Guitar & Bass Tabs
Telsa
About Telsa
Tesla rose from Sacramento's club scene in the early 1980s when guitarist Frank Hannon and vocalist Jeff Keith joined forces to fuse bluesy hard rock with punchy, melodic hooks. The band broke through on Geffen with Mechanical Resonance (1986), a record defined by riff-forward tracks, swaggering choruses, and a relentless live energy that helped define MTV-era rock. With Brian Wheat on bass and Troy Luccketta on drums anchoring a tight rhythm section, Tesla carved a space for guitar-centric anthems that could scorch a crowd and still sing along. Their evolution through the late 80s and 90s—paired with steady touring and a string of radio and video staples—cemented them as one of the era's defining melodic hard rock acts, influencing players who chase big hooks and soaring guitar tones.
🎸 Want to know what gear Telsa used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Call It What You Want
Telsa
View Tab →Playing Style
Tesla's playing style centers on blues-infused hard rock with dynamic two-guitar textures. Frank Hannon and the rotating second guitarist deploy punchy power chords, concise open-position licks, brisk alternate picking, palm muting, and expressive bends to drive songs forward while the vocals carry the melody. The dual guitars often weave harmonized leads and shimmering chorus tones, pairing aggressive rhythm parts with memorable solos that prioritize feel over flashy technique. The result is a timeless, arena-friendly sound: clear, singing tones, groove-forward riffs, and an emphasis on melodic hooks that stay with you long after the riff ends.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Tesla's most iconic era relied on sturdy, tube-driven tones and classic rock platforms: versatile guitars with humbucker and single-coil textures, reliable tube amps (think Marshall-style crunch and clean, punchy tones), and a pedal setup featuring chorus, delay, and reverb to fatten rhythm and lead parts without muddying the mix. The band's twin-guitar approach rewarded gear that could stay punchy in rhythm while delivering soaring, melodic leads—an emphasis on tone clarity, dynamic range, and the ability to cut through a full-band mix.
Why Learn Telsa Songs?
Learning Tesla tunes builds essential rock skills: tight, groove-forward rhythm playing with strong power-chord work, blues-based phrasing, and the art of balancing rhythm and melody. Call It What You Want, in particular, offers a friendly entry point with a memorable riff, palm-muted verses, and a chorus that rewards clean execution and precise timing. The material sits at a solid intermediate level for many players, but with steady practice it becomes highly approachable. Mastering these songs also introduces you to two-guitar textures, dichotomous lead-work, and the kind of phrasing that underpins classic rock rhythm sections.
Did You Know?
- 1Tesla takes its name from inventor Nikola Tesla, not the electric car company.
- 2Their 1986 debut Mechanical Resonance helped establish a blues-influenced hard rock sound that became a staple of 80s rock.
- 3The band is renowned for twin-guitar harmonies and crowd-pleasing anthems that bridged blues-rock grit with arena-ready hooks.
- 4Guitarist Dave Rude joined in the mid-2000s to carry the band's twin-guitar energy into new eras of touring and recording.
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