DadRock Tabs

Guitar & Bass Tabs

Bon Jovi

39
lessons available

About Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey, when frontman Jon Bon Jovi gathered a group of local musicians to fuse hard rock grit with pop hooks. The band's early clubs and high-energy shows laid the groundwork for a stadium-ready sound that would define 1980s rock. The original lineup—Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Tico Torres, and David Bryan—built a reputation for big choruses, savvy melodies, and a relentless touring ethic.

With the release of Slippery When Wet (1986) and New Jersey (1988), Bon Jovi vaulted into the upper echelon of rock superstardom, delivering anthems like Livin' on a Prayer and You Give Love a Bad Name that defined an era. Their ability to blend hard rock swagger with soaring vocal melodies made them cross-generational favorites, while relentless touring cemented their status as one of rock's most enduring live acts. The band's influence stretches beyond chart-toppers to inspire countless rock players with a blueprint for memorable riffs, massive hooks, and durable song structures. In 2018, Bon Jovi was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, sealing their place in rock history.

Today, Bon Jovi's catalog spans decades, continuing to release new material and tour while maintaining that signature arena-energy. For guitar players, their tunes offer a clear path to mastering rhythm-packed riffs, power-chord progressions, and melodic leads. DadRock Tabs currently features 41 Bon Jovi lessons—covering crowd-pleasers like Wanted Dead Or Alive, Runaway, Bad Medicine, and more—providing steady steps from beginner-friendly verses to chorus-ready solos.

🎸 Want to know what gear Bon Jovi used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!

Watch the Lesson

Wanted Dead Or Alive
#1

Wanted Dead Or Alive

Raise Your Hands
#2

Raise Your Hands

You Give Love A Bad Name
#3

You Give Love A Bad Name

Wanted Dead Or Alive
#4

Wanted Dead Or Alive

You Give Love A Bad Name
#5

You Give Love A Bad Name

Runaway
#6

Runaway

She Don't Know Me
#7

She Don't Know Me

Shot Through The Heart
#8

Shot Through The Heart

Love Lies
#9

Love Lies

Breakout
#10

Breakout

Burning For Love
#11

Burning For Love

Get Ready
#12

Get Ready

In And Out Of Love
#13

In And Out Of Love

Only Lonely
#14

Only Lonely

King Of The Mountain
#15

King Of The Mountain

Silent Night
#16

Silent Night

Tokyo Road
#17

Tokyo Road

The Hardest Part Is The Night
#18

The Hardest Part Is The Night

Always Run To You
#19

Always Run To You

To The Fire
#20

To The Fire

Secret Dreams
#21

Secret Dreams

Let It Rock
#22

Let It Rock

Livin' On A Prayer
#23

Livin' On A Prayer

Social Disease
#24

Social Disease

I'd Die For You
#25

I'd Die For You

Never Say Goodbye
#26

Never Say Goodbye

Lay Your Hands On Me
#27

Lay Your Hands On Me

Born To Be My Baby
#28

Born To Be My Baby

Bad Medicine
#29

Bad Medicine

Living In Sin
#30

Living In Sin

I'll Be There For You
#31

I'll Be There For You

I Believe
#32

I Believe

Keep The Faith
#33

Keep The Faith

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
#34

I'll Sleep When I'm Dead

In These Arms
#35

In These Arms

Bed Of Roses
#36

Bed Of Roses

If I Was Your Mother
#37

If I Was Your Mother

Woman In Love
#38

Woman In Love

Wanted Dead Or Alive
#39

Wanted Dead Or Alive

Deep Dive

Playing Style

Bon Jovi's playing style blends muscular rhythm guitar with melodic lead work; the rhythm parts are built on tight power chords, palm-muted chugging, and catchy riffs that lock in with the vocal melodies. Richie Sambora's leads feature melodic phrasing, expressive bends, and tasteful use of vibrato, while the band uses octave jumps and simple scale runs to reach anthemic climaxes. The overall sound is defined by big dynamics, clean transition between rhythm and lead textures, and a sense of call-and-response with the vocal line that makes their tracks instantly singable. Common techniques for their songs include power chords, palm muting, alternate picking, slides, and occasional arpeggios to decorate the chorus and solo sections.

🎸 Gear & Equipment

Bon Jovi's tone is built around a stadium-ready rig: solid-body electric guitars, loud tube amplifiers, and a toolbox of effects to thicken leads and create space in choruses. Over the years, the band's guitarists have used a mix of reliable electrics and distortion, with chorus, delay, and reverb helping to produce the huge, polished sound fans associate with arena rock. The gear choices emphasize melodic leads and punchy rhythm tones that translate well to both recordings and live performances.

Why Learn Bon Jovi Songs?

Learning Bon Jovi's catalog is a practical way to build rock fundamentals: solid rhythm technique with power chords, palm muting, and dynamic strumming; crafting memorable riffs; basic lead phrasing and bends; and playing with vocal-driven timing and stadium-like energy. The songs range from accessible beginner riffs to more challenging leads, offering a structured path that scales with your progress and helps you develop rhythm, tone control, and melodic sense.

Did You Know?

  • 1Jon Bon Jovi's birth name is John Francis Bongiovi Jr.
  • 2The band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey and quickly became a global arena-rock phenomenon.
  • 3Bon Jovi was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
  • 4They have sold over 100 million records worldwide.

39 Bon Jovi lesson(s) available — Start learning today!

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