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Scorpions - Rock You Like a Hurricane - Main Solo - Guitar Lesson

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Scorpions - Rock You Like a Hurricane - Main Solo guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Scorpions Hard Rock E minor
Capo Advisor 0 E minor · Original key

About Rock You Like a Hurricane - Main Solo

The main solo in this Hard Rock anthem by Scorpions sits squarely in E minor and runs at a brisk 120 BPM, which means your picking hand needs to be both precise and relaxed. Matthias Jabs built the solo around pentatonic phrasing with fast alternate-picked runs and expressive bends, so your bending accuracy in E minor pentatonic is what really gets tested here. The most demanding stretch is the rapid descending run near the peak of the solo, where clean fretting and consistent picking attack both have to hold up under tempo. Set a tight loop around that run in the Practice Toolbar and bring the speed down to around 60 or 70 percent until every note speaks cleanly, then nudge the tempo back up in small steps. The overall feel should stay aggressive but controlled: digging in too hard on the bends will push you sharp, so aim for smooth, confident pressure. Getting the phrasing right rewards you with one of the most satisfying solos in the genre to play from start to finish.

  • The solo is built on E minor pentatonic with aggressive string bends and fast alternate-picked descending runs at 120 BPM.
  • E Standard tuning is used throughout, so no retuning is needed, but accurate whole-step bends are critical to nailing the tone.
  • Loop the rapid descending run slowed down in the Practice Toolbar before attempting it at full tempo to keep the picking clean.

How to Play Rock You Like a Hurricane - Main Solo

Tuning: E Standard · Key: E 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.

Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Matthias Jabs adopted Fender Stratocasters with humbuckers in later years, using their brighter character for cleaner ballad tones and more articulate lead work than his earlier Explorer guitars. The single-coil versatility lets him dial back aggression while maintaining the Scorpions' signature sustain.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

While less documented than their Custom models, the Les Paul Standard's thick body and stock humbuckers provide the warm, sustained tone the Scorpions need for layered lead harmonies and heavy power chord work in the studio.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Matthias Jabs relied heavily on Gibson Les Paul Customs in the studio for their superior sustain and thick tonal character on solos, using the guitar's humbuckers and weight to achieve the band's signature fat, compressed lead sound.

Gibson Flying V
Guitar

Gibson Flying V

Rudolf Schenker's iconic Gibson Flying V since the mid-70s delivers his aggressive, palm-muted rhythm tone through hot PAF-style humbuckers, becoming synonymous with the Scorpions' raw, pointed attack and distinctive visual identity.

Gibson Explorer
Guitar

Gibson Explorer

Matthias Jabs built his lead style around the Gibson Explorer's angular design and humbucker tone, using the guitar's focused midrange and sustain for expressive solos before transitioning to signature ESP and Fender models.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Both Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs powered the Scorpions' classic 80s sound through Marshall JCM800 heads, with Schenker running moderate preamp gain for defined rhythm crunch and Jabs pushing higher gain for lead work and sustain.

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