Riff Rundown

Difficulty: Easy

Composer – Pat Benetar / Neil Geraldo

Where to find this song – Crimes of Passion track #4

Release Date – August 1980

Pat Benetar has won 4 consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Female Vocalist
in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 for “Crimes of Passion”, “Fire
And Ice,” “Shadows of the Night” and “Love Is A
Battlefield.” The video for “Love Is A Battlefield” was
the first music video to also include dialogue within. Pat’s video “You
Better Run” was the second video ever to be played on MTV in August
1981. Pat Benatar was born Patricia Andrzejewski. She married her high
school boyfriend Dennis Benatar shortly after graduation. They were
divorced in 1979, the same year her debut album was released. She has
been married to her guitar player, Neil Girado since 1982. Men – sorry…..she’s
taken.

Main Riff

How To Play It

The first and third measures are identical, and the second and fourth
are ALMOST identical, with an A chord thrown in on the last measure.

This song is pretty fun to play. Begin by placing your 1st finger
on the “A” string on the seventh fret and your 4th finger
will barre the “D” string, the “G” string, and
the “B” string. Play that once, and then move to an A chord.
Here is a diagram of an A chord, as well as an explanation of how to
play it using tablature.

To play the A chord, you can do one of two things. You can barre the “D” string,
the “G” string, and the “B” string with your 1st
finger on the second fret – OR – you can place your 1st finger on the “D” string,
your 2nd finger on the “G” string, and your 3rd finger on
the “B” string – all on the second fret of each string.

Play that once, and then you will need to place your 1st finger on
the fourth fret on the “A” string. Then, place your 2nd finger
on the fifth fret on the “B” string. Last, place your 3rd
and 4th fingers on the “D” and “G” strings, both
on the sixth fret. Play that once to end the measure.

To play the second measure, let that last chord ring for a second,
and then move up to the second fret with your 1st finger on the “A” string.
Place your 4th finger on the fourth frets of all strings below your
1st finger. You need not barre the “high E” string, but you
may do so if it feels more comfortable (just don’t play it). Play that
chord a few times.

The third measure is identical to the first.

The last measure is much like the second measure, so begin as you
would have in the second measure. After you have gone to the second
fret, simply go back to what you learned in the first measure, and
perform the A chord. Then, to finish off the riff, go back to what
you just played at the beginning of this last measure, slide towards
you, and you are done!

Riff Resources

Complete Transcription
To “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (PDF)

Complete Transcription
To “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (Power Tab)