Guitar & Bass Tabs
Billy Squier
About Billy Squier
Billy Squier is an American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter whose punchy riffs and memorable hooks helped define American hard rock in the early 1980s. He launched his solo career in the late 1970s, building a reputation with riff-driven rock that blended bluesy phrasing with pop accessibility. His breakthrough came with the 1981 album Don't Say No, a record that would solidify his status as a leading voice of MTV-era American rock.
With hits like The Stroke, Lonely Is The Night, and Everybody Wants You, Squier became a staple of radio and video rotation, influencing a generation of guitarists with his direct, guitar-first approach. He continued releasing albums through the early 1980s, shaping the sound of early hard rock with tight rhythm parts, crisp leads, and a vocal style that complemented his guitar work. His work remains a touchstone for guitar players chasing hook-filled riffs and solid groove.
Even as trends shifted, Squier's legacy endures in the way his riffs marry melodic hooks to driving drum grooves. His influence is felt in the way many players approach power chords, octave-based licks, and punchy, song-focused solos. As a pillar of 80s classic rock, Billy Squier's discography continues to inspire new generations of players looking to learn the craft of memorable riffing and clean, energetic guitar tone.
🎸 Want to know what gear Billy Squier used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Lonely Is The Night
Billy Squier
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Everybody Wants You
Billy Squier
View Tab →Playing Style
Billy Squier's playing blends blues-inflected phrasing with hard-hitting rock rhythm. His sound centers on tight, palm-muted power-chord chugs, precise alternate picking, and catchy octave jumps that give riffs a vocal-like bite. He often uses pentatonic-based riffs and simple, memorable melodies over a solid downbeat, making his parts instantly approachable yet highly effective. His guitar work sits squarely in the classic 80s hard rock pocket: bright, aggressive tone, clean articulation, and a knack for turning a hook into a guitar line.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Squier’s iconic tone comes from a rock-solid, high-gain rig typical of the era: a sturdy solid-body guitar (frequently seen with a Stratocaster- or Les Paul-style instrument) through a Marshall-style amplifier setup for that piercing, crunchy edge. A modest pedalboard with chorus and occasional phase-shift effects helped widen his rhythm guitar sound, while delay was often used to space out solos. The result is a bright, aggressive, radio-ready tone that defined early 80s rock guitar.
Why Learn Billy Squier Songs?
Learning Billy Squier's songs is a solid path to building core rock guitar skills. You'll develop clean rhythm technique with power chords, palm muting, and precise timing, plus melodic lead phrasing in a straightforward, song-centered context. The two pieces on DadRock Tabs—Everybody Wants You and Lonely Is The Night—strike a balance between riff-driven groove and memorable hooks, offering approachable yet authentic hard rock challenges. Difficulty is beginner-intermediate, making them perfect for players transitioning from simple chords to more expressive rock playing.
Did You Know?
- 1Billy Squier burst onto the mainstream rock scene in the early 1980s with the breakthrough album Don't Say No (1981).
- 2His hit 'The Stroke' became an iconic MTV-era riff that defined early 80s American hard rock.
- 3'Lonely Is The Night' and 'Everybody Wants You' are still staples on classic rock radio and in guitar tabs collections.
- 4His famous 'Rock Me Tonight' music video (1984) is often remembered as a cautionary example of overproduced rock visuals.
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