul into the otherwise polished and theatrical world of ‘80s metal. Mars has inspired generations of guitarists with his no-nonsense tone, memorable riffs, and economical but expressive soloing.

Summary

Our Sticky Sweet guitar lesson at LickLibrary offers a deep dive into one of Mötley Crüe’s most electrifying tracks. Players will gain practical experience with a broad array of techniques, from palm-muted riffs and expressive bends to flashier tricks like tapping and harmonics. This lesson is perfect for players looking to channel the raw energy of ‘80s metal while developing skills that transfer across rock and metal genres.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Vibrato
• Palm-Muting
• Power Chords
• String Bending
• Slides
• Tapped Harmonics
• Dive Bombs
• Pinched Harmonics
• Bluesy Bends
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Legato

Learn each technique step-by-step with us at Licklibrary.com and take your guitar playing to the next level.