It's Only Love – Bryan Adams

Learn to Play "It's Only Love" Note-for-Note

Bryan Adams' classic rock anthem It's Only Love, featuring the legendary Tina Turner, is an essential track for any guitarist looking to master expressive rock rhythm and melodic lead playing. With a raw and powerful sound, this song incorporates a mix of rock and blues-inspired techniques that make it both fun and rewarding to play. Our It's Only Love guitar lesson at Licklibrary.com provides a detailed, note-for-note breakdown of the song’s guitar parts, giving you the tools to replicate the dynamic playing style found in this hit.

In this lesson, we cover key techniques such as string bending, vibrato, power chords, and dynamic rhythm playing, all of which are critical elements of Bryan Adams’ and Keith Scott’s signature guitar work. Whether you're looking to develop greater control over your lead guitar phrasing or strengthen your rhythm playing, this lesson provides valuable insights that will elevate your skills. Jamie Humphries breaks down this classic track in this exclusive Lick Library video tutorial.

Guitarist Spotlight: Keith Scott’s Influence

The lead guitar work on It's Only Love is performed by Keith Scott, Bryan Adams’ longtime collaborator and an incredibly underrated rock guitarist. Scott's playing is characterised by soulful phrasing, expressive bends, and an impeccable sense of timing. His ability to blend bluesy licks with stadium rock energy makes his style both accessible and inspiring.

Throughout It's Only Love, Scott delivers powerful lead lines, soaring bends, and dynamic phrasing that complement Adams’ raw vocal delivery. His playing is deeply influenced by blues-rock legends, yet he brings a unique melodic sensibility that has made him a defining sound in Adams' music. Learning Scott's approach in this lesson will help guitarists develop a stronger sense of phrasing and feel, essential for crafting emotive solos and riffs.

Techniques Covered in the Lesson

Power Chords

Power chords are the foundation of the song’s driving rhythm section. These simple yet effective chord shapes provide a thick and punchy sound, making them a staple in rock guitar. Mastering power chords will enhance your ability to play countless rock songs with authority and energy.

Power Chords

String Bending

A signature element of Keith Scott’s lead work, string bending adds emotion and expressiveness to solos. Learning to control your bends ensures that notes reach the correct pitch, improving overall lead guitar accuracy and expressiveness.

String Bending

Vibrato

Vibrato is used extensively throughout the song to add sustain and character to held notes. This technique is essential for creating a singing quality in lead guitar playing, making your solos sound more fluid and professional.

Vibrato

Slides

Slides are a great way to transition smoothly between notes, adding a fluid and dynamic feel to lead lines. They help create a vocal-like quality in solos, making your playing sound more expressive.

Slides

Double Stops

Double stops add harmonic richness and a fuller sound to lead lines. These two-note harmonies are commonly used in rock and blues playing, and they help create the powerful, melodic hooks heard in It's Only Love.

Double Stops

Palm Muting

The rhythmic drive of the song is enhanced by palm muting, which tightens up chord hits and adds a percussive attack. This technique is crucial for adding articulation and dynamics to rock rhythm guitar playing.

Palm Muting

Bluesy Bends

This technique gives lead guitar playing a vocal, expressive quality. Bluesy bends are essential for rock and blues players, allowing for more soulful phrasing and a stronger emotional impact in solos.

Bluesy Bends

Complete List of Techniques Covered

• Power Chords
• String Bending
• Vibrato
• Slides
• Double Stops
• Palm Muting
• Bluesy Bends

By mastering these techniques, you'll be able to play It's Only Love with the same energy and feel as the original recording while improving your overall guitar playing skills. Check out our full note-for-note lesson at Licklibrary.com and start learning today!