Bad Boys by Whitesnake

Step into the electrifying world of ‘80s hard rock with our note-for-note breakdown of Bad Boys by Whitesnake. This track, featured on their seminal 1987 self-titled album, is an explosive showcase of virtuosic guitar work, aggressive riffs, and killer technique—making it a goldmine for guitarists eager to level up their skills. At LickLibrary.com, we’ve dissected every lick and nuance of this classic to bring you an immersive guitar lesson that not only teaches the song but also the powerful techniques behind it. Danny Gill breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Song and the Players

Bad Boys is driven by the dual guitar attack of John Sykes and Adrian Vandenberg—though Sykes is credited with most of the guitar work on the album. Known for his incendiary playing style, Sykes blends melodic phrasing with blistering shred runs and ferocious tone. His influence on hard rock and metal guitar is immense, with his work on Whitesnake’s 1987 album regarded as one of the defining sounds of the genre. He brings a blend of precision, feel, and raw energy that continues to inspire guitarists worldwide. Adrian Vandenberg, a technically proficient and melodically sensitive player, complemented this aggressive style with harmonised leads and tasteful textures, adding to the dynamic sound of the band.

Key Guitar Techniques in This Lesson

String Bending and Bluesy Bends

Throughout Bad Boys, expressive string bending is used to bring phrases to life, often pushing into bluesy bends that add emotional weight and edge. These bends are essential for building vocal-like expressiveness and are a hallmark of classic rock and metal soloing. Mastering this technique will improve your control, ear, and vibrato application.

Alternate Picking

Speed and accuracy are showcased through rapid alternate picking runs. The song features quick-fire descending licks that demand tight synchronisation between both hands. Practicing this technique builds speed and precision, enabling you to play fast passages cleanly without relying solely on legato.

Legato and Hammer-ons/Pull-offs

Sykes uses smooth legato phrasing throughout his solos, especially through cascading hammer-ons and pull-offs. This creates a fluid, seamless sound and trains your fret-hand strength and independence, crucial for advanced soloing.

Pinched Harmonics

Few sounds scream '80s rock like pinched harmonics. These squealing overtones are peppered throughout the track and are especially effective in adding attitude to the rhythm sections. Learning this technique helps with right-hand precision and tonal variety.

Unison Bends and Double Stop Bends

The lesson explores expressive unison bends and intense double-stop bends, a favourite in classic rock for delivering thick, harmonised lines with aggression. These bends build finger strength and ear training, sharpening your pitch control.

Palm Muting and Power Chords

The chugging rhythm guitars are locked in with tight palm muting and heavy power chords, giving the track its punchy, aggressive foundation. These rhythm techniques are foundational for rock and metal guitarists, improving your rhythmic accuracy and dynamic control.

Dive Bombs and Whammy Bar Tricks

True to the era, Bad Boys features expressive dive bombs and whammy bar tricks. These effects add drama and flair to solos, requiring precise whammy bar control and a strong understanding of pitch manipulation.

Vibrato

Sykes’ signature vibrato is wide, controlled, and full of character. This expressive tool adds emotion and sustain to both slow melodic lines and faster runs. Developing a solid vibrato enhances your overall tone and helps your playing sound more professional and distinctive.

Slides and Trills

Guitar phrases in the lesson are made more dynamic with slides between notes and quick-fire trills. These details improve phrasing fluidity and dexterity, offering more tools to bring solos to life.

Why You Should Learn This Song

Learning Bad Boys offers more than just the satisfaction of mastering a Whitesnake classic. It’s a crash course in hard rock guitar fundamentals, packed with advanced soloing techniques, rhythm precision, and expressive phrasing. Each lick and riff in this song is a building block toward better technique, stage-worthy tone, and musical confidence.

Our lesson walks you through every section of the song with slow demos, detailed explanations, and tab support, making it easy to follow along whether you're an advanced intermediate or a seasoned player looking to tighten your chops.

Guitar Techniques Featured in the Lesson

• String Bending
• Bluesy Bends
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Pinched Harmonics
• Unison Bends
• Double Stop Bends
• Palm Muting
• Power Chords
• Dive Bombs
• Whammy Bar Tricks
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Trills