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Kiss - Heaven's On Fire - Guitar Lesson

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Key E major
Kiss - Heaven's On Fire guitar lesson video
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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
AI tone preset

AI-selected preset based on genre and era — adjust the knobs to taste.

Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.
Animalize album cover
Animalize
1984 3:21
Listen on Spotify
Kiss Hard Rock 1984 E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Heaven's On Fire

Running at 120 BPM in E major with standard tuning, "Heaven's On Fire" sits in a sweet spot that feels approachable until you try to nail the tone and attack that make it convincing. The main riff is punchy and mid-range focused, built around power chords and a tight palm-muted groove that demands consistent right-hand control. Getting that crisp, slightly overdriven crunch is half the battle, so pay attention to how hard you dig in with the pick. The chorus opens up into big, open-sounding chord hits, and the contrast between that and the verse muting is what gives the song its energy. If the transition between the muted verse riff and the open chorus chords trips you up, use the Practice Toolbar to loop that section slowed down until the switch is automatic. Kiss were firmly in polished Hard Rock territory on the 1984 album Animalize, and the production reflects that, so a clean pick attack and steady rhythm feel are what this song really asks of you.

  • The song is in E major with standard tuning, so no retuning is needed before you start working through the riff.
  • The core technique is palm-muted power chord picking at 120 BPM, where consistent right-hand muting pressure is the main thing to develop.
  • The verse-to-chorus dynamic shift from tight muted riffs to open chord hits is the most useful section to loop and practise at reduced speed.

How to Play Heaven's On Fire

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E major · Tempo: 120 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 120 BPM to build it up to tempo.

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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