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Looks That Kill

Motley CrueView all Motley Crue tabs

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Looks That Kill by Motley Crue

Looks That Kill burst onto the scene as part of Motley Crue's breakthrough album Shout at the Devil (1983). Recorded in the height of the band's wild 80s ascent, the track pairs Mick Mars's lean, aggressive guitar lines with Nikki Sixx's thunderous bass and Vince Neil's swaggering vocals. The single helped cement Crue's status as MTV-era icons and remains a touchstone of glam-metal riffs and arena-ready hooks.

Its writing credits go to the band members, and the track is known for its instantly recognizable intro and chorus riff, a blend of chunky power chords, palm-muted chugs, and a soaring guitar line in the solo that captures the band's flashy but crunchy style. Over the years it has influenced countless players chasing that classic Motley Crue tone and remains a go-to workout for players learning to lock in tight rhythm and melodic phrasing in an 80s rock context.

🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!

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What You'll Learn

In this lesson you'll learn the iconic main riff built on palm-muted power chords, the verse progression, and the way the song moves through its chorus with drive. We'll break the riff into bite-size phrases, cover the slides and shape-shifts that connect positions, and practice the lead work in the solo with bends and expressive phrasing. You'll also explore tone and technique tips that help you reproduce that classic 80s Crue bite on a modern guitar.

Intermediate — prior skills in power chords, palm muting, and alternate picking will help, along with basic minor pentatonic phrasing for the solo.

🎸 Techniques Used

Power Chords with Palm MutingRiff-based single-note lines and slidesAlternate PickingBends and Vibrato in the lead guitar

Practice Tips

💡Break the riffs into short phrases and practice with a metronome at a slow tempo, then gradually increase speed.
💡Keep a tight palm muting hand and a firm pick grip to achieve the classic chug sound; use a light, consistent attack.
💡When approaching the solo, practice the bends in small steps, using vibrato and sustain to match the original tone; aim for clean pitch and even phrasing.