Classic Albums – 1987 (Whitesnake)

“1987” by Whitesnake – A Guitarist’s Guide
Whitesnake’s 1987 self-titled album, also known as “1987,” is one of the iconic rock albums that shaped the late ’80s. The album blends hard rock, glam, and heavy metal with a precise and emotive guitar approach. The guitarist responsible for this was primarily John Sykes, and his remarkable contribution to this album is a perfect fusion of technique and feel.
‘1987’ is the seventh studio album from British rock giants, Whitesnake – The album was a massive crossover hit in the late 1980’s, selling over eight million copies in the US alone and produced the major power ballad hit, “Is This Love”, along with the number one hit “Here I Go Again. Lick Library veteran, Danny Gill shows you note for note the highlights of each song, how Whitesnake fused blues riffs with rock and pop influences to create the groundbreaking guitar work that helped make ‘1987’ a classic album.

Guitar Lessons In This Course
• Still Of The Night
• Bad Boys
• Give Me All Your Love
• Crying In The Rain
• Is This Love
• Straight For The Heart
• Don’t Turn Away
• Children Of The Night
• Here I Go Again

Guitar Lesson 1: “Still of the Night”
The song opens with a bluesy riff in the key of F# minor, using power chords and slides. The solo section is a showcase of Sykes’s technical prowess, incorporating alternate picking, legato, and string bending.

Guitar Lesson 2: “Bad Boys”
A hard-rocking track in A major, this song uses power chords and palm muting for rhythmic intensity. The solo is a blend of alternate picking and string bending, emphasizing a bluesy feel.

Guitar Lesson 3: “Give Me All Your Love”
This song features a catchy riff in E major and a solo that demonstrates the use of pentatonic scales. The two-handed tapping technique and harmonics play an essential role in the solo’s expressiveness.

Guitar Lesson 4: “Crying in the Rain”
This iconic power ballad is composed in the enchanting key of G major, incorporating arpeggios and captivating chord progressions to craft its rhythmic foundation. The solo segment showcases the artful use of vibrato and melodious phrasing, intensifying the song’s emotional depth and resonance.

Guitar Lesson 5: “Is This Love”
This classic power ballad is in the key of G major and uses arpeggios and chord progressions for the rhythm part. The solo features vibrato and melodic phrasing, enhancing the song’s emotive quality.

Guitar Lesson 6: “Straight for the Heart”
This rocking track is filled with syncopated rhythms and power chords. The solo uses trills and tapped harmonics, creating a lively and captivating sound.

Guitar Lesson 7: “Don’t Turn Away”
This timeless rock anthem unfolds in the gripping key of E minor, weaving intricate guitar work through its core. The song’s rhythm is built on a tapestry of evocative chord progressions and arpeggios. The solo section shines with expressive vibrato and melodic articulation, heightening the song’s emotional impact and drawing the listener in.

Guitar Lesson 8: “Children of the Night”
This track, heavy on riffs and power chords, features a blazing solo that combines alternate picking with dive-bombs and whammy-bar tricks.

Guitar Lesson 9: “Here I Go Again”
In the key of G major, this anthemic song features strong open-string riffs and a memorable solo that mixes slides, bends, and arpeggios, producing a melodic, heartfelt feel.

Lead Guitarist – John Sykes
John Sykes’s style is characterized by his aggressive, articulate playing. His work on “1987” exhibits a wide range of guitar techniques, from powerful riffing to soulful, melodic solos. His ability to combine speed with melody, using scales like the minor pentatonic and the blues scale, made his playing on this album a standout in rock history.

List of Guitar Techniques Used in This Album
• Vibrato
• Alternate Picking
• Legato
• Tapped Harmonics
• String Bending
• Power Chords
• Palm Muting
• Arpeggios
• Dive-Bombs
• Trills
• Syncopated Rhythms
• Open-String Riffs
• Whammy-Bar Tricks
• Slides
• Bluesy Bends
• Galloping Rhythms
• Two-Handed Tapping
• Sustain

The guitar work on “1987” by Whitesnake remains an impressive feat, rich in both technical mastery and emotive expression. It continues to inspire and challenge guitarists, serving as a benchmark for rock guitar playing.