Ace Frehley's HARDEST LICK?? (and how I hacked it)

[@Appleblade]

When I try to copy Ace it's not the notes that are special but the timing. His sense of rhythm is really different.

[@martindeandrade1275]

Ace is a bit of an awkward, goofy guy. That somehow gives him his mojo. He occilates. Sometimes he's a little behind, sometimes he's a little ahead.

[@JENDALL714]

Ace never took a lesson, so his style is unorthodox and doesn't follow any rules versus someone who has had structured training in guitar. Vinnie had trouble with Ace's solos', if you listen to Vinnie live with KISS in 83, his solo's are very different than Ace, Love Gun in particular is not even close to Ace, still sounds good, but totally different solo.

[@2204JCM]

Ace sounds like he can barely play his own licks.

[@bwgti]

@@martindeandrade1275 - I think the word for that is "sloppy"? Ace has many fans. And many young people play guitar to this day because of him. I don't want to be too disrespectful. But lord. On the albums before Destroyer. It sounds like the recording equipment is malfunctioning the band sounds so off.

[@mooch514]

@@bwgti 1st few kiss albums had bad sound production...no budget. They recorded it as best they could

[@ibji]

I have my own hack for this. Instead of using a metronome, I run up and down the stairs for a minute and use my heartbeat.

[@adamrichards2072]

Lol

[@theunfortunatespectacle7381]

Ace said the hardest solo to relearn for the reunion was 100,000 Years. He was sorta pissed at his younger self for how demanding the figure toward the end is. Ace is the reason I started playing guitar also. Eddie Van Halen is the reason I stopped. Stevie Ray Vaughan is the reason I started again.

[@dananthony304]

Thats one of Axe's tunes that stump me for sure! Its TOUGH to play dude

[@MusicStudent1]

@@dananthony304 That 100,000 years thing had to be an exercise. I bet Ace practiced little exercises like that when he was a kid and I think that one ended up in the song. It’s hard and really cool.

[@lisag18]

Great comment

[@beaukneaus]

I got into guitar by listening to Eddie, Vai, Satch, etc, and it really ruined me as a musician, lol. I should have been concentrating on bands like KISS and ACDC and other more accessible rock and metal, but I really loved the music and the idea of 'instrumental guitar'. I just couldn't PLAY any of it! lol

[@tadgaulke3072]

Copying Ace helped me to become a lead guitar player. At one point I knew all of Ace's parts on at least the first side of Alive, and a few others, too. But, yeah, A Hundred Thousand Years is problematic. BTW, Ace opened my eyes to how to play lead, EVH LAUNCHED me to greater things, not made me QUIT. Peace.

[@voronOsphere]

Agreed, Mike! Paul Stanley is brilliant with melody! I don't care what anyone says, Paul Stanley is a great songwriter!

[@thebluesrockers]

as long as he's not trying to put the X in sex, and the words to all hell's breaking loose sure sucks ass too. but you're right as far as Paul being a great song writer. I always felt Rock and Roll Over was more of a Paul Stanley Album. and that's a great album.

[@Sweet.Mother.of.Cheesus]

Paul's a great song writer and used to be good singer. unfortunately character wise....

[@dustdevil240]

Nobody said he couldn't write awesome tunes its just all the purple and prancing that gives us concern yeesh

[@markflemmer1326]

@@thebluesrockers Rock and Roll Over has always been my favorite Kiss album, at least among their studio albums (since I consider Alive to be mostly/basically/essentially a live album 😏).

[@leokimvideo]

Ace's guitar work in 100,000 Years is to me a huge milestone in Ace's sound and style in a Kiss song. As everyone has seen over the years no one can emulate the Ace style of playing required for 100,000 Years. Even Bruce Kuluk explained it was a tricky one to play. I have always though Tommy Thayer still struggles to get the correct vibrato and timing in this song. It's like he's playing it without any soul attached. Ace was not a perfect player, and it's his imperfections that really added the spice to his works.

[@st4r.ace872]

exactly! ace has always been a sloppy player but that sloppy playing is what makes ace sound like ace and makes kiss, kiss! ace never was the perfect nor the best but he’s the best for kiss and the fans. ace truly is positioned as an underdog within guitarist

[@thebluesrockers]

I have always loved that 100,000 years solo, but Ace has admitted that he's never been happy with it. hahaha.. I believe he does some amazing shit in that solo. Paul Stanley ruined Peter Criss's drum solo on Alive by running his mouth. what I wouldn't give to hear that solo without Paul ruining it.

[@MobiusBandwidth]

J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr, who plays Les Pauls a lot, and has incredible tone said no one has vibrato like Ace.

[@russblack443]

You have to give Bruce credit,he could play ace's stuff live and it sounded pretty close and good

[@jimunderwood77]

Ace is the reason I started playing guitar

[@danieldossantos1409]

Me too if it wasn't for ace I wouldn't be playing guitar.

[@TheRustedShackleford]

Same story for me, except my Kiss obsession began in 1999 at 14. A little late to the party 😄

[@conorbutler4808]

Same here I was five and it was 2000 when I saw ace's signature Les Paul custom with the lightning bolt inlays and I immediately knew I wanted to learn to play guitar and hopefully one be as good as Ace

[@KevinWaide]

Ace is the reason we ALL started playing guitar, whether we know it or not! My obsession with KISS started in 1978 at age 6.

[@vincentxavier93]

Same. Although I play nothing like him.

[@TVoltG]

I studied a lot of Paul's and Ace's licks growing up. It really is challenging to try and nail Ace's licks because of his off times and slight tempo notes he does. But really fun to try. Paul's licks were always in the pocket and yes very melodic. These two really complemented each other. It was a great match when they were on top of their game. Rock and Roll Over is a great album and too me one of their best with riffs. I think one of their start to finish best albums.

[@CupCakeClan420]

That’s the way ace was. He was self taught to he didn’t follow the rules. That’s what I love about his style, a quote on another comment section describes his style perfectly. “Aces style is like lasagna, sloppy but good as fuck.”

[@MNskins11]

Rock n Roll Over is my fav. 👍

[@tambor76]

Ace was always the coolest kiss member.

[@andrewitzla]

Ace is such a badass

[@LadyFairChildVideo]

alot of people that dismiss ACE base it on their elementary knowledge of his solos or riffs. but when they actually have to play it note for note, some of those are really even difficult for pros. pros can play Ace's stuff wrong really easily.

[@stephenmoore3035]

Agreed... I've seen a lot of big talkers humbled by the solo in "Love Her All I Can"

[@markb6863]

Yup. I know maybe two guitarists out of hundreds who can play Ace solos correct.

[@deandee8082]

yea I can see how, that's pretty complicated stuff...

[@marcusquesenberry8698]

Dude I agree wholeheartedly and sometimes these best of lists piss me off. So I've learned to suck it and direct them to , not Kiss, but his newer stuff. I advise them to LISTEN to - The Acorn is Spinning & Seperate (2:30 in), his version of The Joker, Magic Carpet Ride, Into the Night (all around 2:00 in), Bring it on Home, Five Card Stud, and of course the "Fractured" series is phenomenal. If you haven't heard any of these let me know what you think dude.

[@mariamolly3637]

I love Alive I and II, such high energy albums. Got To Choose solo is my favorite of his. Great playing man!

[@jeffreybabino8161]

Hi I love both of these albums I saw kiss in 76 destroyer tour Madison square garden the best concert I ever saw ace did a great solo I play guitar and love kiss thanks have to a great day

[@carldavis1407]

Got to Choose is the first one I learned how to butcher...way back in the 70's 😎

[@danconnolly2341]

GTC does have a great solo. Kinda soars up and down and then gets a bit staccato at times.

[@ace-rob71]

ACE is God! He make always a combination of same riffs thas seems easy but they don't at all!!! And every solo is really original and distinct even if the riffs are always those... is incredible. And his attitude is also awesome

[@DaveWestGuitar]

Agreed. Except God.

[@lucyshyne3306]

​Agreed.Exept You.❣️🥵❌💯😜🤪😆👅

[@MS-yk6kn]

Ace has so many great solos to choose from, especially from the first 6 records and his solo record from 1978. I Stole Your Love is one of th best, though brief. Well done!!

[@nicolascovers.]

ace is the best

[@_jony711]

But not live. Ahahahahah

[@Nightwalk444]

Nah, he's pretty shit.

[@martindeandrade1275]

@@_jony711 Ted Nugent said if Ace in the 70's -- When Ace was good he was awesome, when he was bad he sucked.

[@martindeandrade1275]

@@Nightwalk444 In your very humble opinion

[@c.h.r.i.s2253]

I think that’s aces “secret”. He really beats the daylights out of his strings. Watching the videos of him playing on small interviews, he REALLY attacks the strings!

[@rodbelding9523]

I Stole Your Love, extremely underrated Kiss song. I smiled the moment the video started and I heard that.

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

This was great. Can you do one on one of Iommi’s 80s solos ? His solos are deceptively hard too.

[@JuhaniPaasikangas]

Good idea.

[@tweettweetjones1262]

I wanna figure out that War Pigs trill.

[@jeffhodge7272]

Paul also played the 1st part of the split solo in I Want You.Check it out.

[@guskuratlejr9228]

Ace is my mentor and you did a great job teaching us and I greatly appreciate your time and help!

[@RandomSean2608]

Nice bend at the beginning. It sounds almost off key. Thanks for the vid dude. You always know how to get some good info across without being too complicated :-)

[@mandomusic1292]

Ace always gets my attention. 🎶🎵♠️

[@gl0087]

I watched a few videos with Ace after I saw this one a couple weeks ago, and I think the way you play that is how he did it too. He mentioned in one video that he muffles the strings while he plays, so it's possible your spot on.

[@patmckeownmusic6478]

You should make a video where you share everything you learned in the lesson with Bruce Kulick

[@tythompson4794]

Another ace video! I stole your love is one of my favorites! The bass is great, the solo is amazing, and the rhythm is soooo cool, and god bless little Peter on the drums. I’m loving learning his stuff and this is great instruction!

[@ollid.5590]

Great walkthrough! To me Ace‘s solo here is technically one of his best. I think he would have been even more recognized for his abilities if he would have continued improving his skills instead of having all the booze back then. What a pity but „Ace is Ace“ and we all love him anyway ;)

[@heyjarrod]

Yep, KISS, Love Gun, was one of my first albums. I was only around nine or 10 when my brother gave me love gun, and the first Van Halen album. And Ted Nugent, double live gonzo. So they are still the first few records displayed in my record collection. Cool shirt too, I can’t tell if that’s an old one, or something more recent. But that “tournament”was held here at my old college, CSUN. I’m actually wearing a newer Cobra Kai shirt right now... 1984, that was a great year for movies, and music!!! 👍🏻🇺🇸🎥🎸😎

[@briskflicks688]

One minute old post! Ace Frehely rocks I was him for halloween and the makup was REALLY accurate😂

[@malvonanaliseiv8629]

Great video dude, helped me getting this Wednesday started over here in Brazil. Thank you!

[@prwapps]

'Dark Light' solo is the hardest thing I've heard from Ace

[@bobowrathsovine.]

It couldn't have been too hard to create, there's no chords under it. It's just free style

[@jhay3966]

ironically I found it the easiest solo to learn by ear

[@ferox965]

Shot Full of Rock and Remember Me on Trouble Walkin' are real scorchers.

[@tshouse2782]

Breakout?

[@tonop4353]

the solo that has cost me the most work to play is the one by Makin love

[@CC-qb9sm]

Great timing! I was just revisiting your 17 greatest guitar techniques from Ace Frehley lesson and wondering if you would ever do more lessons in the style of Ace! Thanks!! Also I should mention Bruce is one of the nicest guys you’ll meet.. so I am eager to hear about your lesson with him!

[@parallelpost]

What would James Hetfield have done? Likely Ace was drunk when he breezed through this 🙃

[@MrLemmy2000]

Nothing wrong with a few beers before a show

[@aleisterbroley900]

And probably a little coca-eenah to help with the lickety-split licks

[@dowens3781]

@@MrLemmy2000 I prefer to call it "performance enhancement beverages" 😎

[@jeffreybabino8161]

Ace is my idol saw him in 76 destroyer tour Madison square garden the best concert I ever saw

[@Halenrocks5150]

One of your best videos yet! Love Ace and especially your breakdown on this killer lick!

[@joshuataft5541]

I might get hate for saying this ..I know he's an I con but I was shocked after learning more about ace ,how easy and basic his playing was..I never realy checked it out other than radio listening..but now I'm a fan..that was back when aditude was as or more important than abilities..and yes I know he's great and loved by some and yes to a non player it's amazing..I jst find it more attainable than some lead players ...I love it.. thats my style... I'm not the greatest but I live and love it

[@DM-pz7bn]

Strange Ways. Killer solo

[@MS-yk6kn]

Ace has many great solos 74-79, and Strange Ways is top 10 4 sure

[@rickbennett3046]

You still killed it man 👍 I've been playing for 25yrs and still can't get that timing!!!

[@stephenallsman8913]

When I was in a Kiss tribute band, the Ace lick that gave me fits was one in 100,000 years just before the breakdown. D and G strings alternating kick, you know the ine

[@MusicStudent1]

Yes, that’s the hardest one. To this day, I have a hard time with it. I think it was a picking exercise that Ace incorporated into the song.

[@voronOsphere]

Thanks, Mike!!! I love Ace Frehley

[@ScottieFarrowelvisKong]

Nice lesson. You should try "Mr Speed" . Paul's doing some cool stuff in the main riff. Very melodic

[@45craze]

You can hear the Keith Richards influence.

[@martindeandrade1275]

Good job, nailed it! You look like Ace as well, when he was younger

[@SelectCircle]

That is pretty hard. I'm impressed. I always thought of Ace as a second-rater with a smattering of the blues.

[@andreasdeutinger7319]

ace is cool. what he does, seems easy compared to some shredders. but because he plays from the heart, his timing and playing is hard to copy. but where most of the shredders sound dull, everything he plays, sounds cool.

[@echo1434]

Couldn't have said it better!

[@hkguitar1984]

The beginning of the solo by Paul Stanley fits as he uses a pretty heavy string gauge on his guitars.

[@codygranrud6212]

Such a juicy lead. Great song too.

[@robgray4188]

Even ace today cannot do it precisely today, a shadow of his former self sadly

[@_fantasticscenes]

Ace’s solo Kiss album is the best too.

[@xanhteps648]

Wouldnt have started playing if I didnt hear this track from alive 2. Jimi Hendrix put the idea to play in my mind. Ace made me shut up and play.

[@lucasvonbraun]

Makin' Love is up there too

[@MindControlUltra]

I think playing Aces stuff without DiMarzio pickups is kind of blasphemy ;-) Ace was my first Milestone starting to play guitar. 11 yo listening to "Shock me" on Alive 2, parents not home, volume up and "playing" on my tennis racket :-o freaking out, jumping around. That day I decided to learn guitar. And "Fractured Mirror" is my morning alarm sound after all these years. Nothing better to get up in the morning.

[@sauletto1]

Agreed on the DiMarzio's !!! I have 17 total (just counted them !) DiMarzio X2-N's and Super Distortions in most of my guitars because of Ace. I still need about 20 more for the rest, but we know that's a lot of $$$ . I got into the X2-N's for awhile in the 80's and early 90's, but still like the Super Distortions the best. :)

[@pensnut08]

Damn, I've heard that a million times and never got how sick tnat lick is. Damn!

[@jaqueslagerweij6882]

I saw ace and had to like

[@StratmanDarrell]

Good lesson. Like the Karate Kid shirt too. You know Daniel Larusso also played guitar in Crossroads. Can you play his part in the guitar battle against Steve Vai? (actually both parts were played by Vai with Ry Cooder doing the slide parts)

[@2hi2dye]

Such a cute comment

[@sloanchampion85]

If you didn't see em until the 80s you missed em my friend, first time I saw them was in 76

[@thecommondingus]

Space dude is unreal

[@hanzoshimada2551]

Brilliant lesson, never really listened to kiss but now I have to :P

[@jeffhodge7272]

They really have some good songs on ALL their albums. Every band lays an egg on every album. I don't LOVE every single AC/DC,Judas Priest,Crue,etc...song either. I go for feel. If it hits me a certain way I'll listen to it a million times though! 🤟 Rock On!

[@David_Downs]

Everything up to Alive II is pretty essential listening, everything after minus a couple albums (Revenge was decent) is okay to awful.

[@vestel777]

I Stole Your Love is the first opening song on their Movie Kiss Meets The Phantom Of The Park. Plus it’s off the album Love Gun.

[@andrewbroughton65]

No..it's the 1st song on their movie 'Detroit Rock City' actually

[@mattyc.9332]

Love Gun is my favorite Kiss album....❤️

[@thomstal3626]

Maybe also a hack is what Steve Lukather sometimes does with a legato like that. He picks it first, then use his middle finger to play the next note in advance so he has the time to move with the pick

[@iloveitall]

Ace is one of the hardest players to cover. His stuff always looks like common blues patterns, but in detail it is very unconventional, impulsive and tricky. This day I sat over five beats of the "Calling Dr. Love" solo for over an hour.

[@martindeandrade1275]

He was a fiery player in his prime, very passionate and intuitive

[@smokinjay6597]

Calling Dr. Love has that one tricky section after the dinosaur bend. That quick flurry of notes. I've practiced for weeks and never been able to nail it.

[@robertrandolph9756]

ACE FREHLEY IS THE REASON I PICKED UP A GUITAR TOO!!

[@rmmccarthy1240]

Guitars!!! Great choice, great breakdown, and great t-shirt. Fantastic post!

[@applejacks971]

Ans this is why I became a drummer. That's a way cool breakdown of those couple of measures! Well done :)

[@shawn3890]

Hot in the shade was my first KISS concert also. I was on top of the world ,but then I got to see them in 96 when they got back together the high point in my life as a kiss fan

[@repetitivemotion]

I don’t know man, it sounded good to me. ACE is the man. I didn’t like KISS when I was younger. Blackmore, Iommi and Nugent were my influences. But now I am getting into ACE and KISS

[@BrennanBarrier]

You’ve GOT to do the solo from “Love Em, and Leave Em”

[@daviddemaria3982]

See You In Your Dreams Tonight also. It rocks

[@myrskylintu1]

I love your channel. For me as a huge Stones and big Kiss fan, Ace is like hard rock version of Mick Taylor, playingwise. I have seen Mick Taylor play here in a small club three meters away, and i had a chance to go to see Ace play in a small club here back in 2009, but for some reason which i can not remember i did not go. Likely reason is that it sold out too fast for me, or i heard about it too late. Ace's style has this certain kind of laidback wildness, and i guess it comes from his american indian roots to a some degree.

[@jeffhodge7272]

I really was disappointed when Bruce played the entire solo. Paul's part is a great lead in(see what I did there?)to Ace's lead. Always been one of my favorite songs by them too.

[@cipollaccia]

Ace is a beast.

[@brianmckenzie1318]

Thanks!!! I can play that solo (barely), but I can't get that part as fast as Ace!! I'll have to try that hack!! Not to promote someone else's channel on your channel, but there is a very small Aussie channel call Eastern Suburbs School of Music. Rhys, who is going through some health issues, has all the KISS solos on his channel (Ace's, Bruces, & etc). Well worth a watch for all the Ace and KISS fans!!!! Anyway, just sharing in case anyone gets stuck on how some of the solos are played.

[@acerob7173]

I still struggle with the solo of Love Gun at tempo... 150 bpm !!! I arrive at 130 without errors and speeding up start to eat notes. Alternative picking problems

[@mangoherpson]

Is that shirt really from 1984?

[@googlesucks7082]

ACE FRELEY LEAD GUITAR!!!

[@SonicVR12]

I want you to do an entire Ace episode and lessons in full makeup 😁🙏

[@haywoodyoudome]

Didn't notice you tense up. Ace was usually half in the bag when he played. Not suggesting you get sloshed but it could help be less tense.

[@mikemiller3936]

Finally a very honest lead guitar expert admitting that not all of us free these licks are easy I’ve always felt as a lead guitar player myself that some of aces solos are very underrated I love the way please all of his licks seem to share in the story of the song some of you will have to think about that

[@mooch514]

I saw that tour too!

[@guitarizt68]

Nailed it, brother.

[@RadioMcRadioface]

he does that trick in shout it out loud too :) good catch on the double hammer on.

[@ruthlane4595]

Hot in the shade was a great tour

[@kele5181]

Old comment I know, but your guitar tone is awesome! Nothing beats les Paul - what amp/effects are you using?

[@MobiusBandwidth]

fascinating to learn it was a split solo, makes me like it even more, classic, so tasty.

[@SammyPrairiechicken]

Love that guitar

[@xyz8655]

I love that lick and song. Great job

[@marcorodriguez7694]

Love the shirt!

[@janiterinadrum1627]

It's a same story with Angus Young, Jimmy Page,,and the list goes on. there's a lot of guitar players that are technically way better,, but did they write those songs that millions and millions of people love and try to learn. I love Yngwie Malmsteen.. I am in Awe of his ability. But when was the last time you heard anybody humming one of his songs or cranking it up on the radio in their car

[@MangoNapalm]

"Love's like a muscle and you make me wanna flex!" Perhaps the quintessential 80s Paul line. hehe

[@genegarret2244]

Baby high heels and a little black lace, i knew her body but i couldnt see her face. Sometimes you gotta suffer for the pleasure that you seek, your begging for an eyefull but you only get a peek!

[@samsmith5004]

This is cool stuff, I've been a ace fan since I heard calling dr love on 8-track lol early maybe mid 70s and it was all because of ace , just that huge guitar , loved him since then an will always. Guess that was my real intro to rock period . Yea I picked up the guitar because of him, but guess I'm meant to play radios lol but he was original , set himself apart ,with crazy ideas and wow just left a mark on rock music like all the best did, ace is a one of a kind an I dont think it was ever about being the best , it was about jamming , rocking , great songs and solos that were freaking super badass .and for that I say the space ace is the poster kid for the lead guitarist ,

[@Ayyem93]

More Ace videos!

[@45craze]

One of my favorites has always been the solo in Mr. Speed. It Keith Richard's like chainsaw is great.

[@TheSweezer]

The only member of Kiss that was technically great was Peter.. Ace took what he had and made great music with it. Paul was the same. They spent more time writing great songs than learning proper Berkley school of music techniques. Tons of respect for that old school way of making music. These young uns have all the techniques and theory but none of the creativity the old school guys have.

[@murrayfrank4246]

You can bet your life on it; Ace Frehley is the GOAT Greatest of all time.

[@Clay_Scar]

Epic! What about Sanctus at the Mirage tho???

[@ninjatanek8516]

Hey Mike I was curious if you have done a video on playing with your fingers flat vs playing on the tips and thumb around or behind the neck. If not can you do a video on it I'm interested on your opinion on thise technique

[@SyprasKill]

What a beautiful Guitar. My dream.

[@KnapfordMaster98]

I think the third group should actually be 9-11-9-12 instead of 9-11-9-11. That little chromatic change gives it a really cool sound.

[@jerrymyers1798]

Cool! Thanks.

[@tkalbfeld1]

Ace is the reason I play a Les Paul!!

[@DVMartin997]

The thing about Ace’s playing style is not simplistic. He plays very heavy right hand, instead of wrist vibrato he shakes the entire guitar, and, while precise, he does play with just a touch of slop. Add his tone, and that inexpressible “feel” or “texture” that everyone has slightly different and you begin to get Ace. Saw them many times, starting in ‘74, and while many can play the notes, it is his unique personality that makes his style. He once said Bruce is a great player but he plays Cold Gin too clean. 🤪 It was too crisp without the staccato attack that Ace did. Stiffer wristed, from the elbow. Less fluid. After the Unplugged gig, Bruce did play it more staccato, closer to Ace’s version. And while G&P always gripe about Peter and Ace, the chemistry of those four made that band what it was. Yes, they had substance issues and are clean now, but enough bashing already. Get over it. They need to reform the original line up, as equal partners, and do it right again. Show the world how it is done.

[@ZenTheMusician]

I was in a band that did Kiss shows. I had no problem playing that. I think the hardest lick is the break in Love Gun.

[@llamashockz]

Never realised the start of ace's part is the same as the start of the mr speed solo