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Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine Pt.4 - 1st & 2nd Guitar Solo - Slash - Guitar Lesson

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Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine Pt.4 - 1st & 2nd Guitar Solo - Slash guitar lesson video
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Classic Rock

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Appetite for Destruction album cover
Appetite for Destruction
1987 5:56
Listen on Spotify
Guns N' Roses Hard Rock 1987 D minor
Capo Advisor 0 D minor · Original key

About Sweet Child O' Mine Pt.4 - 1st & 2nd Guitar Solo - Slash

The two guitar solos in "Sweet Child O' Mine" sit among the most studied passages in rock guitar, and for good reason: they demand a wide range of techniques packed into a relatively short amount of time. The first solo builds from lyrical, melodic phrasing, asking you to pay close attention to Slash's note choice and vibrato in D minor before the second solo erupts into fast pentatonic runs, bends, and whammy bar work that will seriously test your right-hand stamina and left-hand accuracy. Getting the bends in tune and the vibrato consistent are the real challenges here, far more so than raw speed. Work through each phrase in isolation rather than trying to run the full solo from the top. The Practice Toolbar is exactly what you need: loop a single phrase and slow it down until your fingers find the right shape, then gradually bring it back to tempo. Guns N' Roses recorded this on "Appetite for Destruction" in 1987, and Slash's tone and phrasing remain a benchmark for rock lead guitar.

  • Both solos are built primarily around the D minor pentatonic scale, making scale familiarity a prerequisite before you attempt the faster runs.
  • Controlled vibrato and accurate string bends are harder to nail than the speed here, so isolate each bend and check its pitch carefully.
  • Use the Practice Toolbar to loop and slow down the second solo's rapid pentatonic bursts, which are easy to rush and easy to play sloppily at full tempo.

How to Play Sweet Child O' Mine Pt.4 - 1st & 2nd Guitar Solo - Slash

Key: D minor · Tempo: 122 BPM

Use the section loop to isolate a passage, drop the speed below 100%, and set the metronome to 122 BPM to build it up to tempo.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Slash's weapon of choice, particularly late-'50s specs with mahogany bodies that deliver the thick, singing tone heard throughout 'Appetite for Destruction.' The Les Paul's weight and sustain complement his cranked Marshall, allowing solos to bloom with harmonic richness.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

Offering a slightly different tonal character with a thinner body profile, the Custom gives Slash an alternative voice while maintaining the Les Paul's core warmth and sustain essential to his signature lead sound.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

The split-channel JCM 800 2205 defines Slash's crunch, delivering natural tube saturation and midrange presence without artificial scooping, crucial for maintaining clarity in heavily driven passages.

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)
Amp

Marshall Plexi (1959 Super Lead)

Modified 1959 Super Lead amps pushed hard created the iconic raw power and harmonic distortion of 'Appetite for Destruction,' with power tube breakup that shaped GNR's raw, blues-rooted rock sound.

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro
Pickup

Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro

These lower-output Alnico II humbuckers retain dynamic expressiveness even when the Marshall is cranked, producing a warm, slightly soft attack that makes Slash's tone creamy rather than harsh.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Slash's signature SW-95 wah adds vocal expression to solos like 'Civil War' and 'Estranged,' staying true to his minimalist pedalboard philosophy where tone comes primarily from guitar and amp interaction.

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