Poison - Life Goes On - Guitar Lesson

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Poison - Life Goes On - Guitar Lesson

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Classic Rock

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Bass6
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Flesh & Blood album cover
Flesh & Blood
1990 4:48
Poison Glam Metal 1990 C major
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

Life Goes On


"Life Goes On" is a power ballad by American glam metal band Poison, released as the fourth single from their 1990 album Flesh & Blood. The song offers guitarists a solid introduction to the melodic, emotionally driven side of glam metal, blending clean-tone chord work with expressive lead playing. Its moderate pacing and structured arrangement make it a rewarding piece to learn for players developing dynamics and feel on electric guitar.

  • Released in 1990, the song comes from Poison's Flesh & Blood album, one of the band's most commercially successful records.
  • As a power ballad, the track highlights restrained picking technique and smooth transitions between clean and driven tones.
  • "Life Goes On" reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, showing the broad mainstream appeal of Poison's softer material.
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.