Every Rose Has Its Thorn
by Poison
🌟 Must-Learn Songs
Difficulty
★★☆☆☆
Tuning
Standard
Capo
None
The defining power ballad of the 1980s glam metal era, released on Poison's 1988 album Open Up and Say... Ahh! Written by Bret Michaels in a laundromat after a painful breakup, the song is built on a beautifully simple chord progression of G and Cadd9 in the verses with D added in the choruses, all played with gentle arpeggiated fingerpicking that gradually builds in intensity. The melodic guitar solo by C.C. DeVille is one of the most singable and accessible solos in rock history, making this an ideal song for intermediate players to develop their fingerpicking patterns, dynamic control, and expressive lead playing.
[Intro - Clean Arpeggiated Pattern]
(Standard tuning, no capo)
(Gentle fingerpicked arpeggios - let notes ring)
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
[Verse 1]
"We both lie silently still in the dead of the night..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Although we both lie close together..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"We feel miles apart inside..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Was it something I said or something I did..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Did my words not come out right..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Though I tried not to hurt you..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Though I tried..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"But I guess that\'s why they say..."
D Cadd9
e|---2---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---0---|
B|---3---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---3---|
G|---2---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---2---|
A|-------------------|---3---3---3---3---|
E|-------------------|-------------------|
[Chorus 1]
"Every rose has its thorn..."
G Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|--------------------------------|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
"Just like every night has its dawn..."
G Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|--------------------------------|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
"Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song..."
G Cadd9 D Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---|---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|
A|---------------|---3---3---3---|---------------|---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---|---------------|---------------|---------------|
"Every rose has its thorn..."
G Cadd9 G
e|---3---3---3---3----|---0---0---0---0--|---3~-----------------|
B|---0---0---0---0----|---3---3---3---3--|---0~-----------------|
G|---0---0---0---0----|---0---0---0---0--|---0~-----------------|
D|---0---0---0---0----|---2---2---2---2--|---0~-----------------|
A|--------------------|-3---3---3---3----|---2~-----------------|
E|---3---3---3---3----|------------------|---3~-----------------|
[Interlude - Return to Fingerpicking]
(Back to gentle arpeggios)
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
[Verse 2]
"I listen to our favorite song playing on the radio..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Hear the DJ say love\'s a game of easy come and easy go..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"But I wonder does he know..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Has he ever felt like this..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"And I know that you\'d be here right now..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"If I could let you know somehow..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"I guess..."
D Cadd9
e|---2---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---0---|
B|---3---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---3---|
G|---2---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---2---|
A|-------------------|---3---3---3---3---|
E|-------------------|-------------------|
[Chorus 2]
"Every rose has its thorn..."
G Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|--------------------------------|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
"Just like every night has its dawn..."
G Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|--------------------------------|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
"Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song..."
G Cadd9 D Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---|---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|
A|---------------|---3---3---3---|---------------|---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---|---------------|---------------|---------------|
"Every rose has its thorn..."
G Cadd9 G
e|---3---3---3---3----|---0---0---0---0--|---3~-----------------|
B|---0---0---0---0----|---3---3---3---3--|---0~-----------------|
G|---0---0---0---0----|---0---0---0---0--|---0~-----------------|
D|---0---0---0---0----|---2---2---2---2--|---0~-----------------|
A|--------------------|-3---3---3---3----|---2~-----------------|
E|---3---3---3---3----|------------------|---3~-----------------|
[Bridge]
"Though it\'s been a while now..."
(Strumming builds in intensity)
Em Cadd9
e|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|-------------------------------|
"I can still feel so much pain..."
G D
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
A|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2|-------------------------------|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
"Like a knife that cuts you the wound heals..."
Em Cadd9
e|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|-------------------------------|
"But the scar, that scar remains..."
G D
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---2---2---2---2---2~----------|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3~----------|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2~----------|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0~----------|
A|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---2|-------------------------------|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
[Guitar Solo - Simplified]
(Melodic and singable - play with feeling over G - Cadd9)
G
e|---3--5--7--5--3---3h5p3--0------|---0--3--5--7--5--3--0--------|
B|---0--------------------------0--|---0--------------------------|
G|---0-----------------------------|---0--------------------------|
D|---0-----------------------------|---0--------------------------|
A|---2-----------------------------|---2--------------------------|
E|---3-----------------------------|---3--------------------------|
Cadd9
e|---0--3--5--3--0---0h3p0---------|---3--5--7--8--7--5--3--------|
B|---3-----------------------3--0--|---3--------------------------|
G|---0-----------------------------|---0--------------------------|
D|---2-----------------------------|---2--------------------------|
A|---3-----------------------------|---3--------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|------------------------------|
G
e|---7/10--10b~--10--8--7--5-------|---5h7p5--3--5--3--0----------|
B|---0-----------------------------|---0-----------------3--0-----|
G|---0-----------------------------|---0--------------------------|
D|---0-----------------------------|---0--------------------------|
A|---2-----------------------------|---2--------------------------|
E|---3-----------------------------|---3--------------------------|
Cadd9 G
e|---0h3--5--3--0---3--5--3--0------|---3~------------------------|
B|---3--------------------------3---|---0~------------------------|
G|---0-----------------------------|---0~------------------------|
D|---2-----------------------------|---0~------------------------|
A|---3-----------------------------|---2~------------------------|
E|--------------------------------|---3~------------------------|
[Verse 3]
"I know I could have saved a love that night..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"If I\'d known what to say..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"Instead of makin\' love we both made our separate ways..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"And now I hear you found somebody new..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"And that I never meant that much to you..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"To hear that tears me up inside..."
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
"And to see you cuts me like a knife..."
D Cadd9
e|---2---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---0---|
B|---3---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---3---|
G|---2---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---2---|
A|-------------------|---3---3---3---3---|
E|-------------------|-------------------|
[Chorus 3 - Full Band]
(Full intensity - strum with conviction)
"Every rose has its thorn..."
G Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|--------------------------------|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
"Just like every night has its dawn..."
G Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0|---2---2---2---2---2---2---2---|
A|--------------------------------|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---3---3---3---3---3|-------------------------------|
"Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song..."
G Cadd9 D Cadd9
e|---3---3---3---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|
B|---0---0---0---|---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---|---3---3---3---|
G|---0---0---0---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|
D|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|---0---0---0---|---2---2---2---|
A|---------------|---3---3---3---|---------------|---3---3---3---|
E|---3---3---3---|---------------|---------------|---------------|
"Every rose has its thorn..."
G Cadd9 G
e|---3---3---3---3----|---0---0---0---0--|---3~-----------------|
B|---0---0---0---0----|---3---3---3---3--|---0~-----------------|
G|---0---0---0---0----|---0---0---0---0--|---0~-----------------|
D|---0---0---0---0----|---2---2---2---2--|---0~-----------------|
A|--------------------|-3---3---3---3----|---2~-----------------|
E|---3---3---3---3----|------------------|---3~-----------------|
[Outro - Fading Arpeggios]
(Return to gentle fingerpicking, gradually fading)
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
G Cadd9
e|-------3-----------3------------|-------3-----------3----------|
B|-----0---0-------0---0----------|-----3---3-------3---3--------|
G|---0-------0---0-------0--------|---0-------0---0-------0------|
D|-0-----------0-----------0------|-2-----------2-----------2----|
A|--------------------------------|-3-----------3-----------3----|
E|-3-----------3-----------3------|------------------------------|
G~ (fade out)
e|-------3-----------3~-------------------------------|
B|-----0---0-------0~---------------------------------|
G|---0-------0---0~-----------------------------------|
D|-0-----------0~-------------------------------------|
A|----------------------------------------------------|
E|-3-----------3~-------------------------------------|
(Let ring and fade)