Bon Jovi - Runaway - Guitar Solo Tab

Bon Jovi

1984 3:51

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About Runaway

Few debut singles announce a band's arrival quite like "Runaway" did for Bon Jovi in 1984, and for guitarists it holds up as a genuinely useful piece to learn. The song sits in E minor at 109 BPM, a tempo that feels comfortable at first but demands real precision once you lock into the driving rhythm parts. The signature keyboard riff that opens the track is one of those melodies every guitarist eventually wants to translate onto the fretboard, and doing so is a worthwhile exercise in phrasing and note placement. The rhythm guitar work throughout is the real backbone here: tight, slightly palm-muted downstrokes that keep the groove punchy without turning into full hard rock chug. If the chord transitions in the verse feel rushed, use the Practice Toolbar to loop those bars slowed down until the changes sit cleanly in your muscle memory. Pay close attention to how the parts breathe around the vocal melody.

• The song is in E minor at 109 BPM in standard tuning, making it a manageable entry point for intermediate rhythm guitarists.
• Palm-muted downstroke rhythm guitar drives the verse sections, so focus on consistent pick attack and muting control.
• The famous opening melody originates on keyboard, but transcribing it to guitar is a practical exercise in single-note phrasing and position playing.