What Made John Sykes GREAT?

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What are the secrets of getting MAJOR SYKES APPEAL in your playing?! Uncle Ben Eller here is about to show you the way!
John Sykes is one of the sickest shredders of the 80's, but his work with Whitesnake and Blue Murder proved that he's also one of the raddest riffers in all the land. On today's video, I'm gonna show you how to take a boring, generic, stepdad riff and give it a fuel injected boost with some of Sykes' signature licks and tricks. Lets go!!!
Gear:
Ibanez Jem77-FP
Fractal Audio Axe FX 3
What player do you want to learn the secrets of next?!

[@BenEller]

Thanks for learning what makes John Sykes GREAT! Understand even more secrets to SYKES APPEAL with the bonus goodies you can get here: www.patreon.com/posts/107573733?

[@srhatfield]

What amp are you playing that Gem through? It sounds fire!

[@brion-l1b]

Tremendously overlooked and underrated guitarist. One of the very best ever.

[@seanodonnell2823]

You talking about Ben? Yeah, he is! Sykes is okay too, of course.

[@spiritofrocknroll]

John Sykes can riff hard, come up with face melting solos and sing well. Plus that mane! It's just not fair.

[@Lance37a]

No one man should have all that power.

[@vincentgarzoli3197]

Yes, to all of the above, BUT have you heard him in an interview??? There was one from back in the 80s where it was like watching the real-life inspiration for Spinal Tap’s David St. Hubbins! Not Sykesey’s finest moment, I assure you.

[@spiritofrocknroll]

@@vincentgarzoli3197 This I have to find!

[@ookookook]

@@Lance37a Is it possible to learn this power?

[@gabrieljohannson6777]

He was the original triple threat.

[@turdbooger6051]

Bob Rock said in an interview that Sykes was the best in studio sounding guitar player he has ever heard. That’s a huge compliment.

[@gregbloodworth6000]

Yep...two Mesa Boogie colisium 300s and a JCM 800..doesnt hurt. That 87 Whitesnake Album had the best guitar sound i think ive ever heard.

[@GeoffSweet]

@@gregbloodworth6000 its one of THE greatest recorded guitar tones in rock history. Hands down, and hard to argue with it.

[@HunterRouth]

I also remember hearing that when John recorded, he'd be sweating from playing so intensely while recording. I can't remember if Coverdale or Rock said that.

[@gregbloodworth6000]

@@HunterRouth Bob Rock.

[@rztricky]

Bob was referring to JS when he was riding Kirk to rise to the occasion for Unforgiven. It’s on the making of the Black album docu. And at the time I was like haha, right, get it up Kirk. Then I actually started playing guitar and Sykes became my lord of inspiration. And now I’m like, Bob, that’s impossible. No one will be John Sykes again. He was a treasured ring for both Lynott and Coverdale before he was 28.

[@Sodacake]

The difference between everyone else and Sykes is that Sykes's wrote riffs that FUCKED. Seriously. All his riffs have the guitar equivalent of sex appeal.

[@462rob]

Not just a great guitar/guitarist historian, but one of the rare teachers that is more interested in showing you how to do something than showing you how much HE knows...

[@BenEller]

Thanks my man!

[@matheussantos9367]

Indeed! Uncle Ben is class act!

[@nc1969]

Sykes!!! Sykes!!! and MORE SYKES!!!! Dude deserves so much more credit than he gets! So unfortunate that he fell out with Coverdale... sadly he just never could get to that level again. As much as i love Vandenberg, Campbell and Vai.... It was John Sykes playing and songwriting that made modern Whitesnake! Glad your focusing on Blue Murder

[@bodine1231]

That first Blue Murder album is FULL of amazing rhythm playing. One of the best sounding albums of all time as well.

[@chrisshaw1964]

Dude, I can play the notes on "Guilty of Love", but I can't make it sound right....how about you show me how to play it right? That live version, that video of him and Cozy Powell, and the band traveling overseas and eventually into the song Guilty of love is probably the most kick-ass version. C'mon buddy, whose your uncle?

[@rumy6871]

@@chrisshaw1964 good call!

[@GuitarGodsUnite]

Second one is good too

[@HunterRouth]

Black Hearted Woman, undoubtedly

[@davemis40]

The album should have been huge .. but timing of the release and poor record co support killed it

[@ak47dragunov]

A couple things: 1) That C Lydian chord has been drilled into my memory as the In My Darkest Hour chord thanks to Megadeth and whenever I hear it it's immediately unmistakable 2) It's super interesting how much shared DNA Sykes' playing has to Jake E Lee. Jake uses almost all of these techniques to a tee

[@gibsonfan159]

I immediately thought of Lee.

[@Kyush4]

Zakk also

[@notacommie5415]

Yep

[@simpwood4973]

That disclaimer cracked me up. Thanks for doing justice to one of the all time greats.

[@kukusnest65]

yeah that was funny as FUCK! just sayin!

[@demokraatti]

Sykes has a freakish ability to turbocharge a standard chord progressions with energy, excitement and swagger. His riffing, soloing and song writing never sound static, boring or repetitive. It’s just crazy how talented he is both melodically and rhythmically. He can also improvise all night and sound amazing. That is raw talent.

[@johnfinlay4963]

Love his Blue Murder stuff . Left out of so many guitar god discussions . Thanks for this . 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@Mokesio]

We need more SYKES!!!

[@TylerJacobson-ux7oo]

He needs to put PSY Ops up on Spotify or KZbin just for the fans. Been done forever banger riffs.

[@NicoDa1]

My wife said, I can only play in the house now. Thanks a lot Ben. 😓

[@davidcarter1157]

🤣

[@cheenu711]

Uncle Ben where is the Still of the Night solo? Keep the Sykes content coming, I feel that he doesn't get the recognition he should be getting. One of my top 5 players.

[@rztricky]

@@cheenu711 Nope, Crying in the Rain. That’s the gauntlet solo. The breakdown at the beginning of the second half can’t be mishandled. It has to be as ferocious and swept with the top of the arp being a punching bag. And it also goes almost out of time it’s such a furious moment. But it can be done, and there a drummers out there who can likely keep it a little tighter to pocket than album version. But when he starts flailing the second half, before the epic climb into space explosion (head), it’s one of the most underrated moments of improvisational achievement in guitar. Coverdale mentioned that session and that JS came out beet red, over sweat, and exhausted after the take.

[@alexguitarwatson3215]

I second that motion for still of the night solo

[@johnathondupuis1301]

Great lesson as always. Sykes is the man.

[@canyoncarver]

Extra Beato points! LOL

[@thrash8315]

Waiting for the "Still of the Night" solo. Surely, Uncle Ben, there have been several rainy days.

[@ivorlongshot]

Sykes is a beast, great singer too.

[@wuphat]

That 1987 album is full of gold.

[@maxilobos8860]

Hell yeah! Another Sykes video 🙌🏼❤️‍🔥

[@Bequeefed]

More love needed for the thunder and lightning album ⚡ 🌩️ 🙏🏻

[@daveygee1013]

Loved what he brought to that album, solo on “The sun goes down” a particular favourite 🤩

[@alancreedon4742]

Scott Gorham played the solo on The Sun Goes Down..​@@daveygee1013

[@dannymcmince]

MY FAVORITE LIZZY ALBUM

[@gregfolsom8112]

Ty Tabor!

[@nc1969]

WOAH.... i'm practicing with your previous dbl picking lessons... and this pops up! Uncle Ben is just the greatest ever!!!

[@CarrigansGuitarClub]

Fair play to Phil Lynott to not stand in Stykes way to leave and join Whitesnake....that Thunder & Lightening album was just at the start of thrash metal and Thin Lizzy were primed with Stykes to capitalize on it....

[@trance9158]

Sykes... Not stykes

[@HarlanHarvey76]

When I think of 80s riffage I love Criss Olivia's - OLIVA, I HATE AUTOCORRECT rhythm also! Savatage has some of the best riffs ever!

[@HunterRouth]

Amen

[@leebrunk4390]

Savatage is criminally slept on. I blame the cheesy name. Better a cheesy name than a cheesy lead vocalist, though! Both Jon and Zachary were powerhouses! Criss and Al Pitrelli were monster players, too. The irony was delicious when basically a transition skit kind of song from an album about Balkan war crimes made them all gazillionaires and holiday concert fixtures.

[@logan69x]

John lived in Blackpool, UK for a while - my hometown. His parents had a studio there that I practiced in with one of my bands around 1990. Unfortunately I never got to meet the man himself, but was always hoping he might be there!

[@rishz7857]

Sykes guitar playing on Thin Lizzy's "Thunder n Lightning" album is so hard hitting.

[@Gee-no]

I met John Sykes and the two other awesome dudes from Blue Murder in Chicago at the Metro in '88 or '89. I was 16. It was awesome. I played in a heavy rock trio at that time and Sykes was my hero. Great time. Got my poster signed and gave him a demo tape we did.

[@ed209v6]

I had a magazine from the 90's with Steve Vai holding that guitar on the cover. Man how I drooled over that guitar as a kid. Congrats man.

[@heavymetalhero08]

Sykes was a master among masters, Unrivaled total package

[@tinman5322]

I recently got to perform Is This Love for an event - bit of a finger twister for me but oh so gorgeous, and slow enough that even I could do it reliably. During a break I rolled my amp case across the hood of my car so all the dudes were impressed on their way out, if not the cougars.

[@aerongemini]

Dude, massive thanks. I too am a huge Sykes / Whitesnake fan and this helps my playing overall. It also helped my double picking (that technique which I am still working on). And it helped me finish a riff I was working on! 🎸🎸☮

[@BenEller]

Glad it helped!

[@Mudder1310]

Cackling at the idea of cougars making dust angels on my truck hood. Lol!

[@KB5150]

I stood 5 feet away from John Sykes when Blue Murder miraculously came to town. Got to meet him, nice as could be. He had/has the greatest tone I've ever heard. Plain and simple. That dude is just born to be a rock n roll guitar player. Its a shame we don't have more music to enjoy. Thank you for this video Ben!

[@Metalltool]

John Sykes's playing influenced me almost as much as Gary Moore. Not only a great guitar player, but an incredible singer as well. Blue Murder is severely overlooked. Thank you for showcasing his style hopefully to a new generation.

[@NeroTheIncredible]

1987 been a shock to the system for me and love Sykes since then. Wished he had been more prolific. SYKES ME UP !

[@amesmilesoff4768]

Seriously interesting, something to work on. Cheers Ben 👍

[@pebs1man]

Thanks Ben for this Vid! Sykes in my all time favorite player and any insight to his style of playing is greatly appreciated my this old guy😉🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@MuditBadlani]

"Sykes Appeal" made my day. Can't get enough of his playing. Edit: Forgot to mention, would love for you to breakdown the solos to "Looking For Love" and "You're Gonna Break My Heart Again" someday. Just can't get some of the lines right on those 😅

[@HunterRouth]

Neither one of those songs get enough love. They both should have been on the original release on not just the U.K.

[@scotto0010]

@MuditBadlani I transcribed the "You're Gonna Break My Heart Again" song. It's on UG.

[@MuditBadlani]

@@scotto0010 Thanks for the heads up, mate. I'll check it out. 😃 Same user name there?

[@davidcarter1157]

I’m not usually for the neon, and the colored pick ups, but I am loving that guitar. And awesome playing bro!

[@chucksaeger7500]

Man that sounds good! You’re an inspiration.

[@BenEller]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@gabrieljohannson6777]

John was & still is the triple threat. Great vid.

[@ewan_ou182]

thanks so much UB. That was an absolutely awesome lesson.

[@BenEller]

Glad it was helpful!

[@DunkmasterXXL]

I’m a simple man I see a Ben Eller video , I click it

[@sjgfloydrose1234]

Legend has it that Skyes was created in a laboratory to just be the most incredible...EVERYTHING!

[@julianschulz1620]

I remember first hearing him when Thin Lizzy's "Thunder & Lightning" album came out. What an incredible moment that was, for my young, guitar hero tuned ears. From there, i went & grabbed his Tygers of Pan Tang stuff (Spellbound, Crazy Nights), and then we all were blown away with that 1987 WS record. To this day, it baffles me how anyone could fire a player like that, right before the tour. It takes like three incredible guitarists to keep up with a single John Sykes!

[@glaucosouza1971]

You Gonna Break my Heart Again. That's a terrific Sykes riff

[@scotto0010]

@glaucosouza1971 Check out my transcription of it on UG

[@jarmohanninen2891]

You´re excellent teacher, that´s rare 👍

[@BenEller]

Thanks a ton! Appreciate that.

[@erikvincent5846]

Rick Beato bonus points... nice one.

[@bryanmcdermott4204]

Thank you for this breakdown of brilliant work by the esteemed Mr. Sykes.

[@Jared_Dill]

Man, i loved this video. I love the sykes stuff you put out. Gotta keep them rollin man. so awesome, Ben. Keep it up, Brotha this is badass. it sounds so much like sykes he's got such a distinctive style and sound, and man, you captured it absolutely perfectly!! couldnt have gotten any better man. Stay shreddin, bro! Love it. Sykes is one of my personal favs also

[@bluesdude1194]

Awesome video, I saw John Sykes on the last Thin Lizzy your back in 83, he's a monster player.

[@patman0322]

Holy crap. Thank you! This and your pencil scribbling technique is the best lesson on picking I’ve ever gotten. Along with the explanations, the close ups of your picking hand were extremely helpful. I started out on upright bass and had formal classical training on that and transferred that knowledge right over to bass guitar but beyond a friend in middle school showing me one of the blues boxes, I’m completely self taught on the 6-string and my picking “technique” has always been terrible. I started wondering recent why I could bow the shit out of 32nd notes with good articulation but I can’t hold down 8th notes on a guitar without flopping all over the place. You’ve made me realize I need to adapt the motions my arm and wrist already know how to do to guitar and given me some tools with which to do it. Thank you again! Just rolling this around in my head for a half a day and then picking up the guitar to experiment for a couple of minutes is already showing improvements.

[@mike-e4e4e]

I love what Sykes did with Whitesnake album. Just about everything on it is epic. The playing, the layering.. amazing stuff

[@OgamiItto70]

For rhythm playing, a couple of other standouts are Steve Clark of Def Leppard and George Lynch. They were both great at writing riffs for heavy guitar that weren't just power chords. George Lynch still is. So they'd make great candidates for videos like this one. This was a good lesson video. Keep it up.

[@BenEller]

Thanks dude, totally agree!

[@EJH-jn6mo]

Love it. Thanks for the Axefx patch too Big Ben!!

[@EyesOpen369]

What a sick IBANEZ. I just got a second hand Ibanez gio Grgr131dx. Red shark tooth inlays. 16" radius. And compared to the 13.75 radius LTD F-50 I have. This 150$ guitar. 450$ new. That was used twice by the original owner. This IBANEZ is amazing. They make some amazing guitars nowadays with awesome quality control.

[@jfo3000]

The flatter the better!

[@philipsummers9682]

👍 yes I remember John Sykes , as he's from my hometown, then got the job with Whitesnake 🎵

[@GreatWhiteLionSnake]

Never realized how much you playing your Ibanez looks exactly like Sykes and his black LP. Holy ****

[@ChadEklund]

Ben always brings it

[@duncanmathers76]

In a word...the rhythm parts. Shit, that was three words. But yeah, Sykes and Vito Bratta are prolly the two most underrated players of the 1980s.

[@fallingmanuk]

Thanks for this fab video - love John Sykes' style so really cool to see how it's done!

[@waynefaircloth4329]

Aight Ben. I'll play. FAV John Sykes riffs. Cautionary Warning, We All Fall Down....especially the rhythm he is playing during the chorus. One of my ALL TIME Fav's is Holy War while he was in Thin Lizzy. Especially the live Regal Theatre, Hitchin version. You gotta check that one out. The beginning of the lead is one of those.........HOLY SH*T .......That's how he does that, moments 🙂

[@Minty.Fresh.Tunes.]

My mom said I cant watch this...

[@DBCooperPDX]

😂😂😂😂😂🎸

[@jimtepe2825]

love mom's

[@jimtepe2825]

love mom

[@SunDriedIntestines]

Pissa hahaha

[@retch4292]

Insert your favorite mom joke here. 😂

[@brunolevasseur]

One of my generation! Good choice, Ben! 🙂

[@jrp7837]

Great video! John Sykes might have also got the idea for doing double stop and barre slides from Paul Stanley. Stanley does it a lot, especially on songs like "Mr. Speed", "Take Me", and "Got to Choose." When you played that "Sykes C" I had an oh-shit moment. Sick Sykes video!

[@todds5956]

Lol John Sykes didn't learn anything from Paul Stanley😂😂😂

[@stihlsavvy]

Those riffs and solos on tygers of pantaang were unbelievable.

[@greekfreak1980]

John Sykes is the total package, monster guitarist, vocalist & songwriter. It's a shame that he has basically disappeared from the music scene for the last decades.

[@paddytguitar]

What didn’t? 🔥 taste, tone, technique and amazing sense of melody 🎸 cheers Ben!

[@stiflersmomz]

Great video and acknowledgement of Sykes Riffage...AND that Jem 77FP is sooooo nice!

[@niclasengelin5615]

Awesome Riffage & Thunder!!

[@InfinitySquared79]

Craig Goldie...I'd like to see you deeply dive into his style, particularly dissecting "Sunset Superman" from the Dio album "Dream Evil". I learned it back in the 80s in E-flat tuning, but I watched him play it live in standard, and I can't wrap my head around that. It's so much easier in E-flat.

[@riffmondo9733]

Sykes was so sick. And his tone was just killer! A true monster. Great job Ben.

[@crimfan]

That picking is super cool. I could never figure out how he did that double picking or why his hand seemed like it was in such a weird position. Turns out... there's a reason!

[@steves.361]

John's inverted vibrato is a small thing that a lot of players don't notice but it's pure magic.

[@joshuarobinson5031]

Awesome lesson Ben!

[@joeyjohnson4601]

Great lesson, Andy La Rocque double picks as well the chorus of “Twilight Symphony” is a good example.

[@alanirving1972]

"extra Beato points" Haha - love it.

[@canyoncarver]

Hilarious videos as always, and informative! Sykes is a guitar god! He's my #1 influence, aside from King Ed! Love your explanation of some of John's tricks. This is a part of what makes him sound so huge within the song.

[@meljohnson5579]

Can't wait to learn the pick slant. Perhaps thats been my issue for speed and clarity 😊

[@ArnfinnRian]

Sykes is SICK! Still trying to nail down the rhythm section of "Is This Love" I love how broad a talent he is. He literally uses the entire library a guitar offers.

[@scliff7]

This lesson was so fun. Never cared much for hair metal but am suddenly so interested in learning more about these kinds of players. I know I haven't given them their due credit.

[@RF944]

To see John Sykes live is on My bucket list, don't think it's going to happen though.

[@adiecummingsshredguitar9306]

Awesome Ben John Sykes is a monster guitarist

[@wakjob961]

That patch sounds fantastic!

[@ampman50]

You nailed it, Ben Eller. Top man.

[@rztricky]

Thank you for illuminating the Skyes C. Coverdale’s mansion in Tahoe had marble because of it.

[@azbluesdog]

Your “Still of the Night” riff was interrupted by “This is the quickest way to clear out stuck poop” (KZbin ad). I just about crapped my leather pants! 😂

[@richieismyhero]

Such a great lesson Uncle Ben. That Jem is just so good

[@ArtClubSuperstar]

Great to see you circle back to Sykes! His influence is heard in the playing of so many phenomenal talents that John Sykes deserves at attention of everyone with that six string fever! Another influential player?-Ace Frehley!

[@The_Original_Truebrit]

Always loved John Sykes since I got in to metal in the mid 80's. He's very thrashy for a rock guitarist. Can you do a lesson on how to play, Still of The Night, Bad Boys, and Cryin n the rain properly.

[@MARK-r6c3k]

That sounded Really Good!!

[@jonasirw1]

Congrats.. You've fully internalized Sykes style into your rhythm playing. Love it. Suprised you didn't grab a black Les Paul for this vid but it still sounds killer

[@binaryanticommunist1882]

1041K uses one on his sick cover of Crying in the Rain.

[@BenEller]

I’ve still got the Custom you see in the thumbnail but it’s in D standard!

[@randallhaney7909]

Cool stuff, Thanks Uncle Benny Bob.. You really Psyched me out.. Or Sykes me out? And all this time I thought "Double Picking", Was just both index fingers up each nostril at the same tine. My brother in law Berry is an expert at it

[@nicholasreese7856]

Thanks uncle Ben!

[@neilshreds]

Very exciting breakdown! Sick tone Ben, Sykes is a riff god, was one of the best from that time. Great examples of what makes his unique approach sound so bad ass 🤘🏼🔥

[@DrewT92377]

HUGE Sykes fan. You nailed everything that makes his playing stand out and apart from the rest. He's another unsung, not mentioned enough, underappreciated hero like Bratta that completely changed the direction of the era with their technique and style. You can literally hear the bands that came out after the Whitesnake album trying to grab bits n pieces of what made it great for themselves. I'm a mostly self taught player, but in my teens in the early 90s there was a guy who played in the local "hair metal" cover band who started offering lessons. My buddy and me jumped on it cause dude was next level for that time. I only went a handful of times but I still have my notes from it. He started to teach me some theory and picking technique. When I asked him what would be a good song to apply what I was learning, he tabbed me out Still of the Night and Decadence Dance by Extreme. (Both helped with my pick squeals I struggled with too). As always more top shelf unique content that you can't really get from other channels. Appreciate the time and effort you put into what you do.

[@timsmith7899]

John Sykes, off the scale good. his attack is just amazing.

[@wmot206]

Unfortunately he wasn't on my radar much, but after Gary Moore passed, heard Sykes on the "Moore Blues for Gary" album. Amazing work!