Johnny Thunders took the groundwork that had been laid by the Velvet Underground and the Stooges and transformed it into what the world would come to call punk. The New York Dolls took cues from the Rolling Stones, pulling in elements from David Bowie to produce something entirely new that captured the spirit of the day’s youth. As a guitarist, he might not have amazing technical prowess, but he is the epitome of the punk attitude, lending his playing a raw, unrestrained quality that came to define the genre. His links to the British invasion and garage rock acts of the 60s also brings a bluesy edge to some of his driving punk rhythms, teaching players something many punk artists have long forgotten.

Bio

Johnny Thunders was born John Anthony Genzale, Jr. in Queens, NY in the summer of 1952. He idolized Keith Richards when he was growing up, and started playing guitar in a band while he was still at high school. He met Arthur Kane and Billy Murcia when he joined a band called Actress, who became the New York Dolls in 1971. Thunders took on his name (after spending some time calling himself Johnny Volume!) in the same year, and the band secured a record deal after the unfortunate death of Murcia, the band’s original drummer. After a Keith Richards-esque drug-fuelled career, Thunders eventually died of a suspected overdose in 1991, after leaving the Dolls and trying his hand with several subsequent bands.

Notable Recordings

The New York Dolls only recorded two studio albums, the self-titled debut and “Too Much Too Soon,” but these albums continually gained a following despite the poor initial showing that saw the band dropped from the record label. Amongst their most well-known songs are “Personality Crisis,” “Jet Boy” and “Pills,” but there are plenty of Johnny Thunders tracks that showcase his skills, including “Chinese Rocks” from his time with the Heartbreakers.

Techniques

The biggest lesson you can learn from Johnny Thunders about playing punk guitar is that it’s all about attitude. Listen to “Personality Crisis.” This is a song built on three simple power-chords, with a simple C, D, G run pretty much accounting for the entire song, aside from some little additions to the basic chords. What makes Johnny Thunders’ playing sounds out is his raw, energetic approach to the instrument. He even uses two-finger power chords, making an implicitly simple form of chord even easier to play – the thing that makes a difference is how much he means it when he strums one. Get the attitude, and you’ll get the sound.

The small alterations Thunders makes to the basic chords in “Personality Crisis” makes the riff more than just a three-chord run. Like the blues artists that inspired his hero Keith Richards, Johnny Thunder periodically switches the fifth in the two-finger power chords for a sixth, creating a shuffling, blues like rhythm for the otherwise simplistic punk riff. This is the note two frets higher than your ring finger in any power chord.  It doesn’t take much to take your playing from standard to awesome in the genre, so this is a great little trick to have up your sleeve.

http://www.guitartricks.com/guitarglossary.php?term=Drop%20D%20tuning

Overall

Johnny Thunders is the archetypal punk guitarist, making use of power chords but infusing enough energy into his performances to make people stand up and take notice. The blues touches he adds into his playing is a nod to his musical heroes, and is a great method for spicing up a simple punk progression.