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What you need to know before playing ‘I Was Made For Lovin’ You’

IWas Made For Lovin’ You was Kiss’ unlikely nod to the disco boom of the late 70s and a response to record company pressure for more commercial material. Demonstrating songwriting chops beyond their usual shock-rock shlock, the band wanted to prove just how easy it was to pen a disco hit. They evidently succeeded, and IWMFLY has been a staple in their live show ever since

– albeit in a heavier arrangement than the original recording.

The song features three guitar parts: the main riffs, played by rhythm guitarist Paul Stanley, plus the palm-muted 16th notes and solos delivered by lead guitarist Ace Frehley. So don’t be put off by the disco connection, there are plenty of guitar parts to learn here. That constant 16th note part in particular is perfect for building picking hand stamina, and keeping that groove in the pocket throughout the song is no easy task.

Ace Frehley used a combination of Marshall, Fender and Vox amps in the studio, double-tracking each part through different amps to create his signature tone. Paul Stanley has always been a Marshall man live and in the studio. You might think Kiss used buckets of distortion but in fact they preferred valve amps just cranked loud, without the preamp overdrive of modern amps. Select your bridge pickup and your amp’s distortion channel, dial in just enough crunch to make the lead parts sing, then tame the overdrive during the riffs by backing off your guitar’s volume.