Red Hot Chili Peppers survived 5 guitarist swaps, and each one shook up their sound. Here’s how the band’s guitar style evolved with each personnel shift – and what you can learn from them, too

Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarists
[L-R] Hillel Slovak, Josh Klinghoffer, John Frusciante, Dave Navarro, Jack Sherman (Image credit: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images; Paul Bergen/Redferns; Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images); Steve Eichner/Getty Images; Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)

Lineup changes can signal life or death for a band, but over their four-decade career, the Red Hot Chili Peppers have bounced back from personnel shifts on a few occasions. Numerous guitarists have stepped in throughout the years to tour and record with the band, but what stands out is how each player encompasses the style of their predecessors while introducing elements relevant to current musical trends.

In the ’80s, Jack Sherman and Hillel Slovak established the band’s signature funk-rock styling while reflecting elements of pop. In the ’90s, John Frusciante maintained the ‘funky punk’ vibe while acknowledging grunge, while Dave Navarro forged a straight-ahead rock sound identifying with alt-rock.

Josh Klinghoffer took the reins as a full-time member from 2009 to 2019, maintaining the wide palette of sounds established by his predecessors. Today, the band tour the world with Frusciante once again back in the fold. 

Check out our tab examples and backing tracks for an insight into how each of these players has developed the Chili Peppers’ sound.

Example 1. Jack Sherman 

(Image credit: Future)

One of Jack Sherman’s approaches was to double the bass groove. This adds depth by thickening the arrangement and presents the riff in different registers. Take care with timing by listening to the placement of the bass notes and drum hits that coincide with the guitar phrase.

Example 2. Hillel Slovak

(Image credit: Future)

Slovak often presented elements of commercial ’80s pop songs through the use of effects on his guitar sounds. Use heavy compression and reverb to recreate the vibe. Make sure you maintain the tempo after the rests – it’s all too easy to rush into the 16th note sequences.

Example 3. John Frusciante (early era)

(Image credit: Future)

During the ’90s, Frusciante introduced a grungy edge by adding intensity to the strumming patterns, often using more drive in the guitar tone and letting some open strings ring against chord changes. Use a decent amount of pick attack and wide strums to emulate the sound.

Example 4. Dave Navarro (Lead)

(Image credit: Future)

This example highlights how Navarro would bring his alternative rock flavours to the guitar melodies. This lick uses sliding octaves to imitate Dave’s vocal-like phrasing, establishing a bright sound with a major 3rd (F#) before switching to a minor 3rd (F), which adds a darker and more sinister edge.

Example 5. John Frusciante (second stint) 

(Image credit: Future)

This sparse rhythm part demonstrates how the band’s songwriting focus took a more commercial direction, often within a melancholy ballad feel. Get the chords to build by letting the notes ring over each other, particularly while the Hendrix-style triplet embellishments take place.

Example 6. Josh Klinghoffer (Rhythm) 

TGR374 RHCP Lesson

(Image credit: Future)

An approach that Klinghoffer uses is to create internal melodies around a single chord. In this example, the phrase is based around an Am7, and the chord extension notes around the shape are used to build the melody. Focus on keeping all notes ringing while you manipulate the shape.

Jamie Hunt

Jamie is a regular contributor to Guitar Techniques and Total Guitar magazines. He is also a Principal Lecturer in guitar and live performance at BIMM Bristol. Alongside this, he shares seven string guitar duties with Steve Smyth (ex-Testament, ex-Nevermore, Forbidden), in the modern thrash metal band One Machine. Additionally, Jamie is the UK brand ambassador for ESP guitars, where he creates product demos and delivers clinics across the UK and throughout the Scandinavian countries. More recently, he co-created the ESP School of Metal Guitar, where a team of versatile metal guitarists break down all things heavy.