Talk Dirty To Me by Poison
Talk Dirty To Me is a signature track from Poison's debut Look What the Cat Dragged In, released in 1986. The single began gaining traction in 1987 and MTV airplay propelled Poison into the mainstream, helping define the late-80s glam metal wave. Its hooky riff, swaggering groove, and sing-along chorus made it a radio staple and a cornerstone of rock nostalgia for generations of players and fans alike.
Written by the Poison quartet—Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett—with producer Tom Werman, the song captures DeVille’s flashy, blues-inflected riffing over a tight rhythm section. The bright, aggressive guitar tone and memorable solo embody the party-metal swagger that powered Poison’s breakout and left a lasting imprint on 80s rock culture.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn the main riff that drives Talk Dirty To Me, along with a verse/chorus groove built on driving power chords and tight palm-muting. We’ll break down the riff’s feel, timing, and how to move cleanly between riffing and chordal sections, plus a short melodic solo that uses bends and vibrato. Key focus areas include precise alternate picking, clean string muting, slides to connect shapes, and the tempo-driven groove that makes the song so catchy. Watch for the quick transitions from the riff to the chorus and the need to lock in with a strong backbeat.
Intermediate; prior experience with power chords, palm muting, and basic soloing will help you tackle the groove and the short lead passages.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Practice the main riff with a metronome at a slow tempo (around 60-80 BPM) to nail the timing, then gradually speed up to the track tempo while keeping the notes tight.
- 💡Develop a relaxed picking hand and use firm palm muting on the lower strings to reproduce the chuggy, punchy feel; keep the muting consistent through each phrase.
- 💡For the solo and fills, work on small bends and controlled vibrato first at a slow pace, then increase speed while preserving pitch accuracy and tone.
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