Bon Jovi - Runaway - Guitar Lesson

Bon Jovi

1984 3:51

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About Runaway

"Runaway" is one of the defining early tracks from Bon Jovi, and on guitar it sits squarely in the world of Hard Rock riffing with a melodic edge that rewards careful attention. The song runs at 109 BPM in E Standard tuning, so there is no retuning to worry about, but the key of E minor means you will want to be comfortable moving between open and fretted positions in that tonality. The signature synth-driven intro is the part most guitarists want to nail in a guitar arrangement, and the chord work through the verse and chorus calls for clean left-hand muting to keep the rhythm tight rather than muddy. The lead fills require a smooth pick attack and good control of sustain, which can catch players off guard at tempo. Use the Practice Toolbar to loop those lead sections slowed down until the phrasing feels natural, then gradually bring the speed back up to 109 BPM. Getting the dynamics right between the quieter verse and the bigger chorus punch is what separates a flat run-through from a performance that actually feels like the record.

• The song sits in E Standard tuning and E minor, making it accessible for players already comfortable with open minor position chord shapes.
• Tight palm muting on the rhythm guitar parts is essential to capturing the punchy, controlled feel of the chord work throughout the verses.
• The lead fills are phrased with sustained notes that benefit from slow, isolated practice before being pushed up to the full 109 BPM tempo.