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Kiss - Beth - Guitar Lesson

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Key C major
Kiss - Beth guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Destroyer album cover
Destroyer
1976 2:46
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Kiss Hard Rock 1976 C major
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

About Beth

Most people know "Beth" as a piano-led ballad, so it can be a surprise to sit down with it on guitar. The chord movement in C major is straightforward enough, but getting the feel right is the real work: at 66 BPM the song breathes very slowly, and rushing through the changes will flatten the emotional weight that holds the whole thing together. In E Standard tuning, fingerpicking or arpeggiated strumming suits the gentle swell of each chord far better than any strummed attack. The challenge is not the fingering but the patience, keeping your right hand relaxed and your tone clean through those long, open measures. Kiss recorded this as an outlier in their catalog, and that soft, unhurried character is exactly what you need to honour on guitar. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop the verse changes slowed down until the spacing between notes feels natural rather than forced. It is also worth studying how the Hard Rock band shaped a genuinely delicate arrangement here.

  • At 66 BPM the song moves very slowly, so focus on keeping your fretting hand relaxed and letting each chord ring fully before moving.
  • An arpeggiated or fingerpicked approach in E Standard tuning captures the gentle texture of the original far better than a strummed pattern.
  • The chord progression stays within C major, making this accessible for intermediate players but demanding in terms of touch and dynamic control.

How to Play Beth

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C major · Tempo: 66 BPM

Loop each section and focus on clean, even timing rather than speed, with the metronome at 66 BPM.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Ace Frehley's 1959 Les Paul Standard with stock PAF humbuckers delivers the warm, singing sustain that defines Kiss's lead tone when cranked through Marshall amplifiers. The moderate output and responsiveness of PAFs let his solos cut through without compression, creating that vocal-quality sustain signature to the classic era.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul Custom's thick mahogany body and humbucker configuration provide the foundational warmth and sustain essential to Kiss's rhythm and lead work throughout their career. Its slightly hotter output compared to standard models contributes to the band's characteristically thick, aggressive tone.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Ace Frehley switched to the JCM800 in his later Kiss years, using its tighter, more defined gain structure to achieve singing leads and aggressive rhythm tones. The 100-watt model's preamp-driven breakup, pushed hard with master volume around 6-7, anchors Kiss's powerful, sustain-heavy sound.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

The Marshall 1959 Super Lead Plexi was Ace Frehley's primary amplifier during Kiss's classic era, delivering natural tube breakup and responsive dynamics when cranked loud. This head's warm, organic gain is fundamental to the singing quality and sustain heard on iconic Kiss solos and rhythm work.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Ace Frehley uses the Cry Baby wah expressively throughout Kiss solos, most famously parked in a half-open position on 'Detroit Rock City' for a vocal-like tonal boost. The pedal's dynamic responsiveness pairs perfectly with his PAF-equipped Les Paul and cranked Marshall for expressive, singing lead work.

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