Bon Jovi - Only Lonely - Guitar Solo Tab

7800 Fahrenheit

1985 5:01

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About Only Lonely

From the 1985 album 7800 Fahrenheit, "Only Lonely" sits in E major and E Standard tuning, which keeps everything familiar but demands that you pay attention to the melodic phrasing that defines Bon Jovi's mid-80s Hard Rock style. The chord work here leans on open and barre positions in E, so getting clean transitions between them at tempo is where most players will need to put in time. The lead passages call for controlled vibrato and precise bending, two things that sound easy until you try to match the feel of the recording. If a bend or a transitional run keeps tripping you up, set the Practice Toolbar to loop that section at reduced speed until the muscle memory is there. Rhythm playing also requires a steady right hand, since the groove depends on consistent pick attack rather than flashy technique. Build it slowly and the song locks in naturally.

• Playing in E Standard and E major means you can use open-E chord voicings to capture the full, resonant sound of the original recording.
• Controlled string bending with steady vibrato is central to the lead guitar work, so isolating those phrases with the Practice Toolbar is worthwhile.
• The rhythm part rewards a consistent, even pick attack rather than heavy palm muting, so focus on right-hand discipline when building up to full tempo.