Ace Frehley; "Cold Gin" guitar lesson. 2010.

Ace discuses the song he wrote and gives a guitar lesson.

[@Appleblade]

2:39 ... 'that's what gives it the balls' 🤣 ... Been replaying early KISS music ... something I've noticed compared to other bands: KISS sounds happy... even on God of Thunder... their music is uplifting.

[@tonysimmons5729]

Most of the early tracks were recorded in major keys. Major keys sound more upbeat and positive.

[@IRONWOOKIE0825]

@@tonysimmons5729 I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, but they're tuned to Eb while playing major chords, so the keys are flat or minor. You ARE right, though.

[@tonysimmons5729]

@@IRONWOOKIE0825 Thats a good point. But the version I have played over the years was written in c#maj. the half step down on guitars doesn’t change the key to a minor key. It just drops the “sound” of the guitars to Cmaj. And yes I know there are multiple ways of playing the song so no worries. The chord progression in the intro is A5, G5, E5 ( if I remember right ☺️) with some embellishment from Ace.

[@cbrockbishop1566]

totally right. They loved what they were doing and it came thru.

[@NobleBruv]

bWaLLs

[@rlin2648]

Aces riffs aren’t about speed like a damn lost bumble bee they are like the guitar talking to you on every different riff. He talks negatively about his own playing but I don’t think he even recognizes the genius of his simplistic speaking riffs that we all love since we were kids in the 70’s I think that’s why his guitar playing has spoken volumes for decades-literally spoken, like poetry. Another way to put it is- Every Ace riff is played with purpose, nothing is bullshit fill. Just like all the old pentatonic blues men of the past.

[@vikingson9000]

Ace has more memorable licks then ANY guitar player I know ! Speed means nothing without class ! Yes I stole that quote . The best years of Kiss was with Peter & Ace.

[@shawnwarner5263]

Absolutely

[@jamesmccormick875]

While I love Ace and agree on the speed I’d have to say Tony Iommi and Jimmy Page have great riffs. What’s a tragedy to me is that Kiss, as musician are not taken seriously. Ace is among the most influential guys out there. They could wear all the makeup they want but it was their music that got them over with the people.

[@vikingson9000]

@@jamesmccormick875 I think they are taken serious as great musicians, all Kiss members are. They are by other musicians as well as their fans? If anyone argues they are not then I know they don't know what they are talking about.

[@tomslick2058]

Its about melody. It has to make your toes tap.

[@vikingson9000]

@@tomslick2058 definitely !!

[@t8r507]

I like Ace because he leaves his pretences at the door, Like jamming with your cool uncle or something. Chill and comfortably talk shop

[@davedavis775]

I love listening to Ace talk and play. He's the reason I wanted to learn guitar in the first place. He's also the main reason I play a Les Paul Custom. I got my first new LP back when Kiss was still relatively new. Way back in 1979. Thanks Ace . To me he is the one and only Kiss lead guitarist. All others are just copies.

[@baceandrews]

Makes that guitar scream.

[@patrickhale424]

@@oldjim1078 he meant they were only 6yrs into their almost 50yr career

[@Mark-um5hc]

Kiss, in 1979. Was at their peak of their career. They had a lot going on then. The movie, "Kiss meet the Phantom." They were selling kiss dolls in K-Mart. Lol... I was 6 yrs. old then. Those dolls were $5.50 each. In the late 90's, they were estimated for $6500.00 then. I'd like to know what they are worth today. Kiss comics. The list goes on.

[@wildbill2122]

Yes, 'ACE' was THE MAN, my 1st Les Paul was stolen in 1980..a CUSTOM Black Beauty....and I then had to scrape $$$ together for 3 years and was lucky to get an SG for $275, as ANGUS was also THE MAN !!!

[@jakesnizzle9385]

Agreed.

[@thegeordieweatherman8460]

TREMENDOUS. 'I'm not musically taught '....no, but you're a genius.

[@stevegoulding6328]

In an interview he said "its what comes out of the speakers that counts!" He's spot on. There is no point being the fastest player if I doesn't have melody and sound good! Jimmy page was the same, nothing too fancy, just catchy and gets you hooked! It's cool though that ace is still a regular down to earth bloke!

[@PlayStation1Purist]

You can’t spell Spaceman with out ACE

[@MichelVictorBatistaVinhas1986]

Yeah...😂

[@Guitarplayer724]

This is great. I grew up listening to Kiss. Ace was probably my first inspiration. Thanks for putting this up.

[@Rockstar-lx2li]

Same here.. he is special

[@marshallskull6132]

Even though dimebag darrell is a huge ace frehley fan so he a a tattoo on his heart

[@powerface71]

When I was in 1st grade I was already in love with the band! I wore their costumes every Halloween! Such an important band to all my Gen X People!

[@DKLabs99]

I brought my Kiss Double Platinum album to show and tell in kindergarten, Easter gift from my mom 🤘🏻

[@jamescoombs2569]

Ace,is a good teacher,he could have been a instructor,in our union plumbing school,back in the late '70's

[@roquefortfiles]

He is a plumber. He said so.

[@Mark-um5hc]

@@roquefortfiles, Lol... Yes he did.

[@roquefortfiles]

@@Mark-um5hc One of my all time favorite guitarists!.. Technically a bit of a train wreck but he has his own style

[@Mark-um5hc]

@@roquefortfiles, I totally agree. He's his own. Doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks. Love it about him.

[@ShockBot127]

🤣

[@Tony-oc2ox]

When Ace said who plays it just like the record?

[@jimcarter6669]

Ace is really good at teaching. Sometimes a basic song is harder to understand because it's the subtle changes that sound so cool. And he does a fantastic job explaining so anybody can get get it, if they are paying attention

[@crazytube5055]

Ace actually didn't know what the cord names where so someone off screen was telling him the proper names lol. But I agree he is very good at explaining

[@jimcarter6669]

@@crazytube5055 The Beatles also were said to have limited musical technical knowledge in the early years.

[@johnnyg7525]

Just when you think you Aced it. Ace shows me what I've been missing. Nothing like learning from the master. Ace, will always be my favorite and a life long hero. Kiss will never be kiss without Ace & Peter, There was a chemistry that made it what it was.

[@Charlie_B.]

Is it just me or do these songs sound better when Ace plays them

[@BrianSGuitars]

He has a feel no one else can duplicate. Tommy Thayer plays the notes. Ace emotes the notes.

[@garettsuperloser804]

Always best when the WRITER of the song plays it, yes!

[@georgb6175]

@@oldjim1078 well said!

[@jimhornaday8722]

He wrote ‘em and I agree they sound better with Ace!!

[@wildbill2122]

No, its true, 'ACE' IS THE MAN !

[@renanpires3396]

It's impressive how Ace can play with so many rings on his fingers haha ​​he's a really old school rock guy, no rules, just feeling the rock sound!

[@ernestkaiser6893]

Strutter was the best rock song ever written. The early Kiss songs, along with Kiss Alive are still near and dear to me. Everyone was diggin his riffs. In an interview, he said " you guys are idolizing an idiot". LOL..still makes me chuckle after all these years.

[@Appleblade]

I think I agree with you here... there's something about that song. Both solos are great, but the outro on Strutter live is my all time favorite outro ... and, yes, I know (& love) the outro on Mr. Crowley and Tonight as well. ;))

[@ernestkaiser6893]

@@Appleblade you have good taste my friend

[@alexlaborde385]

It's like picking favorite kid.imposible. There's a KZbin vid has every Kiss song in order .Every song on their first 7 albums are still great listening

[@SteveOuimette]

Love it! This was one of the first songs I heard from KISS and was instantly a fan. Gotta say though, what's up with that horrible tone? All muddy and low-end heavy with very little mids. The antithesis of 70's KISS/Marshall/Les Paul tone.

[@peterodriguez6408]

Ace.. keep rocking brother they’ll never be another lead sound in KISS like you!!!

[@Mark-um5hc]

You said it right there. They will not be another lead guitarist, like Ace, ever.

[@PSjustanormalguy]

Even Ace messes it up sometimes, after the little pentatonic down riff he has to land on that A power chord and his pinky catches the B string. I must have practiced that transition for days when I was a teenager. Now days I just mash the whole damn lot with the left hand and hope for the best. 🤣

[@ScreenTeamShow]

Anyone else go "Alriiiiii hiiii hiiiiiight, oh yeaah!" in their head during that intro?

[@Duckas]

Every time

[@jameshughes6049]

Hell yeah!!!

[@brucedemarest3929]

No, but I can't help but singing, "My heaters broke and I'm so Ty-rrrrd

[@anthward1972]

Gotta love a lesson from the Legend himself. Not enough legends doing this. Thanks Ace.

[@bwalk009]

Great video. At the end of the day Ace is a regular guy. He might have struggled to be where he's at but is willing to share some tricks. I Love that. Rock-On, Ace. You're a legend!

[@alanhaynes418]

Now THATS what I call a Gibson Les Paul "Custom" - what a great looking guitar!

[@CitizenSoldier500]

I left kiss when Ace did. He introduced me to the music and inspired me to love the guitar. He was the real rock star in the band and made it fun while Gene and Paul were more about the business. Rock n roll is about the fun and Ace did it well

[@wildbill2122]

Funniest sequence...'ACE' sez, "I am also doin' a CHUKKA-CHUKKA', Thanks ACE ! Say Hello to DA BRONX 4 ME !!

[@tonysexton8207]

Nothing better than learning it from the man himself!

[@sirscottwilliamwalmer7639]

This is like Einstein giving a math lesson. God bless you if you can absorb any of the majic. If you can't, just enjoy ACE. Yo ACE, I just wanna see your G STRING. ACK!

[@Michael-jv2cn]

So I repeat that 4 times? I don't know.

[@onyourmarkphoto]

Who else immediately cranked on Kiss Alive to hear this after watching Ace share this? I know what I'm playing on my guitar tonight.

[@j.jester7821]

Ace is the reason I drove my parents crazy until they bought me a cheap electric guitar in 1975. A japanese bolt on SG copy with cheap gold foil pickups. I can honestly say playing the guitar has kept me going at times, otherwise i would have checked out long ago.

[@dahartluke8438]

Man sounds like hes been killing some cold gin in preparation for this video

[@leolovell6218]

He's been sober for 15 years

[@drby0788]

@@leolovell6218 there were rumors he was coked out on his latest tour

[@TheDukeOfPannekoeken]

@@drby0788 Ace has relapsed many times since 2014

[@lecroixband]

1630:" I wasnt that good of a gutiar player" Ace, no disrespect but that statement still rings true but you're still Da Man!!!

[@LUckybones25]

There is nothing technical about Ace’s playing, but there is no denying that he inspired generations of young people to learn how to play guitar!

[@markcatron8996]

He's the reason I play. Ace is a melodic player, His solos always blend well in every song.

[@yanksrule311]

Ace isn’t technically great. What makes him what he is, are his riffs and phrasing. In other words, a musician and not only a player.

[@TXmotoRacer]

Say what you will about Ace and his challenges but the dude can flat fuckin shred and has his own style. This video makes that pretty clear, especially the little run where he shows how he can plan vibrato at various speeds and using any finger. Awesome.

[@daveg4236]

Yep. He was definitely on his way to be a bigger influence than he is until booze became his enemy

[@HerrinSchadenfreude]

How many people besides me starting singing it when he played it through at the end of the video?

[@onlyfromadistance7326]

Ace is the reason I started playing guitar... \m/>.

[@jamiebelilah193]

Thank you very much for the great video you made. Awesome❤

[@LUckybones25]

“Wang bar” 😂🤣😂

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

Love this riff Ace was one of my guitar 🎸 heroes...

[@ashleighsalinas8526]

I love his nail polish. No seriously I want that color lol

[@robertwhitcomb6105]

Chucka chucka! That’s rock & roll!

[@wildbill2122]

I saw 'KISS' at a Bar in NYC when I was 12, it was big deal at the time.... 1973...I thought they were ridic....silly costumes and all...What did I kno ? I was 12 yrs old....

[@georgb6175]

Whoa.

[@wildbill2122]

@@georgb6175 Zeppelin @ Madison Square Garden in '75 & '77 was much better....the whole frikkin building was shaking !

[@georgb6175]

@@wildbill2122 that’s amazing!

[@wildbill2122]

@@georgb6175 Yes, Looking back, I realize I was lucky to grow up in NYC .

[@lucasvonbraun]

That part @ 12:58 is pure genius

[@FrehleyFan3988]

Ace is the best “trout player” I’ve ever known about 😂

[@Mst3000113]

Angus and Mal obviously were inspired by this riff in the opening of Riff-Raff.

[@highdb1]

They were influenced by Paul Kossoff in Free.

[@4rcgv]

Clean and precise playing, and a real cool guy.

[@white6delta]

"I like to play the A open, that's what gives it the balls" 😄😄

[@elpfanjahrling4668]

That's a Pretty Guitar !

[@BCRSIX]

Intro lick - same pattern as bridge in Paull Kossoff's "All Right Now" by Free. If you're too young to know this tune, look it up, it would be well worth it. It is an excellent study in this pattern.

[@pedraw]

when he says "sometimes I play it down here"................I hear "hotter than hell"............might be just me

[@DoctorHemi]

That main riff is so cool! I remember as a 9-10 year old, groovin' to that riff and I still love it today. Also "chucka chucka"! :D

[@walterjr.steinert6054]

“Then I fly up to the 17th fret” Ace rules!

[@sheepdog4041]

I'm always playing the A open,that's what gives it the balls. Classic Ace,the only reason i ever followed Kiss.

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

Lol! Ok, he’s Ace Frehley, he definitely has earned his place in music history. That said, he’s like a Rock star parody of the most cliché kind. So arrogant I was laughing out loud.

[@scottalexander4665]

Ace taught me a lot of guitar licks that I still use today....... Thanks Ace.......👍

[@renanpires3396]

One of the best things in KISS history is definitely Ace saying: Rock And Roll (and giving a thumbs up )👍

[@philbarrows424]

I fucking LOVE Ace👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎸🎸🎸🎼🎼🎼❤️❤️❤️

[@BoogyWoogyCreep]

Simplicity sells the most music.

[@gregdemeterband]

Just did Cold Gin cover tribute to Ace if you like to hear it...

[@Medusa.1000]

He's the Best ! in that BAND!

[@frostedhead]

If i'd have three arms I'd give this a three thumbs up

[@mikeherrmann494]

Well AC DC sure picked up something from this back then.!

[@freemandiaz5123]

@2:10 Oh Shit!

[@kele5181]

He seems so down to earth, just a totally cool guy

[@cbrockbishop1566]

what a great player and a cool dude. too bad he didn't sing more, I liked his voice better than Paul Stanleys

[@Metal_Horror]

Ace's guitar work is the epitome of rock. It's all classic licks based around chords and pentatonic. And he has the classic guitar choice, the venerable Les Paul. If there's one word I could use to describe Aces playing and style, it'd be classic. His songwriting went on to influence bands like AC/DC, whose songs sound closer to Ace's than any other writers in Kiss. The way he learned, by analyzing the greats that he admired, like Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton, is a timeless rock tradition. No reading music, no theory. Just standing on the shoulders of giants.

[@shaunjones3429]

I dont even play guitar and just watching ACE give these lessons is just awesome. Thanks ACE for taking time for your fans your great man!

[@TheContingencyPlan]

His sloppiness makes his sound. And those bends are insane.

[@acerob7173]

I got the DVD. it's a must have for every fan

[@pedromusic4209]

That makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside 😝🤟 Thanks Ace🙏. By the way You and Kiss blew my ears out in a concert in st.louis mo. I have ear damage till this day. That was about 40 years ago. Thanks again 🤪🙏

[@bobbykane39]

Love that trill section. What a great overall lesson and wirh a fresh guitar isolation track. Awesome.

[@LUckybones25]

I never realized this song was so easy to play.

[@effychase62]

Another great lesson from ACE. Cold Gin has been a fav of mine since first released. I was about 14 back then. Saw KISS first time in Philadelphia at the Spectrum in 1978. The ticket was just 8.00. So cool.

[@guntherlunzchinz3095]

Ace is the man! Only rock star i ever met, and he was like a friend i haven't seen in a while.

[@marcomodena8076]

My First Guitar Hero and that's when I hadn't still able to play Guitar 😂😂👍🙋🏻‍♂️🤘🤙

[@CraigArndt]

PRACTICE. This is a note to myself. Thanks Ace, no short cuts.

[@otis7778]

ACE, great. just found out that you give lessons. thx man that you share some of your knowledge.d and im in the mood to cut just ONE fucking thumb. g from germany

[@Arcturian1111]

Ace Frehley don't play it that way, oh wait you are Ace Frehley my bad. 😂

[@dantwomey4215]

This guy is the coolest Rock Star of them all. Exactly what I thought Rock Stars were like. Until , of course, ya hear them talk for the first time.

[@joehahn8817]

Ace, I love ya' buddy, but, them's be bars, not turn arounds...😉

[@Flash46201]

I love it. He wrote the song, yet he says 'I do it maybe 4 times, I dunno'...Gold!

[@varminttank]

It kinda sounds like the beavis and butthead theme

[@BostonBuzz]

That was so cool. I think I'm ready to become a kiss fan......

[@richardchampagne2864]

My friends that is kiss, 100 percent listen without him there isn't no kiss at all, wow.

[@ClarenceSlade]

Without question one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Kiss was never the same.

[@justryzza9102]

Low-key just learnt this song cuz of him, big inspiration on me thx for posting

[@jakesnizzle9385]

My all time favorite guitar player. Love this guy.

[@TimothyWarner-q7s]

One of his best tunes why you think Paul an gene kept playing it live for

[@RandomKissFan0815]

...Thats what gives it the balls...: thats what aces riffs are all about

[@frostedhead]

All KITH thongs are in the key of A

[@gregdemeterband]

Iconic Riff! The excitement and emotion live is totally awesome! kiss kept it going! Big fan!

[@gregdemeterband]

Just did Cold Gin if you like to listen...Studio Version...

[@williewasahippie]

I actually like this short part of the song the most. lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXe7n3eMbKuNZ8U

[@harrykadaras9459]

Ace is the place...where the coolesr rock licks were born

[@michael4591]

If you need a lesson for this… you are not made for guitar

[@nicoplantenga6484]

easy on the energy drinks Ace...😉

[@yankee1112]

Pretty good playing for a plumber

[@highdb1]

Close ups reveal Ace has some real lady fingers. 😁

[@vicabramov8983]

perfect - self taught

[@AR-pm9nv]

The title could be, “Ace just does stuff”.

[@pjmoreau]

thx for posting

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Ace is so technical.