The Simple Chord Progression Behind Def Leppard’s BIGGEST Riff
Andy Guitar
Aug 23, 2026 14:51
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There are loads of great songs built around the classic 1–4–5 chord progression, but few hit quite as hard as Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar On Me. Add that huge 80s chorus guitar sound and you’ve got one of the most recognisable rock songs of the decade.
But there’s actually more going on harmonically than you might think. The verse shifts the tonal centre before cleverly bringing us back to E and that massive 1–4–5 progression. Simple ingredients, very clever arrangement — and basically a lesson in how to write an 80s rock anthem!
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