Creator Area
Sign in Creator Area

Practice Studio

Kiss - Lick It Up - Guitar Lesson

Sections · Loop · Speed · Metronome

Not in tune?

Select a Loop

Start of your loop
End of your loop

Speed Control

Speed
100%

Tools

BPM
Key A minor
Kiss - Lick It Up guitar lesson video
Guitar 365
Guitar 365 Top Contributor
YouTube: 1.6Msubs 71Kviews
Creator Page →
PLAY WITH BACKING TRACK
·
–50¢ 0 +50¢
· Tap to start

Your browser will ask for microphone permission.

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.
Lick It Up album cover
Lick It Up
1983 3:57
Listen on Spotify
Kiss Hard Rock 1983 A minor
Capo Advisor 0 A minor · Original key

About Lick It Up

The title track from Kiss's 1983 album hits hard right from the opening riff, a driving, palm-muted figure in A minor that locks in tightly at 120 BPM. The rhythm work is the real meat of this song: you need a firm pick attack and consistent muting to keep that chug punchy without letting the notes bloom too much. Fretting hand stamina matters here because the main riff keeps returning and the tempo is relentless enough to tire your hand before you reach the solo sections. The Hard Rock feel demands that you stay in the pocket rhythmically, so resist the urge to rush. If the transitions between the verse riff and the chorus catch you out, loop those bars slowed down using the Practice Toolbar until the changes feel automatic. E Standard tuning means nothing unusual to set up, so you can focus entirely on tone, attack, and keeping the groove locked.

  • The main riff is built around a palm-muted A minor groove in E Standard tuning, making it a solid workout for right-hand muting control.
  • At 120 BPM the rhythm parts are relentless, so building fretting-hand stamina through repeated runs is essential before attempting a full play-through.
  • The chord transitions between the verse and chorus are a common stumbling point, and looping them slowed down on the Practice Toolbar will speed up progress.

How to Play Lick It Up

Tuning: E Standard · Key: A minor · 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.

Recommended for You

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)