Guitar & Bass Tabs
The Doors
Learn The Doors's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how The Doors developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
The Doors emerged from Los Angeles' vibrant 1965 scene, fusing blues, poetry, and improvisation into a sound that defined a generation. Fronted by Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore, the band delivered smoky, psychedelic performances that drew crowds on the Sunset Strip and beyond. Their 1967 self-titled debut and the following albums helped popularize a darker, more literate strain of rock, influencing artists for decades to come.\n\nWith Morrison's electric stage presence and Krieger's melodic guitar, Manzarek's organ, and Densmore's tight drumming, The Doors crafted songs that felt urgent and cinematic. They produced enduring classics such as Light My Fire and Break On Through, released between 1967 and 1971, while pushing boundaries with improvisation and studio experimentation. The band remained active until Morrison's death in 1971 and officially disbanded in 1973, leaving a lasting legacy that earned them a 1993 Rock Hall induction and a permanent place in rock history.\n\nThe Doors' willingness to blend beat poetry with rock, theatrical performance, and fearless exploration of themes like rebellion, consciousness, and mortality helped unlock later psychedelic and alternative rock movements.
🎸 Want to know what gear The Doors used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Waiting For The Sun
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Roadhouse Blues
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Love Me Two Times
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Break On Through
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Soul Kitchen
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The Crystal Ship
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Light My Fire
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End Of The Night
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Take It As It Comes
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Strange Days
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You're Lost Little Girl
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Moonlight Drive
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People Are Strange
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My Eyes Have Seen You
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Hello I Love You
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Not To Touch The Earth
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Wintertime Love
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The Unknown Soldier
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Spanish Caravan
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We Could Be So Good Together
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Five To One
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Tell All The People
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Touch Me
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Do It
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Easy Ride
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Wild Child
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Playing Style
Robby Krieger's guitar work is melodic and economical, often serving as a counterpoint to Morrison's vocals and Manzarek's organ. He weaves blues-inflected riffs with modal melodies, using arpeggios and tasteful phrasing. The Doors' sound relies on careful dynamics rather than flashy technique, with Krieger delivering memorable riffs that anchor songs like Light My Fire and Spanish Caravan. Common techniques you’ll encounter in their material include single-note leads, open-position chords with suspended tones, palm muting in blues-rock sections, clean to lightly overdriven tones, and the occasional use of wah or tremolo for color. The hallmark is the interplay between guitar, organ, and vocals, creating a cavernous, cinematic rock texture.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic gear includes Robby Krieger's go-to Fender Telecaster and, on many sessions, a Gibson SG for crunchier leads; Ray Manzarek's Vox Continental keyboard defined the band's signature sound. The Doors often ran Fender amplification (Bandmaster/Twin Reverb) and used effects like tremolo, fuzz, and wah to shape lead textures, contributing to their expansive, otherworldly vibe.
Why Learn The Doors Songs?
Learning The Doors songs on guitar builds essential rock fundamentals: tight groove, modal harmony, memorable riffs, and expressive phrasing. The 26 lessons cover riff-based tunes with strong hooks and varied textures, making them accessible for intermediate players while offering real challenge for beginners ready to push. By practicing these tracks you'll strengthen timing, dynamics, and the art of playing with a strong organic feel that translates to any rock style.
Did You Know?
- 1The Doors named themselves after Aldous Huxley's The Doors of Perception, riffing on the idea of expanding consciousness through music.
- 2Their 1967 debut album is widely regarded as one of the most influential rock records ever made.
- 3Guitarist Robby Krieger studied flamenco, which influenced songs like Spanish Caravan.
- 4A notorious 1969 Miami concert led to legal trouble for Morrison and heightened the band's mystique.
26 The Doors lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Learn to Play The Doors Guitar
Explore The Doors 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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