Guitar & Bass Tabs
Dokken
Learn Dokken's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Dokken developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
Formed in 1978 in Los Angeles by vocalist Don Dokken, the band quickly emerged as a driving force in American hard rock and the rising metal mainstream. With guitarist George Lynch delivering blistering harmonized leads and a muscular rhythm section, Dokken released Breaking the Chains (1981), which established their melodic-metal identity and earned them MTV rotation and radio play. The band’s commercial breakout came with Tooth and Nail (1984) and Under Lock and Key (1985), albums that fused soaring vocal hooks with punchy rhythms and dazzling guitar solos. Over the years the group has weathered lineup changes and hiatuses but persisted, remaining active with reunions and tours that underscore their enduring influence on the genre. Their impact extends beyond one era, shaping how melodic metal guitar and arena-ready rock could coexist on radio and stage.
🎸 Want to know what gear Dokken used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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When Heaven Comes Down
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Don't Close Your Eyes
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Heartless Heart
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Just Got Lucky
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Tooth And Nail
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The Hunter
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Lost Behind The Wall
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Breaking The Chains
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In My Dreams
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Burning Like A Flame
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Bullets To Spare
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Cry Of The Gypsy
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Prisoner
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Mr. Scary
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Night By Night
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Kiss Of Death
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Heaven Sent
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Sleepless Nights
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Dream Warriors
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Felony
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I Can't See You
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Nightrider
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Seven Thunders
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Young Girls
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Stick To Your Guns
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Alone Again
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Turn On The Action
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Unchain The Night
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It's Not Love
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Don't Lie To Me
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Till The Livin' End
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Standing In The Shadows
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So Many Tears
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Stop Fighting Love
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Inside Looking Out
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Hole In My Head
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Shadows Of Life
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Long Way Home
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Lesser Of Two Evils
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What Price
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In The Middle
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Playing Style
Dokken’s playing style centers on tight, guitar-forward arrangements built from fast, memorable riffs and soaring lead melodies. The classic dual-lead approach—highlighted by Lynch’s harmonized guitar lines—created a signature sound that balanced bluesy pentatonics with shred-ready runs. Expect crisp power-chord rhythms with precise palm muting, rapid alternate picking on high-speed scale passages, and melodically driven solos that employ legato, sweep-picked phrases, and expressive bends. Pinch harmonics, whammy bar nuances, and tasteful use of chorus and delay help carve out a bright, cutting tone that still hits hard in a live setting.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic Dokken tones come from high-gain rigs paired with tremolo-enabled, humbucker-equipped guitars. George Lynch’s era is associated with solid-body guitars used through powerful tube amps (Marshall/Mesa/other hi-gain heads) to deliver a bright, sustain-rich grind. Leads often feature shimmering double-tracks or harmonized melodies aided by chorus and delay, while rhythm parts lean on tight, palm-muted chug with assertive attack. In short, you’ll hear guitar work that relies on aggressive amplification, a touch of modulation, and classic 80s effects to push melodies over the groove.
Why Learn Dokken Songs?
Learning Dokken tunes builds core rock-guitar competencies: tight rhythm technique, precise picking, and memorable melodic phrasing. The 42 lesson catalog offers a spectrum—from chunky, catchy riffs to blazing, harmonized leads—making these tracks excellent for developing speed, accuracy, and dynamic control. Difficulty ranges from intermediate to challenging, but each piece teaches essential skills for soloing and rhythm collaboration, serving as a practical blueprint for mastering classic 80s metal and melodic hard rock on guitar.
Did You Know?
- 1Dream Warriors, Dokken's track for Nightmare on Elm Street 3, helped launch the band into mainstream visibility.
- 2The classic Dokken lineup—Don Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson, and Mick Brown—became a defining 80s guitar-driven hard rock crew.
- 3George Lynch is celebrated for his high-energy, harmonized lead work that shaped a generation of shredders.
- 4Dokken's music videos and MTV presence helped popularize melodic metal guitar in the 80s.
41 Dokken lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play Dokken Guitar
Explore Dokken guitar and bass lessons with a focus on riffs, rhythm parts, classic rock techniques, and practice-friendly video lessons.
Start Here
Begin with the most recognizable riffs and rhythm parts before moving into harder songs.
Techniques
Practice power chords, timing, picking control, bends, vibrato, and classic rock phrasing.
Next Step
Use the lessons below to build a practice path from easier songs to more advanced parts.
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