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Poison - Nothin But A Good Time Pt.1 - All Rhythm Guitar Parts - Guitar Lesson

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Key E major
Poison - Nothin But A Good Time Pt.1 - All Rhythm Guitar Parts 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.
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Poison Hard Rock E major
Capo Advisor 0 E major · Original key

About Nothin But A Good Time Pt.1 - All Rhythm Guitar Parts

Few Hard Rock rhythm parts from 1988 are as satisfying to lock into as this one. Running in E major at a steady 120 BPM in standard tuning, the track is built almost entirely on open-position and barre chord riffing that keeps the right hand working hard the whole time. The challenge here is not finger placement but consistency: the strumming pattern has to stay tight and punchy throughout, and the palm muting needs to be controlled enough to give those chord hits their characteristic chug without turning them muddy. Pay attention to where the accents land on each chord change, because the groove lives in those small rhythmic details. If a transition or a syncopated hit keeps slipping, set the Practice Toolbar to loop that bar slowed down until the motion is automatic. Poison kept the arrangement energetic by layering rhythm parts, so getting each one clean before stacking them mentally is the right approach.

  • The entire rhythm arrangement sits in E Standard tuning, so no retuning is needed if your guitar is already set up at concert pitch.
  • At 120 BPM the strumming is brisk but not frantic, making tight palm muting and consistent pick attack the main technical demands.
  • The song layers multiple rhythm guitar parts, so isolating each one with the Practice Toolbar before combining them will speed up your progress.

How to Play Nothin But A Good Time Pt.1 - All Rhythm Guitar Parts

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

C.C. DeVille used the Les Paul Standard in Poison's later years, leveraging its thick body and warm humbucker tones for a heavier, more classic rock foundation. The instrument provided a fatter sustain than his superstrats while maintaining the cutting presence needed to slice through the band's dense arrangements.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Les Paul Custom appeared in DeVille's setup during Poison's evolution, offering premium hardware and premium pickups that reinforced his bridge humbucker-driven lead tone with enhanced articulation and sustain. Its weight and construction allowed him to achieve singing, sustained solos while keeping the glam metal edge intact.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

DeVille's signature tone came directly from the JCM800's moderate-high gain voicing, which delivered that saturated yet articulate crunch essential to Poison's Sunset Strip sound. The amp's presence peak kept his leads cutting through the mix without needing excessive gain, letting the guitar's midrange shine through the drums.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

DeVille wielded the Cry Baby Wah as his primary expressive effect, adding vocal-like sweep and movement to lead passages and rhythm accents throughout Poison's glam metal anthems. The pedal's responsive taper complemented his flashy, over-the-top playing style and became a signature element of his soloing voice.

DigiTech Whammy
Pedal

DigiTech Whammy

While not a primary tool in DeVille's original chain, the DigiTech Whammy offered harmonic shifting effects that could enhance his signature whammy bar dive bombs and pitch-bend moments during solos. The pedal's tracking algorithms could layer synth-like tones beneath his squalling leads for added drama.

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