Guitar & Bass Tabs
White Lion
Learn White Lion's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how White Lion developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
White Lion burst onto the mid-80s hard rock scene with Danish-born frontman Mike Tramp and virtuosic guitarist Vito Bratta, forging a melodic hard rock sound that bridged arena-ready riffs with pop hooks. The band blended glossy production, big choruses, and a radio-friendly sensibility that helped redefine glam metal for a generation of players.
Formed in 1983 in New York, White Lion rose to prominence with Fight to Survive and, more decisively, Pride. The album spawned enduring anthems and power ballads such as Wait and When the Children Cry, earning them global sales, heavy MTV rotation, and multi-platinum status in the US and abroad. Despite internal tensions and a 1990s breakup, their music left an enduring model for melodic hard rock.
Today, White Lion's legacy lives on in the craft of its guitar-driven melodies and Mike Tramp's enduring songwriting. The band's influence can be heard in countless 80s-inspired acts, and their songs continue to be a touchstone for players chasing the balance of ferocious riffs and unforgettable hooks.
🎸 Want to know what gear White Lion used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
Watch the Lesson
Wait
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Lady Of The Valley
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Sweet Little Loving
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Lonely Nights
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Hungry
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All Burn In Hell
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All The Fallen Men
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Cherokee
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Tell Me
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When The Children Cry
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Little Fighter
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Broken Heart
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All Join Our Hands
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View Tab →Playing Style
White Lion's guitar voice centers on Vito Bratta's melodic, hook-driven leads alongside tight rhythm guitar from the band; they employ power chords with palm muting for drive, blues-influenced bends and legato runs in solos, and arpeggiated figures that sparkle over chorus harmonies. The sound blends glam-metal sheen with hard rock heft, often layering harmonized guitar lines to lift choruses while maintaining clean, expressive tone in ballads and uptempo anthems alike.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Vito Bratta favored a custom Charvel/Jackson-style guitar in the 80s, typically through tube amps (Marshall/Mesa-style heads) into 4x12 cabinets, with chorus and delay effects to widen the sound. Mike Tramp used acoustic guitars for ballads like When the Children Cry, highlighting White Lion's dynamic range and melodic sensibilities. The era's gear helped define White Lion's polished, bright tone and powerful stage presence.
Why Learn White Lion Songs?
With 12 lessons on DadRock Tabs, these tracks give you a structured path to building core rock skills. You'll tackle rhythm chops with power chords and palm muting, master melodic lead phrases through arpeggios and blues-influenced phrasing, and develop phrasing, dynamics, and timing across ballads and uptempo anthems. These songs provide a clear, approachable doorway into classic hard rock technique while still challenging you to improve speed and precision.
Did You Know?
- 1When the Children Cry remains White Lion's signature ballad, notable for its acoustic intro and socially conscious lyrics.
- 2Guitarist Vito Bratta is widely celebrated as one of the era's most technically skilled melodic players in glam metal.
- 3Pride, White Lion's 1987 breakout album, helped redefine melodic hard rock with big hooks and polished production.
- 4Frontman Mike Tramp hails from Denmark and has continued to influence fans with a long-running solo career after White Lion.
13 White Lion lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn to Play White Lion Guitar
Explore White Lion 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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