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Kiss - Strutter - Guitar Lesson

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Key G minor
Kiss - Strutter guitar lesson video
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Amp Settings

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.
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Kiss Hard Rock G minor
Capo Advisor 0 G minor · Original key

About Strutter

From the very first bar, "Strutter" grabs you with a strutting, mid-tempo Hard Rock riff that sits right in the pocket at 120 BPM. The song is in G minor and stays in E Standard tuning, so there is no retuning to worry about, making it a great entry point for players who want to get into the Kiss catalog. The main riff is built around power chords and a few well-placed single notes, but the real skill is in the feel: it needs to sound confident and slightly swaggering, not rushed. Getting that attitude locked in is harder than the notes themselves. The chorus and verse transitions are clean and worth isolating, so use the Practice Toolbar to loop those sections slowed down until the changes feel automatic. Pay attention to right-hand palm muting on the riff to get the punchy, punching tone the song demands.

  • The main riff runs in G minor at 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, making it approachable for intermediate players who want a feel-focused challenge.
  • Palm muting on the verse riff is key to nailing the punchy, driving tone that defines this track.
  • The song has been a live staple for Kiss, so practising it with a metronome will help you capture its locked-in, stage-ready groove.

How to Play Strutter

Tuning: E Standard · Key: G 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.

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