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Def Leppard - Rock of Ages - Guitar Lesson

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Key C major
Def Leppard - Rock of Ages guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Pyromania (Deluxe) album cover
Pyromania (Deluxe)
1983 4:08
Listen on Spotify
Def Leppard Hard Rock 1983 C major
Capo Advisor 0 C major · Original key

About Rock of Ages

Few songs from the Hard Rock era open with as much attitude as "Rock of Ages," and a big reason is the guitar tone: thick, compressed, and locked into a driving rhythm that sits right in the pocket at 120 BPM. The main riff runs in C major and relies on tight palm-muted power chords, so getting your pick attack consistent is the first thing to work on. Phil Collen and Steve Clark layered parts carefully on the Pyromania sessions, meaning the rhythm guitar tracks reward close listening before you try to replicate them. The verse and chorus transitions are deceptively simple but easy to rush, especially where the chord rhythm shifts underneath the vocal hooks. Use the Practice Toolbar to isolate and slow those transition bars down until the chord changes feel automatic. Def Leppard built the arrangement around a very clean, almost metronomic feel, so any sloppiness in your fretting hand will stand out.

  • The main riff is built on palm-muted power chords in C major, making clean pick attack and consistent muting the core technique to develop.
  • At 120 BPM in E Standard tuning, the tempo is moderate but the rhythm parts demand tight synchronisation between both hands throughout.
  • Twin-guitar layering is central to the recorded sound, so practising each rhythm part separately before combining them is a productive approach.

How to Play Rock of Ages

Tuning: E Standard · Key: C 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.

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