In My Dreams by Dokken
In My Dreams is a power ballad by Dokken, released as a single in 1985 from the album Under Lock and Key. It captures the era's penchant for big, emotive guitar-driven ballads and helped bring Dokken into wider mainstream visibility on MTV and radio.
The track's writing centers on a bright, melodic clean intro, soaring vocal lines, and a chorus built on driving rhythm guitars and a memorable lead melody. The studio take emphasizes glossy production and dynamic contrasts, making it a staple example for teaching phrasing, arpeggios, and expressive bends to aspiring players.
🎸 Want to know the techniques, practice tips, and lesson details? Scroll below the lesson!
What You'll Learn
In this lesson you will learn the signature clean intro arpeggio, the verse rhythm using palm-muted power chords, the soaring chorus progression, and the melodic lead guitar that rides the same chord changes. We'll practice the exact riffs, how to synchronize the rhythm and lead, and tips on tone and phrasing so you can reproduce the track's dynamic contrast. Watch for the tricky transitions into and out of the solo and keep the tempo tight with a metronome.
Intermediate — having solid rhythm-guitar technique, clean palm muting, precise alternate picking, and control of bends will help you master this track.
🎸 Techniques Used
Practice Tips
- 💡Break the intro and verse into small 4-bar segments and loop slowly at 60-70 BPM before increasing tempo.
- 💡Practice the lead melody separately with a slow drone and then integrate into the full rhythm track.
- 💡Use a slightly overdriven tone and proper pickup selection to emulate the original guitar sound.
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