It's My Life - Bon Jovi

Master Bon Jovi's anthemic hit "It's My Life" with our in-depth guitar lesson! Released in 2000, this song continues to energise rock fans worldwide, thanks to its powerful guitar riffs and unforgettable chorus. Our lesson focuses on the core techniques used by Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi's legendary guitarist, and is perfect for guitarists of all levels who want to sharpen their skills while learning a rock classic. Richard Shaw breaks down this classic 2000s era Bon Jovi track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

About the Guitarist: Richie Sambora

Richie Sambora is one of the key elements behind Bon Jovi's signature sound. Known for his versatility, Sambora combines melody, power, and technique seamlessly. He helped shape the sound of modern rock guitar by integrating both classic rock and modern techniques into his playing. Sambora’s guitar work on “It’s My Life” incorporates elements of tight rhythm playing and emotive lead lines, making it a great song for guitarists who want to balance rhythm and lead techniques. Learning his style will not only help you master this track but also give you a deeper understanding of rock guitar essentials.

Song Breakdown and Guitar Techniques

Intro and Verse Riffs

The song opens with an iconic open-string riff that immediately grabs the listener’s attention. This technique uses open strings alongside fretted notes, adding a rich, resonant quality to the riff. Learning to incorporate open strings in riffs is a great way to add texture to your playing while maintaining simplicity.

During the verse sections, palm-muted power chords form the backbone of the rhythm. Power chords are a fundamental technique in rock, providing the solid, driving force behind many classic riffs. Adding palm muting to these power chords gives the song its tight and controlled rhythmic foundation, which builds anticipation for the high-energy chorus. By mastering these techniques, you’ll improve your ability to create dynamic rhythm parts with punch and precision.

Pre-Chorus and Chorus

As the song transitions into the pre-chorus, alternate picking comes into play. This technique involves picking alternately up and down, creating a fluid motion that enhances speed and accuracy. In “It’s My Life,” alternate picking ensures the riffs remain tight and punchy, even at faster tempos. For any guitarist, learning alternate picking is crucial for maintaining clean, fast playing across both rhythm and lead sections.

In the chorus, you’ll notice a switch to open power chords, where the palm muting is lifted, allowing the guitar to ring out more fully. This shift adds dynamic contrast and creates the song's anthem-like quality. Power chords are vital for any rock guitarist, and knowing when to play them muted versus open will help you shape the energy of your performances.

Bridge Section

The bridge of the song introduces some expressive lead guitar work. Here, string bending takes the spotlight. String bends allow you to raise the pitch of a note for added emotion and tension. In this song, bending notes adds a vocal-like quality to the lead lines, which pairs perfectly with Bon Jovi’s soaring vocals. Learning to bend notes correctly gives you greater expressive control over your playing, allowing you to add more feeling to your solos and melodic lines.

Additionally, vibrato is used in the bridge to add character to sustained notes. Vibrato is the slight modulation of pitch that gives notes a “shimmering” quality. When done right, vibrato makes your guitar playing sound more professional and polished, as it gives depth to sustained notes, helping them stand out in the mix.

Solo Breakdown

Richie Sambora’s solo in “It’s My Life” showcases his signature style with the use of pinched harmonics. These high-pitched squeals add intensity and character to specific notes, giving the solo a cutting edge. Mastering pinched harmonics can take your lead playing to the next level, helping you stand out during key moments in your solos.

The solo also incorporates slides between notes, which adds smoothness and flow to the phrasing. Using slides is an effective way to create a seamless connection between notes, adding fluidity and legato qualities to your playing.

Outro

The outro of “It’s My Life” reinforces the techniques learned throughout the song, particularly with the return of power chords and alternate picking. By this point in the song, you’ll have mastered the combination of tight rhythm playing and expressive lead work, bringing the track to a strong, dynamic finish.

Guitar Techniques Used in "It's My Life"

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Open-String Riffs
• Pinched Harmonics
• Slides
• String Bending

With these techniques, you'll not only nail the nuances of "It's My Life" but also expand your guitar repertoire for rock songs in general. These techniques are staples of rock guitar, and learning them will significantly improve your playing. Jump into the lesson today and start rocking out like Richie Sambora!

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• Power Chords
• Barre Chords
• String Bending

Embrace the opportunity to expand your guitar skills and express your musicality with LickLibrary's expert tutorials. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, "It's My Life" presents the perfect challenge to refine your technique and enhance your playing style.