Guitar & Bass Tabs
The Kinks
About The Kinks
The Kinks formed in 1964 in London, anchored by Ray Davies (vocals, rhythm guitar) and his brother Dave Davies (lead guitar), with Pete Quaife (bass) and Mick Avory (drums). They burst onto the scene with You Really Got Me (1964), a raw, fuzz-toned riff monster that helped define the British Invasion and inspired legions of guitarists with its blistering power chords. Over the next decade they delivered a string of classics that mixed punchy garage energy with melodic storytelling, shaping rock's vocabulary for years to come.
Despite chart-topping hits and critical acclaim, The Kinks endured a bruising US ban in the mid-1960s that kept them off American stages for several years. They roared back in the late '60s and early '70s with ambitious albums like Village Green Preservation Society and Arthur, while Lola (1970) became one of their signature moments—a clever, catchy tale told with character and swagger. Ray Davies's songwriting is widely regarded as among rock's best, blending sharp social observation with human warmth. The Kinks were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, cementing their legacy as pioneers who bridged garage grit, theatrical pop, and English music-hall wisdom.
🎸 Want to know what gear The Kinks used, their playing style, and fun facts? Scroll below the lessons!
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Lola
The Kinks
View Tab →Playing Style
The Kinks' playing style centers on tight, driving rhythm guitar and memorable lead lines. Ray Davies often uses clean, jangly chords and melodic hooks to carry verses, while Dave Davies channels aggression with distorted, cutting guitar tones that define the band's most famous riffs. The band favors punchy power chords, crisp articulation, and strong downstrokes, with a keen sense of dynamics that lets verses stay intimate before exploding into punchy choruses. The interplay between rhythm and lead parts — from You Really Got Me's blistering attack to Sunny Afternoon's sly, fingerpicked swagger — gives The Kinks a signature groove that's instantly recognizable.
🎸 Gear & Equipment
The Kinks are closely associated with bright guitar tones achieved on classic tube amps. Ray Davies and Dave Davies typically used solid-bodied guitars with a crisp edge (often Fender-style instruments) run through lively, bright amps to cut through the mix. Distortion and fuzz were central to their most famous sounds, especially on early tracks like You Really Got Me. Over the years their palette expanded, but the core remains a jangly rhythm guitar layered with bold, articulate lead textures and a punchy, chorus-ready timbre.
Why Learn The Kinks Songs?
Learning The Kinks tunes is a rite of passage for rock guitarists. Lola’s main riff and singable chord progressions teach you how to craft a memorable hook, while their other hits reinforce essential rock fundamentals: tight rhythm, dynamic contrasts, and expressive phrasing. The songs are approachable for late-beginners to intermediate players and offer room to grow into lead lines, riffs, and timing nuance. On DadRock Tabs, there is one Lola lesson to guide you step-by-step through the riff, rhythm parts, and feel, so you can lock in with the groove and play along with confidence.
Did You Know?
- 1You Really Got Me (1964) is often cited as a blueprint for hard rock distortion and riff-driven guitar.
- 2The Kinks were one of the defining acts of the British Invasion and formed in London in 1964.
- 3Ray Davies is celebrated as one of rock's most acclaimed songwriters, known for sharp storytelling and social observation.
- 4The band faced a famous US touring ban in the mid-1960s, keeping them off American stages for several years.
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