Guitar & Bass Tabs

Whitesnake

48
lessons available

About Whitesnake

Whitesnake rose from David Coverdale's blues-rock vision in 1978, a transatlantic journey from Deep Purple's hard-hitting riffs to a swaggering, melodic rock empire. The early days drew on British blues with Moody and Marsden, releasing records that forged their identity as a live-band powerhouse and a studio-driven outfit that could mix gritty riffs with soulful ballads. Their breakout came in the mid-80s as they sharpened their US appeal with polished production and scorching guitar work, culminating in a landmark 1987 self-titled album and hit singles that defined an era.\n\nOver the decades, Whitesnake has weathered lineup changes and stylistic shifts, yet their core ethos—melodic hooks anchored by blues-rooted riffs—has remained intact. They earned multi-platinum status and became one of rock's most enduring arena acts, influencing countless players with their emphasis on powerful rhythm parts, expressive solos, and a vocalist's sense of drama. Today, they remain a staple of classic-rock education, with decades of material that continues to inspire new generations of guitarists on platforms like DadRock Tabs.

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

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Still Of The Night
#1

Still Of The Night

Whitesnake

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Cheap An' Nasty
#2

Cheap An' Nasty

Whitesnake

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Slip Of The Tongue
#3

Slip Of The Tongue

Whitesnake

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Slide It In
#4

Slide It In

Whitesnake

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Here I Go Again
#5

Here I Go Again

Whitesnake

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Slow An Easy
#6

Slow An Easy

Whitesnake

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Bad Boys
#7

Bad Boys

Whitesnake

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Children Of The Night
#8

Children Of The Night

Whitesnake

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Fool For Your Loving
#9

Fool For Your Loving

Whitesnake

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Crying In The Rain
#10

Crying In The Rain

Whitesnake

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Give Me All Your Love
#11

Give Me All Your Love

Whitesnake

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Is This Love
#12

Is This Love

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Is This Love
#13

Is This Love

Whitesnake

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Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
#14

Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City

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Lie Down
#15

Lie Down

Whitesnake

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The Time Is Right For Love
#16

The Time Is Right For Love

Whitesnake

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Trouble
#17

Trouble

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Free Flight
#18

Free Flight

Whitesnake

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Long Way From Home
#19

Long Way From Home

Whitesnake

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Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues
#20

Walking In The Shadow Of The Blues

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Medicine Man
#21

Medicine Man

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Mean Business
#22

Mean Business

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Lovehunter
#23

Lovehunter

Whitesnake

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Sweet Talker
#24

Sweet Talker

Whitesnake

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Ready An Willing
#25

Ready An Willing

Whitesnake

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Black And Blue
#26

Black And Blue

Whitesnake

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Don't Break My Heart Again
#27

Don't Break My Heart Again

Whitesnake

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Lonely Days Lonely Nights
#28

Lonely Days Lonely Nights

Whitesnake

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Wine Women An Song
#29

Wine Women An Song

Whitesnake

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Till The Day I Die
#30

Till The Day I Die

Whitesnake

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Crying In The Rain
#31

Crying In The Rain

Whitesnake

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Would I Lie To You
#32

Would I Lie To You

Whitesnake

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Saints An Sinners
#33

Saints An Sinners

Whitesnake

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Gambler
#34

Gambler

Whitesnake

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Give Me More Time
#35

Give Me More Time

Whitesnake

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Love Ain't No Stranger
#36

Love Ain't No Stranger

Whitesnake

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All Or Nothing
#37

All Or Nothing

Whitesnake

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Hungry For Love
#38

Hungry For Love

Whitesnake

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Guilty Of Love
#39

Guilty Of Love

Whitesnake

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Straight For The Heart
#40

Straight For The Heart

Whitesnake

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Don't Turn Away
#41

Don't Turn Away

Whitesnake

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Looking For Love
#42

Looking For Love

Whitesnake

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Your Gonna Break My Heart Again
#43

Your Gonna Break My Heart Again

Whitesnake

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Kitten's Got Claws
#44

Kitten's Got Claws

Whitesnake

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Now You're Gone
#45

Now You're Gone

Whitesnake

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The Deeper The Love
#46

The Deeper The Love

Whitesnake

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Judgement Day
#47

Judgement Day

Whitesnake

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Wings Of The Storm
#48

Wings Of The Storm

Whitesnake

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Deep Dive

Playing Style

Whitesnake's playing blends bluesy phrasing with hard-hitting rock energy. Their guitar parts lean on tight, riff-led verses, memorable hooks, and soaring solos that weave pentatonic scales with melodic bends. Expect plenty of power chords and palm-muted grooves in the rhythm parts, paired with expressive string bending, vibrato, and tasteful blues inflections. The tone sits in a mid-to-high gain range with singing lead tones, and a strong sense of dynamics—compact rhythm sections giving way to explosive lead breaks. Though the band has featured several ambitious players, the through-line is a guitar-led, vocal-forward hard rock aesthetic that rewards rugged rhythm work and melodic lead lines.

🎸 Gear & Equipment

Iconic Whitesnake gear spans blues-rock foundations to arena-ready 80s tones. The band's guitarists have favored solid-body guitars such as Gibson Les Paul Standards and Fender Stratocasters, run through Marshall amplifiers (notably the JCM800 era) to achieve punchy, singing lead tones. Expect chorus or phaser effects on big anthems, tasteful delay for solos, and classic wah in riffs and solos. The era's production emphasizes strong rhythm tones and soaring melodies, making it a prime study for tone shaping and expressive playing.

Why Learn Whitesnake Songs?

Learning Whitesnake tunes on guitar is a practical boot camp for classic-rock fundamentals. From punchy power chords and palm-muted grooves to expressive bending and melodic soloing, these tracks build solid rhythm technique, timing, and phrasing. The songs span from bluesy riffs to bigger lead parts, offering a well-rounded challenge for players seeking groove, dynamics, and a stage-ready tone.

Did You Know?

  • 1David Coverdale formed Whitesnake in 1978 after leaving Deep Purple, kicking off a decades-long blues-based hard rock journey.
  • 2The 1987 self-titled Whitesnake album yielded the mega-hit Here I Go Again and Is This Love, propelling the band to global arena status.
  • 3John Sykes' riffs and solos during the late '80s helped shape Whitesnake's iconic hard rock sound that defined the era.
  • 4Whitesnake's music bridged blues-rock roots with MTV-era hard rock, influencing a generation of players and listeners alike.

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