Learn How to Play Hard Luck Woman in the KISS Guitar Style
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Tuning the Guitars
- The Intro
- The Verse
- The Pre-Chorus
- The Chorus
- Hard Luck Woman Part
- Outro
- Paul Stanley Part
- Ace Frehley Part
🎸 Kiss - Hard Luck Woman: A Step-by-Step Guitar Tutorial
If you're a fan of Kiss and want to learn how to play their classic song, "Hard Luck Woman," you've come to the right place. In this guitar tutorial, we'll break down the song into easy-to-follow sections and guide you through each step. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced guitarist, this tutorial will help you master the chords and techniques to play "Hard Luck Woman" like a pro. So grab your guitar, tune it down to match the Kiss style, and let's get started!
1. Introduction
"Hard Luck Woman" is a popular song by the iconic rock band Kiss. It was released in 1976 as a single from their album "Rock and Roll Over." The song features catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and a memorable acoustic guitar intro by Paul Stanley. Throughout this tutorial, we'll cover both Paul Stanley's parts and the lead guitar section played by Ace Frehley.
2. Tuning the Guitars
Before we dive into the song, let's talk about the tuning. Just like many Kiss songs, "Hard Luck Woman" is played with both guitars tuned down a half step. This tuning gives the song a distinct sound and is a signature element of Kiss's music. To tune your guitar accordingly, lower each string's pitch by half a step. The tuning for this song is as follows: D#-G#-C#-F#-A#-D#, starting from the 6th string to the 1st string.
3. The Intro
The song kicks off with a beautiful acoustic guitar intro, played by Paul Stanley. It sets the mood for the rest of the song. To play the intro, start by hitting the 6th string at the 3rd fret. Then, go to the 5th string open, followed by the 3rd fret of the 5th string. Next, play the open 4th string and hammer on to the 2nd fret. Finally, hit the open 4th string again. The intro chords are played sparingly, and it's essential to pick through the notes randomly instead of strumming them hard to create a contrast with the fill played by the other guitar.
4. The Verse
Once the vocals kick in, we move into the verse section of the song. The chords for the verse are D minor, C, D minor, E minor, F, G, and C. Repeat this chord progression throughout the verse. If you're playing with two guitars, make sure to play these chords sparingly and pick through the notes randomly to complement the other guitar player's fill and create an interesting contrast.
5. The Pre-Chorus
During the pre-chorus, Paul Stanley sings, "I keep telling you, you're a hard luck woman." To accompany these lyrics, we'll play a special chord progression. Start with an F chord and walk it down by lifting off the first string at the first fret and only hitting the second string at the first fret. Then transition to a D minor chord. The pre-chorus continues with a staccato F chord followed by a G chord. After that, we slide into a C chord, which leads us into the chorus.
6. The Chorus
The chorus is where the song really shines. It gives us the emotional payoff and allows us to belt out those powerful lyrics. The chords for the chorus are D minor, C, D minor, E minor, F, G, and C. Repeat this chord progression to sing along with the chorus. Feel free to strum through the chords during the chorus to give it a fuller sound.
7. Hard Luck Woman Part
In this part, Paul Stanley sings the lyrics "I can't sing and play, but you get the idea." The chord progression for this section is the same as the intro: D minor, C, D minor, E minor, F, G, and C. This part repeats through the verses, providing a familiar and enjoyable melody.
8. Outro
The outro of the song features a simple chord progression that creates a melodic closure. To play the outro, switch between D minor and C chords repeatedly. This section creates a sense of resolution and ends the song on a satisfying note.
9. Paul Stanley Part
Paul Stanley's guitar parts in "Hard Luck Woman" consist of the intro, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and hard luck woman part. He plays these sections with delicate picking and occasional embellishments like lifting off the third finger and hammering on to the third string at the second fret. These embellishments add flavor to the chords and make the song more interesting to play.
10. Ace Frehley Part
Ace Frehley's lead guitar part in "Hard Luck Woman" comes in just after the intro notes played by Paul Stanley. His part includes sliding from a D minor up, picking specific strings at certain frets, and following the other guitar's chord progression. Throughout the song, he plays chords like D minor, E minor, F, G, and C at different positions on the neck and adds small variations to make the guitar parts shine.
And that's it! You've learned how to play Kiss's "Hard Luck Woman" on guitar. Remember to practice each section slowly and gradually build up your speed. Enjoy playing this classic rock ballad and have fun expressing yourself through music.
