Riff Tone
Material Girl
Madonna
Guitarother1980s
Original Gear
GuitarSession musician's Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)
AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
PickupsFender single-coil (stock Stratocaster pickups, likely Alnico V)
Amp Settings
gain2
bass5
mid5.5
treble7.5
reverb4
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1984 (Like a Virgin album sessions). No direct evidence of live rig for this part; all details refer to the studio recording. Guitar part was played by session musician (likely Robben Ford or John Putnam, as per session credits for Madonna's early albums).
Tone Character(10)
bright and glassyclean and chorus-heavytight and percussivearticulate attacksnappy funk-inspired rhythmstereo chorus shimmerstudio-polished clarityno breakup or overdrivesits behind synths in mixdistinct 80s pop guitar
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, syncopated rhythm playing with clean articulation and muting, but uses straightforward chord shapes and no advanced techniques.
Sources
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Create Free AccountGuitarother1980s
Original Gear
GuitarSession musician's Fender Stratocaster (likely 1970s-early 1980s, maple neck, stock single-coil pickups)
AmpRoland JC-120 Jazz Chorus
PickupsFender single-coil (stock Stratocaster pickups, likely Alnico V)
Amp Settings
gain2
bass5
mid5.5
treble7.5
reverb4
presence6
Effects & Signal Chain
No effects used for this tone
Notes
Studio recording, 1984 (Like a Virgin album sessions). No direct evidence of live rig for this part; all details refer to the studio recording. Guitar part was played by session musician (likely Robben Ford or John Putnam, as per session credits for Madonna's early albums).
Tone Character(10)
bright and glassyclean and chorus-heavytight and percussivearticulate attacksnappy funk-inspired rhythmstereo chorus shimmerstudio-polished clarityno breakup or overdrivesits behind synths in mixdistinct 80s pop guitar
Difficulty
The riff requires tight, syncopated rhythm playing with clean articulation and muting, but uses straightforward chord shapes and no advanced techniques.