Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar

Learn how to play “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar with our detailed, note-for-note guitar lesson at Licklibrary.com. This classic 1980s anthem, filled with hard rock riffs and melodic solos, is an essential track for any guitarist looking to master punchy rhythm playing and expressive lead techniques. In this lesson, you’ll learn every lick, riff, and chord change just as performed in the original recording. More than just learning a song, you’ll gain insight into a host of fundamental and expressive guitar techniques that are crucial for rock guitar playing. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Song Overview

“Hit Me With Your Best Shot” became one of Pat Benatar’s signature hits, blending infectious hooks with a powerful vocal performance. The guitar work, performed by Neil Giraldo, is a masterclass in economical, hook-driven rock playing. His tone, phrasing, and command over essential rock techniques make this song a perfect study piece for intermediate and advanced guitarists alike.

About the Guitarist – Neil Giraldo

Neil Giraldo, also known as “Spyder,” is more than just Pat Benatar’s long-time guitarist—he’s her musical partner and the co-writer of many of her hits. Giraldo’s playing style blends melody with punch, focusing on catchy riffs, dynamic rhythm guitar, and tight, articulate solos. His influence can be heard across the entire Benatar catalogue, and he is widely respected for his ability to combine technical precision with emotional expression. Studying his guitar work on “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” offers valuable insight into 1980s rock guitar vocabulary and songwriting.

Guitar Techniques Explored in the Lesson

Power Chords

Power chords form the backbone of this track's rhythm guitar section. Learning to play them cleanly and rhythmically tight is crucial for any rock guitarist. These chords are ideal for developing hand strength and picking accuracy, and they’re widely used in rock, punk, and metal.

Palm Muting

Used throughout the verse sections, palm muting adds a percussive edge to your rhythm playing. It helps control dynamics and tighten your groove, making your playing more articulate and focused.

Alternate Picking

In the solo section, alternate picking ensures speed and precision. Developing this technique is essential for efficient picking and for increasing your overall lead guitar fluency.

String Bending

Giraldo’s solo includes expressive string bends that add vocal-like quality to his lead lines. Mastering this technique improves pitch control and enhances your musical phrasing.

Slides

Slides connect melodic phrases smoothly and contribute to the fluidity of the solo. This expressive tool can help your solos feel more dynamic and less mechanical.

Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs

Used in melodic fills and solo licks, these legato techniques are essential for creating flowing, fast passages without excessive picking. They increase finger strength and speed while enhancing phrasing.

Vibrato

Giraldo applies tasteful vibrato on sustained notes in the solo, which adds emotion and personality. Learning vibrato is key to making your lead lines sing rather than sound flat or lifeless.

Double Stops

The use of double stops in this track creates a richer, more harmonically complex texture during fills and solos. This technique expands your harmonic vocabulary and is great for improvisation.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

Each of the above techniques contributes to making you a more versatile, expressive guitarist. By working through this lesson, you’ll:

• Build solid rhythm guitar skills through tight power chord and palm-muted sections.
• Develop lead fluency with techniques like alternate picking, string bending, and hammer-ons.
• Gain musical expression through vibrato, double stops, and slides.
• Learn how to construct solos that are both melodic and technically effective.
• Understand how to combine rhythm and lead elements seamlessly within a song.

Whether you're aiming to master classic rock guitar, improve your tone, or tighten your technique, this lesson offers everything you need to elevate your playing.

Guitar Techniques Featured in This Lesson

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

Explore “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” today at LickLibrary.com and gain real-world guitar skills by learning one of rock’s most iconic tracks – note for note.