Learn to Play "Just Like Paradise" by David Lee Roth

Unlock the secrets of rock guitar with our comprehensive lesson on "Just Like Paradise" by David Lee Roth. This track, a hallmark of late '80s rock, showcases a plethora of guitar techniques that define the era's sound. In this lesson, you'll dive into the iconic playing style that made this song a hit, learning techniques such as string bending, palm muting, harmonics, and vibrato. This course is designed not just to teach you the song, but also to enhance your overall guitar skills, providing you with tools that are applicable across many forms of music. This song is taught by Sam Bell.

The Techniques Covered

String Bending

String bending is a pivotal technique in rock guitar playing, adding expression and a vocal-like quality to the guitar sound. In "Just Like Paradise," the use of string bending is prominent, creating those soaring leads that capture the song's ecstatic feel. Learning this technique will allow you to infuse your playing with emotion and intensity, making your solos more impactful.

Palm Muting

Palm muting in this song provides a chunky, rhythmic underpinning that contrasts beautifully with the more melodic elements. This technique, which involves damping the strings with the palm of the picking hand, is essential for creating dynamics in your playing. It's particularly effective in rock music for driving riffs and verses, offering a tighter, more controlled sound.

Harmonics

Harmonics are used in "Just Like Paradise" to add sparkle and shine to the guitar parts, creating moments of brightness and contrast. This technique involves lightly touching the string at a nodal point and plucking it to produce a high-pitched, bell-like sound. Mastering harmonics can significantly expand the sonic palette of your guitar playing.

Vibrato

Vibrato adds richness and depth to long notes, a technique used extensively throughout the solo sections of this song. By oscillating the pitch of a note, vibrato makes the guitar's tone more expressive and emotionally resonant. This technique is crucial for any guitarist looking to bring more life and sustain into their playing.

About the Guitarists

The guitar work on "Just Like Paradise" was primarily handled by Steve Vai, a virtuoso whose influence on rock and metal guitar is profound. Vai's playing is characterized by its technical mastery and innovative use of effects, which helped to define the sound of the era. By studying his work on this track, you gain insight into the techniques that make his style so distinctive and influential in the rock genre.

Benefits of Learning These Techniques

By focusing on these specific guitar techniques, you not only learn how to play "Just Like Paradise" authentically but also develop skills that are essential for a wide range of musical styles. Each technique enhances your versatility and expressive capacity as a guitarist, enabling you to play more dynamically and with greater emotional impact. Whether you're aiming to improve your soloing skills or add depth to your rhythmic playing, these techniques offer substantial benefits.

Conclusion

"Learn to Play Just Like Paradise by David Lee Roth" is more than just a song lesson; it's a gateway to mastering some of the most iconic guitar techniques in rock music. As you progress through the course, you'll not only capture the magic of this classic track but also build a foundation that will elevate your playing across all genres.

Guitar Techniques Used in This Lesson

• String Bending
• Palm Muting
• Harmonics
• Vibrato