How To Play Armageddon It By Def Leppard - Guitar Lesson -Steve Clark - Phil Collen

In this video I demonstrate how two play Armageddon It by Def Leppard. I cover all the guitar parts including Steve Clark's beautiful guitar solo. There is a lot to learn from this song, not only in guitar technique, but song structure, guitar overdubbing, layering and tone. This is a classic example of why Hysteria was such an incredible album. Mutt Lange did an amazing job producing this record and it certainly has his stamp on its along with the guitar stylings of Phil Collen and the late great Steve Clark.

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

My dad saw the Hysteria tour back in 87, he bought a shirt and had washed it so many times that it shrank so small he couldn’t wear it anymore. It was my favorite shirt in high school, wish I still had it!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Haha! Yeh that happened to me a lot. I saved all mine and my kids actually wore some of my shirts growing up. Lol

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker My sister ended up with his 5150 tour shirt, I’ve been trying to wrangle that one for years lol

[@shawnhedrick3570]

I was lucky enough to be at the 1st show on the USA part of that tour - Glens Falls Civic Center, New York, October 1st, 1987. An amazing show, and sadly, the only time I ever got to see Steve Clark perform live. I learned a lot about guitar playing from Steve and Pete (the High n Dry album).

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

@@shawnhedrick3570 Think my dad saw them in New Haven, CT. Probably a few days after that. One of my first memories was them demolishing the New Haven Coliseum and I remember him being devastated. He had seen some incredible concerts there around that time (VH, Scorpions, Def Leppard all in the same year).

[@codacreator6162]

I saw both ends of that tour in Phoenix. Didn’t get a shirt, but those shows still rank as some of the best I’ve seen. Having been a young man in the 80s,that covers a LOT of ground. 😎

[@Rick_Kn]

I never really listened that closely to Steve Clarke's solo. It's incredibly melodic. I was always jealous of those guys. I'm the same age as they are. Thanks Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It was a very cool solo. Maybe Mutt helped work out the parts? Thanks for watching man! 😎

[@timothyplonk2982]

Marty you are so right about Hysteria being a master class of guitar. Excellent lesson and Excellent Tone..You really nailed the Def Leppard sound🎸😎👍🎸👍👍🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Timothy. I really appreciate the kind words man. 😎☮️

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@evanh.6097]

It blows my mind how everyone forgets the outro solo by Phil on this song. It’s up there with Steve’s IMO

[@glyntaylor49]

I'm sure on the intro riff the 2nd time around it doesn't slide up to the 5/4 notes but plays between 2/3 and 2/2 if that makes sense.

[@ColorsFadeGaming]

This is correct.

[@innocentbystander2673]

Great lesson and what a tone. Thank you.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome! And also thanks for the comment and for watching! 😎

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@ryanfraley7113]

I was 7 when this cd came out and got into it as more or less the only band of its sort when literally everything else I listened to was alternative. This album is timeless; anyone from any generation of music fandom can get into it. The riffs were among the best of the 80’s.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It's took me a while to come around to how awesome this album is. I was a couple years late to the party. But yeh... it's amazing. The production. Guitar parts. Writing. Etc. 😎🤟🏻

[@ryanfraley7113]

Marty block these spammers pls. I know you hate this 💩

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@ryanfraley7113 I report everyone I see. They pop up on different videos. It's so annoying!

[@darkhorse21xx]

Great lesson and thanks for sharing this with us. I think you have a minor error in your tab at 22:30. The end of that solo section that goes G9 B9 G9 B11 G9 B9 G9 G9 B10 B 9 G9 on your tab. I think it should be tabbed D9 G9 D9 G11 B9 D9 D9 B10 B9 G9. You talk about pedaling on the D string at fret 9 but the tab doesn't show the D string, just the GBE strings for that short run. And maybe if you can, a picking pattern for the C2 G chord section at 12:43 would be a big help as well. Or maybe I should just tune my guitar back to standard from Eb tuning, lol.

[@erickabner5694]

AWESOME RENDITION!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! 😎

[@Mangoshake2021]

Thanks for the lesson. Killer tone!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! Thanks so much. 😎🤟🏻

[@stevedoingstuff3960]

You absolutely nailed it brotha. The tone is so spot on. Going to learn this one with your help here for sure!

[@markbrady7532]

Thank you man. You always you kill me. This kid in second grade wore a “Hollow Lion” hand made t shirt for Halloween in the ‘80’s …. I went from there

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching man! I appreciate the support.

[@elwesingollo3536]

Great tone - of course love the Jackson... Really nailed the songs parts man, thanx for this :)

[@gordonmelrose4828]

Amazing tutorial! If only all youtube tutorials were like this 🎸👌

[@danielhanson5150]

I like it 😮

[@GuitarShack]

I grabbed my guitar as soon as I saw this lesson! I forget which one of your videos you were playing riffs from this song and I suggested you do a lesson on it and you did! One of my favorites by far. I’ll be playing this one for a while. Thanks for putting in the time for people like me who still dig all this “old” stuff. Steve “Steamin” Clark has been gone a long time, it’s cool that people are still playing his licks. Thanks Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome man! I'm glad you liked the video. Steve was one of my favorites.

[@GuitarShack]

He was very underrated. His playing was very melodic.

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤?

[@Bernz66]

Love that Jackson!!!! My old band back in the late 80’s covered four songs from that album…..

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you! So many good tunes to cover. And people love to hear them to this day!

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@Bernz66]

@@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page

[@donaldyoung9838]

I saw hysteria tour it was so cool to see Rick Allen playing the drums with one hand an Two legs thanks Marty love the the album so thanks for the lesson your an amazing guitar player

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I never had the chance. That's cool man! You're very welcome. Thanks for the support. 😎☮️

[@donaldyoung9838]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker yes sir anytime

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@soundbites1152]

Once again, your tone is just killer! Nice job.

[@rebelrocker113]

Awesome Job,,Thanks for Breaking it Down,, 🎸🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome man! Thanks for watching 😎

[@EricGallant24]

Haven’t picked up an electric guitar once in my life. Yet I’m such a huge fan of 80s-early 90s rock/metal/glam… all with the awesome guitar. Really wish I could play em but idk if I’ll ever get around getting my skills to that point. I picked a genre with some of the most complicated guitar

[@TaxPayingContributor]

So much all purpose knowledge in these lessons. Thanks for the intro lesson nugget.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@mike42441]

Excellent video, thank you for this walk thru !!!!!

[@DavidSmith-oi1uz]

Thank you for easy to follow lessons, and man your tone is on point! Even through my phone, lol

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! I appreciate the support. Thanks man. 🤟🏻😎🤟🏻

[@smytree]

Great Lesson, Thanks. Cheers Marty!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! 😎🥂

[@SweatLaserXP]

Dude that was a great lesson. That went straight into my guitar playlist. Very thorough explanation of the parts that matter. Do you have a video for the rhythm part? You should do it.

[@cantstartafire]

Ha! Dude, I wanted to learn your intro tune so, thanks! Awesome lesson as always. Appreciate ya man

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Bonus lesson! 😂

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome Jackson

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! It's the "northern lights" version. 😎

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!!!

[@mpwhiteloon2316]

Brother! This is the best damn lesson on my fav Def Leppard song!! 🙏 Thank you

[@patrickian8843]

Great lesson…and that’s some of the best guitar tone I’ve heard in a long time!

[@jimmyz2098]

Awesome, Marty! Man... my 2nd all time favorite band... behind The Halen. Really, it's the Halen... and then everything else. So really... Def Lep would be my #1 .... once the list starts back up after Van Halen. And man, what can we say about Hysteria? Absolutely unbelievable record. Another game-changer. This is a really cool lesson. One of the best songs on one of my all time favorite records. You rock, Brother, as always!! Killer player. And killer teacher. And man... that tone you've g4ot here.... wow!! I'm gunna have to get into this....

[@DocHoliday-to6kp]

You are awesome Marty, i feel inspired. Thank You!

[@patrickkeenan6331]

Another fantastic lesson!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Patrick! 😁

[@Dans6913]

🎸Thanks!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks bro. 😎

[@runningfree4606]

I didn't see this lesson coming, Marty. What a surprise! Thanks a lot.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're very welcome! 😁🎵🎵🎵🤟🏻

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@Terrysoddy]

Very good tutorial man. Really nicely done, and very spot on. Really enjoyed it

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks a ton! 😎🤟🏻

[@Rockdognote12]

Thanks!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Welcome!

[@jamiee172]

Pretty cool

[@redcherry6914]

GREAT LESSON, LOVE the way you teach man. peace.

[@mattlockgator2317]

that was really fun Marty

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man. I appreciate the support. 😎🥂

[@JonasSweden1]

Thank you Marty - what an outstanding lesson! 🤙🏻👏🏻

[@leebaron3230]

The intro & solo you play is how Vivian plays it, slightly different from how Steve plays it but still sounds great! Also killer sound!

[@paulwebendorfer5627]

Already know this one, but stumbled on your video and watched the whole thing anyway! Great job on the lesson - subscribed and look forward to checking out the rest of your content.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for the sub! I appreciate you man.

[@CoffeeDrinker71]

Marty, this is a fantastic lesson! The tone and playing is spot on!!!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much😎☮️

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@gregring895]

You get such great tone!!!

[@mikemallett64]

So I gotta ask....What are you playing through to get that tone? New subscriber and big Def Leppard fan. Thanks

[@brandonjackson5865]

That’s a sweet Jackson you got there. I love Steve Clark, Izzy, and Tom Kiefer. You ever thought about doing some Cinderella lessons on here ? Long Cold Winter would be fun, Tom’s pretty much just wearing out the old blues licks but I think it’s awesome. I’m a huge fan of the underrated Rhythm low key lead players from the 80s . Steve, Tom, and Izzy were all considered rhythm players but they played a lot of lead parts too and with some swagger too. Gypsy Road is a fun Cinderella song to play and anything off Heartbreak Station is cool. That great big E is the secret to playing In the Still of the Night that little sneaky E major to B5 change is the shit.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yes for sure. I love Cinderella. Was thinking about doing nobodies fool or Gypsy road soon. 🥂😎

[@brandonjackson5865]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker nobody’s fool is a great one because the slower you play it the better it sounds. There’s live footage of the band playing at a creep but it’s awesome

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤?

[@mattgardiner313]

Great tutorial, broken down nicely. Weirdly, I've never learnt many Leppard songs even though they were one of my favourite bands. I love that jackson, it would complement my blue AT1 and my purple peavey Wolfgang nicely 👌 Liked and subscribed 👍

[@diegolopezlira3267]

Thank you Marty, I've been waiting for some good Def Leppard tunes. Regarding VH, could you please make a lesson of how to play Why Can't This Be Love as well? Thank you 🤘🏻

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome! I've been wanting to Why Can't This Be Love. 👍

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@fbettr2627]

Beautiful JACKSON guitar, Marty. Thank you so much for this great lesson. I've subscribed to your channel and much appreciate your lessons and tutorials. I'm a huge fan of VAN HALEN and DEF LEPPARD. Discovered these two iconic rock bands with '1984' (1984) and 'Hysteria' (1987). My cousin had a copy of 'Pyromania' on LP, and I remember liking the album cover art, but I wasn't familiar with DEF LEPPARD's music until I saw the videoclip to 'Women' on TV. I would appreciate if you could do a lesson on 'Animal' from 'Hysteria'. Thank you.

[@richieismyhero]

Such a good song, that's a nice Jackson! Thanks so much for this

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching and commenting! 😎🙌

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤?

[@echocharlie6707]

This album was so huge that it was the soundtrack to the summer of 87 AND 88. 😂

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It sure was! I hated it at first because my girlfriend was so into it. It made me jealous hahaha. How freaking stupid is that!?!? Then 2 years later I bought it in CD and delved into after everyone else was sick of it. Lol. And now I still listen to it.

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

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[@cguitarallday]

You sounded great on solo

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you so much !

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@shane_and_sue]

Brilliant pal, subbed.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man! 😁🤟🏻

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!!!

[@bdo5187]

Thanks Marty! Awesome job and love the way you teach these lessons. Love Def Leppard and this is very helpful in learning this one! The tone you get in this is spot on and just wondering if you would share you settling on the Fractal for this one. I’m about to get my unit and would love to recreate the tone you have! Thanks again for sharing these amazing lessons!

[@boctok55]

For the life of me, I cannot get pinch harmonics on the lower notes of the lower (bass side) strings. Maybe a hotter pickup?

[@jcbjcb2042]

You could make an argument that Hysteria is the best hard rock album of all time.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Truth man. Its amazing.

[@Briansgate]

woah, holy crap That's my guitar! You get the SL2Q?

[@jesterraj]

Thats one sweet Jackon....whats the model?

[@johnwwest8407]

Thank you for breaking this one down! I have a question about the intro (main) riff. When I listen to this song, it sounds like the last note goes higher in pitch (like you have it shown at 2:40) but then alternates with a lower pitch (not the same as the first). You are the expert, but I hear it alternating at the end of the phrase. Maybe it's the other guitar that's creating the alternating? I dont know :) Thanks!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It's quite possible. There's so many guitars too! It's also possible I showed the part the way I "remembered" it. 😆. You may be right. ☮️

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!

[@JasonGeoffrey]

Good vid man

[@Raddrizz]

What model guitar is that? It's beautiful

[@twowaymuir]

Good stuff on a great band, but I never really liked them much other than some nice effects they used for guitar sounds. No doubt very good musicians, but their market seemed to be teen girls and not me. As usual a great lesson Marty.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

They really had some great songs and production. It's fun to check it all out with headphones and just tune in! 😎

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

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[@truthtobehonest]

Great lesson, thanks Marty. Just wondering what amp are you using in your lessons and demos?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! I run a Fractal Ax8 in stereo through protools. Fractal is a Friedman be sim and 2 Friedman IRs in stereo. I add delays and verb in protools.

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤?

[@dougeakle777]

What Jackson is that Marty? Love the finish!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It's the soloist in Northern Lights! Thanks. 😎

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

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[@dsvet]

I believe they both used the Rockman.

[@curtisprice9806]

Sounds wrong from the very beginning....that intro is a lot cleaner sounding and finger picked with Steve Clark using a Gibson Firebird guitar. The verse part is using a slow deep flange and played totally different...hell, the next part is wrong too! People, get a good tab book!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I dont think so but hey, to each their own! I got this tab originally from guitar for the practicing musician way back when this song came out on CD in the 80's. Old school.

[@chrishorton615]

They also used a Rockman

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Very true! Seems like the Rockman was a go to for a lot of bands in this era. Such a revolutionary little box.

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤?????

[@5150JAM]

they used a Rockman for that album

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

They did on adrenaline too. They used a wide range of gear. I remember an interview with Phil and Steve talking about Brian May lending them a bunch of stuff. I also remember them using Randall. 🤟🏻😎☮️

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!!!

[@royyazzie6028]

It would be nice if you HAVE your own licks & riffs instead of these old timers that made music alot of guitar players are getting fundamentals same old sounds and the the tone hasn't been really invested into NEWLY music sounds

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I have my Oroginal music posted on here. And also a few albums in Apple Music and Spotify. I have promoted my original music since 1992 (and still do). Sadly ... there is no money in it or any interest. So us smaller KZbinrs do the dance for subs and views on content that gets views so we can make a little money to buy strings, coffee, picks and gear in general. All the while continue to write and create music no one wants to hear. Haha. 😂😂

[@Nicegram_Rob_Scallon_Page]

Hello, fan! Thanks for reaching out congratulation 🎁🎊🎉You Won a (Flying guitar )it’s for your Christmas Cheerful send a message above to acknowledge your prize🎁❤!!!

[@dmitriybalashov1849]

👎👎👎

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

😂😂