Guitar & Bass Tabs
Quiet Riot
About Quiet Riot
Quiet Riot formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s, blending streetwise hard rock with metal aggression. Fronted by Kevin DuBrow and powered by a bruising rhythm section, the band built a dedicated following through relentless touring and a slate of underground releases that showcased their punchy riffs and fearless attitude.
Their breakthrough arrived with Metal Health in 1983, an album that topped the Billboard 200 and helped ignite the MTV-driven metal explosion of the era. With smash singles like Cum On Feel the Noize and Bang Your Head (Metal Health), Quiet Riot became one of the most recognizable names in American metal, inspiring a new generation of guitar players.
The Quiet Riot story continued through lineup changes, and the band's enduring influence lives on today. For DadRock Tabs, we celebrate their legacy with 13 guitar lessons that pull the best riffs, rhythms, and solos from these classics into accessible, playable tabs.
🎸 Want to know what gear Quiet Riot used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
Watch the Lesson
Cum On Feel The Noize
Quiet Riot
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Slick Black Cadillac
Quiet Riot
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Love's A Bitch
Quiet Riot
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Breathless
Quiet Riot
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Run For Cover
Quiet Riot
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Sign Of The Times
Quiet Riot
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Stomp Your Hands Clap Your Feet
Quiet Riot
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Condition Critical
Quiet Riot
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Bad Boy
Quiet Riot
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Quiet Riot's playing combines blistering riffs with memorable hooks and a rock-solid groove. They favor power chords, palm muting, precise alternate picking, and simple but explosive rhythmic accents that drive their anthems. The guitar work sits in tight, high-energy density with occasional melodic leads that hint at Randy Rhoads' early classical-influenced phrasing, making the songs both riff-friendly and rewarding for players stepping up to lead guitar.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
Iconic gear for Quiet Riot comes from the early '80s metal rig: guitars through Marshall-style tube amps into 4x12 cabinets, with distortion pedals and modulation to sculpt punchy tones. Randy Rhoads's era is known for a bright, biting guitar voice, while later lineups used a mix of Marshall, Fender, and Mesa amps. Classic pedals tied to the era include Boss DS-1 or DS-2 distortion and MXR Phase 90 for lead textures, along with tasteful chorus to thicken hooks.
Why Learn Quiet Riot Songs?
Learning Quiet Riot songs builds essential rock chops: rock-solid power-chord rhythm, palm-muted grooves, accurate alternate picking, and tight timing. You’ll develop stamina working through fast, punchy riffs and craft memorable lead lines that sit on top of a driving rhythm section. These tracks scale from accessible rock staples to more demanding solos, offering a solid path toward mastering 80s metal groove and precision playing.
Did You Know?
- 1Metal Health became the first heavy metal album to top the Billboard 200.
- 2Their cover of Slade's Cum On Feel the Noize became a defining MTV-era metal anthem.
- 3Guitarist Randy Rhoads cut his teeth with Quiet Riot before joining Ozzy Osbourne, leaving a lasting imprint on metal guitar.
- 4Quiet Riot helped spark the 1980s American metal boom and inspired countless players to pick up the guitar.
9 Quiet Riot lesson(s) available — Start learning today!
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