Guitar & Bass Tabs
Lita Ford
Learn Lita Ford's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Lita Ford developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
Lita Ford emerged from the LA rock scene as part of The Runaways, a teenage all-female band formed in 1975 that fused garage energy with pop hooks and thunderous guitars. The Runaways helped redefine what a female-fronted rock act could be, touring relentlessly and influencing a generation of players with their fearless attitude and riff-driven anthems. Lita's searing riffs and fleet-fingered solos became a defining voice of the band, helping to spark a path for women in hard rock.
After The Runaways disbanded in the late 70s, Lita launched a highly influential solo career in the early 80s, culminating in the late-80s surge with the album 'Lita' and the signature track 'Kiss Me Deadly.' Her guitar tone blended blues, hard rock, and pop hooks—bright, aggressive, and incredibly melodic—earning her a place on stages worldwide and inspiring countless players who saw a woman shredding with authority on big arenas.
Today, Lita Ford's legacy endures in the way she bridged eras—from punk-influenced grit to glossy 80s rock—by turning bold playing into a mainstream statement. Her work continues to influence new generations of female guitarists and rockers, making her a touchstone for riff-driven rock and a reminder that powerful guitar prowess crosses gender boundaries.
🎸 Want to know what gear Lita Ford used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
Watch the Lesson
Kiss Me Deadly
Lita Ford
Close My Eyes Forever
Lita Ford
Playing Style
Lita Ford's playing is all about fire, precision, and bluesy swagger. She builds memorable riffs on tight, palm-muted rhythm with aggressive power chords, then launches into blazing, blues-informed solos that sing over the groove. Her phrasing emphasizes melodic hooks, clean fast runs, and expressive bends, often using a wah-wah to shape tone and a touch of delay to add space on solos. The result is a signature blend of punchy rhythm, soaring leads, and confident stage presence.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic gear linked with Lita Ford and The Runaways includes solid-body electric guitars and high-gain amps that cut through the mix. Her sound is typically built around a bold, guitar-driven lead tone—often associated with Gibson Les Paul-style instruments—played through Marshall-style amps to achieve that punchy, cutting edge. For effects, a wah-wah pedal is a staple for vocal-like lead statements, with delay and light chorus occasionally used to widen the texture on climbs and solos.
Why Learn Lita Ford Songs?
Learning Lita Ford's songs on guitar builds essential rock skills: tight rhythm chops, aggressive picking, expressive bends, and memorable melodic phrasing. The two tracks on this artist page—Close My Eyes Forever and Kiss Me Deadly—offer dynamic contrast: a moody ballad section and a high-energy lead workout. Both tunes are approachable for intermediate players and provide real-world practice with riff-driven sections, powerful hooks, and stage-ready phrasing that translate to countless classic-rock contexts.
Did You Know?
- 1She was a defining figure in The Runaways, one of the first major all-female rock bands.
- 2Her 1980s solo era produced the signature track Kiss Me Deadly and helped shape late-80s arena rock guitar.
- 3She helped pave the way for women in hard rock and metal, inspiring generations of players.
- 4Her lead work blends blues phrasing with pop hooks, shaping the sound of 80s rock guitar.
2 Lita Ford lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play Lita Ford Guitar
Explore Lita Ford 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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