ACCORDING TO THE valuable historical document that is Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home” music video, Mick Mars lives in a large Transylvanian mansion. When not joining his bandmates in turning over tables on Japanese gangsters, he is a devotee of blues and foundational rock music and guitar playing. His first inspiration was surf legend Dick Dale, from whom he gets his crunching pick attack. Mick later moved on to worshipping the playing of Jeff Beck and Duane Allman, and he even played some slide with the Crüe (check out “Primal Scream”), one of the few giveaways of his blues roots.
In this mini lesson, we present a short but rocking Mötley Crüe-style instrumental ditty with a swinging 16th-note groove that’s inspired by Mars’ rhythm and lead work in the title track to the band’s 1989 album, Dr. Feelgood. As you read the tabs and play along to the audio track, aim to lay back on the beat slightly to give the riffs and licks that signature Mötley Crüe swagger.
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