Freddie Mercury - Lets Turn It On - Guitar Play Along (Guitar Tab)
1,094 views · Published 5 September 2016 · 1:24 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: James Rundle · 2016 · Music
FREDDIE MERCURY LETS TURN IT ON - GUITAR PLAY ALONG with Guitar Tab This YouTube description captures the high-energy, dance-rock fusion of Freddie Mercury’s solo debut, focusing on the driving rhythm and the challenge of translating 80s synth production into a powerful guitar performance. Headline: Freddie Mercury - Let’s Turn It On | Guitar Lesson & Full Play-Along (Mr. Bad Guy Masterclass) It’s time to crank up the energy! In today’s lesson, we are breaking down the opening track of Freddie Mercury's solo career: "Let's Turn It On." This song is a massive blast of 80s optimism, blending Freddie’s love for disco beats with a hard-hitting rock edge. Follow along with the on-screen scroll tabs to master the fast-paced power chords, the syncopated rhythm scratches, and the soaring melodic lines that give this track its stadium-sized feel. [Link to Full Guitar Tab & Munich Studio Tone Guide] 🎸 In this Lesson: • The High-Energy Drive: Mastering the relentless 16th-note rhythm that keeps the track moving at a breakneck pace. • Synth-to-Guitar Hooks: How to adapt the bright, brassy synthesizer motifs for the fretboard using double-stops and aggressive slides. • Power Chord Precision: Learning the quick transitions in the chorus to match Freddie’s explosive vocal delivery. • 80s Session Style: Tips on achieving that "polished" studio sound—tight, punchy, and ready for the dance floor. 🎶 Fascinating Song Facts: • The Grand Opening: "Let's Turn It On" was chosen as the opening track for Freddie’s 1985 solo album, Mr. Bad Guy. It was designed to immediately signal a more modern, dance-oriented direction compared to the operatic rock of Queen. • Munich Connection: Like much of his solo work, this was recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich. Freddie worked closely with producer Reinhold Mack to create a "wall of sound" using the latest technology of the era. • Collaborative Spirit: While it was a solo project, Freddie often invited top-tier session musicians to play. The guitar work on the album had to be extremely precise to cut through the heavy layers of Fairlight CMI synthesizers. • The "Freddie" Message: The lyrics are a quintessential example of Freddie's "carpe diem" attitude—encouraging listeners to stop overthinking and just "turn on" the excitement and live in the moment. Timestamps: 0:00 - Full Performance Play-Along 1:45 - The Sound of Mr. Bad Guy 3:10 - Verse: Percussive Muting & Timing 5:40 - The "Brassy" Lead Hook on Guitar 8:20 - Chorus: High-Octane Power Chords 10:50 - Achieving the Polished 80s "Studio" Tone 13:30 - Full Play-Along with Tabs Gear Used: • Guitar: Solid Body Electric (Bridge pickup for maximum "bite") • Amp: Vox or British Stack (Clean crunch with plenty of compression) • Effect: Stereo Chorus and Short Delay (Crucial for that wide 80s production sound) If you’re ready to turn it on and rock out, hit the LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE! Where does "Mr. Bad Guy" rank in your favorite solo albums? Let me know in the comments! #FreddieMercury #LetsTurnItOn #MrBadGuy #Queen #SoloArtist #GuitarLesson #GuitarTabs #80sRock #SynthPop #GuitarTutorial #MusicHistory #rockguitar
