Guitar & Bass Tabs
Warrant
Learn Warrant's Guitar & Bass Style
Discover how Warrant developed their signature guitar and bass sound, the techniques you'll encounter in their music, and the best lessons to begin your learning journey.
Warrant is one of the defining acts of the late-1980s glam metal scene, born in the Los Angeles music circuit around 1984 as Erik Turner and a close-knit group of players chased big, melodic hard rock. After a series of lineup changes, the band found its signature voice when Jani Lane joined as lead vocalist in 1988, infusing the project with a sharpened songwriter's sensibility and a commanding stage presence. The 1989 release Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich broke them to a worldwide audience, sending MTV staples and charting singles into heavy rotation and establishing Warrant as a staple of the era's rock landscape.
Through the early 1990s they rode the crest of glam metal fame with hits like Heaven and Cherry Pie, songs that paired swaggering riffs with irresistibly catchy choruses. Their sound blended two-guitar textures, punchy rhythm parts, and soaring melodies, helping define a period when hard rock and pop hooks collided on the radio and on video. Over the years the lineup shifted, but Warrant continued to release music, tour extensively, and influence a generation of players who learned to balance aggressive riffing with memorable hooks.
Today their legacy endures in classrooms and on stages worldwide, including the 22 DadRock Tabs lessons that break down riffs and solos from fan favorites such as Inside Out, I Saw Red, Bed of Roses, You're The Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised, and more. Warrant's music remains a touchstone for players chasing the blend of technical flair and memorable melody that defined an era of classic rock.
🎸 Want to know what gear Warrant used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
Watch the Lesson

Uncle Tom's Cabin
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Cherry Pie
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Down Boys
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Heaven
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32 Pennies
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Big Talk
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Sometimes She Cries
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Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich
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In The Sticks
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Heaven
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I Saw Red
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Bed Of Roses
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Sure Feels Good To Me
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Love In Stereo
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Blind Faith
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Song And Dance Man
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You're The Only Hell Your Mama Ever Raised
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Mr Rainmaker
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The Hole In My Wall
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Inside Out
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View Tab →Playing Style
Warrant's playing style sits at the crossroads of crunchy, riff-driven hard rock and glossy melodic finesse. Their guitar work emphasizes tight rhythm parts built on power chords, palm-muting, and precise alternate picking, layered with bright, harmonized lead lines that give chorus sections their anthemic lift. Across ballads and uptempo tracks, you’ll hear a balance of arpeggiated passages, melodic bends, and tasteful vibrato that keeps solos expressive without losing punch. This blend—strong groove, memorable hooks, and confident soloing—defines the signature Warrant sound and makes their catalog a rich playground for players learning to blend rhythm and melody.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
The classic Warrant/80s glam metal palette leaned on solid-body guitars with humbuckers, paired with high-gain amplifier rigs to deliver that cutting but musical edge. Expect two-guitar textures that sit big in the mix, often achieved with Marshall- or Mesa/Boogie-style heads and 4x12 cabinets, plus chorus and delay effects to widen the tone on big anthems. While gear varied by guitarist, the era's go-to tools—Les Paul-style or superstrat-style guitars through bright, saturated amps and modulated effects—become essential for nailing the recognizable Warrant sound.
Why Learn Warrant Songs?
Learning Warrant songs is a fast track to solid rock fundamentals. The catalog offers an approachable mix of mid-tempo riffs, power-chord progressions, and soaring ballad moments that teach you how to lock in tight rhythm, maintain palm-muted grooves, and craft memorable melodies. As you work through tracks with varied feels—from the punchy drive of uptempo songs to the expressive arpeggios of ballads like I Saw Red—you'll build breathing room in your timing, develop clean technique, and gain confidence in shaping dynamic guitar parts that cut through a band mix. With 22 lessons available, Warrant serves as a practical bridge from beginner riffing to more expressive, arena-ready playing.
Did You Know?
- 1Warrant formed in Los Angeles in 1984, rising from the late-80s glam metal scene to become one of its defining acts.
- 2Lead vocalist Jani Lane joined in the late 1980s and wrote many of the band's biggest hits, including Heaven and Cherry Pie.
- 3The video for Heaven became a staple on MTV, helping push the debut album toward iconic status.
- 4Despite lineup changes and shifts in rock trends, Warrant has continued to tour and release music for decades.
20 Warrant lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn to Play Warrant Guitar
Explore Warrant 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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