Europe - Ninja - Guitar Tab

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Europe - Ninja - Guitar Tab

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Amp Settings

Classic Rock

Gain6
Bass6
Mid7
Treble6
Presence5
Master7
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Roll back the gain slightly and pick near the neck for a warmer, more open crunch.

The Final Countdown (Expanded Edition) album cover
The Final Countdown (Expanded Edition)
1986 3:46

Ninja


"Ninja" is a track by Swedish rock band Europe, featured on the expanded edition of their landmark 1986 album The Final Countdown. The album marked Europe's international breakthrough, blending melodic hard rock with keyboard-driven arrangements and strong guitar work. For electric guitar players, "Ninja" offers an opportunity to explore the classic 1980s hard rock style that defined the era, with the kind of tight riffing and dynamic playing characteristic of Europe's guitarist John Norum.

  • Europe formed in Sweden and became internationally recognized with The Final Countdown album released in 1986.
  • The Final Countdown (Expanded Edition) includes additional tracks beyond the original release, giving fans deeper insight into the recording sessions.
  • John Norum, Europe's lead guitarist, is known for a melodic playing style influenced by both hard rock and blues — worth studying for any guitarist.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

John Norum's Stratocasters blend single-coil clarity in the neck and middle with a bridge humbucker for aggressive leads, giving Europe's sound versatility between glassy rhythm tones and saturated solo work. This hybrid approach lets him switch textures without changing instruments, crucial for his dynamic playing style.

Gibson Les Paul Standard
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Standard

Norum's late '50s-style Les Paul Standards with PAF humbuckers deliver the warm, articulate foundation for Europe's classic hard rock tone, responding beautifully to his volume knob technique for clean rhythm passages before cranking for full saturation.

Gibson Les Paul Custom
Guitar

Gibson Les Paul Custom

The Gibson Les Paul Custom, particularly his '68 goldtop, anchored Europe's early recordings with thick mahogany body resonance and vintage humbucker character that cuts through high-volume Marshall saturation while maintaining pick definition.

Marshall JCM800
Amp

Marshall JCM800

Norum's JCM800 head driven at high volume creates Europe's signature natural power-tube breakup without relying on gain stacking, letting his touch and dynamics shape the tone rather than pedal settings.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

The Cry Baby wah is Norum's most essential effect, featured prominently across Europe's solos for vocal-like expressive sweeps that showcase his legato technique and add character to lead passages.

Play with Backing Track

Play with Backing Track

Solo (Backing Track)

Solo (Backing Track)