Learn to Play "1985" by Bowling For Soup: Note-For-Note Guitar Lesson

Bowling For Soup’s "1985" is a pop-punk anthem that resonates with its catchy melodies and energetic guitar work. At LickLibrary, we offer a detailed, note-for-note guitar lesson for this song, giving you the opportunity to learn every part of the track exactly as it’s played by the band. In this lesson, we focus on breaking down the various techniques employed in the song, helping guitarists of all levels improve their skills while mastering a fan-favourite. Richard Shaw breaks down this pop-punk classic in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitarist Overview: Jaret Reddick and Chris Burney

The guitar work in "1985" is primarily driven by Bowling For Soup’s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, Jaret Reddick, and lead guitarist, Chris Burney. These two musicians bring a powerful combination of driving rhythm and catchy leads that define the signature pop-punk sound of the band. Both Reddick and Burney draw inspiration from classic punk and rock bands like Green Day and Blink-182, contributing to their energetic playing style. Their guitar work is not only memorable but also packed with techniques that offer a fantastic learning experience for guitarists.

Guitar Techniques Featured in "1985"

Power Chords

At the heart of the song’s rhythm, power chords provide the punchy, driving sound that characterises pop-punk music. Power chords are a staple in many rock songs because of their simplicity and versatility. By focusing on this technique, you'll be able to build a solid foundation for playing many other songs across various genres. Learning power chords also helps in understanding the relationship between root notes and the fifth, which is crucial for constructing more complex chord progressions.

Palm Muting

To enhance the percussive feel of the rhythm, palm muting is used extensively in the verses of "1985". This technique involves resting the side of your picking hand on the strings near the bridge, creating a muted, rhythmic sound. Palm muting is a key technique for adding dynamics and creating contrast between sections of a song. Mastering palm muting will allow you to control the intensity of your playing and add texture to your riffs.

String Bending

During the song's lead breaks, you'll encounter string bending to give the melodies a more expressive, vocal-like quality. Bending allows guitarists to raise the pitch of a note by pushing or pulling the string across the fretboard. Learning string bends will not only improve your finger strength but also increase your control over pitch, a vital skill for playing solos and lead lines.

Alternate Picking

The song's rapid-fire rhythm and some of its lead lines employ alternate picking. This technique involves alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes while picking, enabling fast and accurate playing. By focusing on alternate picking, you'll improve your picking efficiency and speed, making it easier to tackle fast riffs and solos.

Hammer-ons and Pull-offs

The pre-chorus and some of the song's lead sections feature hammer-ons and pull-offs, techniques that add fluidity to your playing by allowing notes to be sounded without re-picking the string. This helps in creating smooth transitions between notes and makes your playing sound more seamless. Learning these techniques will enhance your legato playing style, a fundamental skill for any lead guitarist.

Octave Melodies

In the song’s breakdown, octave melodies are employed to give the section a fuller sound. This technique involves playing the same note on two strings, an octave apart, often used to add melodic layers to a song. By practicing octave melodies, you'll improve your fretboard knowledge and develop a more melodic approach to your playing.

Vibrato

To add emotion and sustain to certain notes, vibrato is used in the song's solo sections. Vibrato involves slightly varying the pitch of a note by oscillating the fretting finger back and forth. It's an essential technique for adding personal expression to your playing. Mastering vibrato will help you convey emotion through your guitar and add a professional touch to your lead work.

Benefits of Learning "1985"

By diving into our note-for-note lesson of "1985", you will not only master a great pop-punk song but also build a strong foundation in essential guitar techniques. The song incorporates a variety of skills—ranging from power chords to alternate picking—all of which are applicable to many other genres of music. Whether you're a beginner looking to improve your technique or an intermediate player wanting to expand your repertoire, this lesson offers something for everyone.

Each technique covered in the song will enhance your musicality. For example, mastering palm muting and power chords will help you play tight, energetic rhythms, while practicing string bending and vibrato will make your lead playing more expressive. Learning these techniques in the context of a real song makes practice more enjoyable and rewarding, as you'll see direct results in your playing.

Guitar Techniques in "1985"

• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Hammer-ons
• Pull-offs
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• String Bending
• Octave Melodies

By learning these techniques, you'll expand your skills and become a more versatile guitarist, ready to tackle any song in the pop-punk genre or beyond.