As with any other hobby or skill, every guitarist has to start somewhere. For most of us, it all started by playing air guitar along with some of our favorite songs and wishing we could play like our guitar heroes. It’s easy to think that these rock gods are doing some kind of fretboard witchcraft to bring those crushing sounds to our ears. However, some of the most iconic guitar riffs are also fairly easy to play.
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The riffs below are from iconic rock and metal songs and are relatively easy to play. Some of them will be accessible to absolute beginners with a handful of fundamentals under their belts. Others may take a little practice, but that just means nailing them for the first time will feel like an even bigger accomplishment. So, break out your metronome, warm up your fingers, and let’s dive in.
“For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Metallica from Ride the Lightning
Metallica is an iconic metal band with plenty of easy guitar riffs. Riffs from songs like “Enter Sandman,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and ”One” are incredibly popular among beginners. However, don’t overlook the first couple of riffs from “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
The intro riff comes in two parts: the power chords and the single-note fill. Technically, the single-note part is played on bass. However, the song’s tempo makes it easy to play both parts on one guitar with a little practice. Then, there’s a short chromatic power chord riff directly after the intro that is both heavy and fun to play. However, the real meat of the song comes with the chorus and verse riffs. If you need to work on your timing, both are great places to start.
Check out this killer tutorial from Marty Schwartz to get you started.
“Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne from Blizzard of Ozz
Who picks up a guitar and doesn’t want to play at least one Ozzy or Black Sabbath tune? The Ozzman’s debut solo single, “Crazy Train,” is about as iconic as it gets, and the intro riff is stunningly easy to play. You don’t even have to have alternate picking down to nail this Randy Rhoads riff. He down-picked the whole thing, and so can you.
The “Crazy Train” intro isn’t just easy to play. After you get it under your fingers, it’s a great warm-up exercise because it helps get your picking hand and the fingers on your fretting hand in sync. The song spikes in difficulty after the intro, though.
Marty Schwartz also put together a great tutorial for this iconic riff.
“Raining Blood” by Slayer from Reign in Blood
Slayer’s “Raining Blood” features another iconic intro riff that is fairly easy to play. When it comes to old-school thrash metal, few riffs are as iconic or sinister as this one. To be fair, it’s going to take some time to play this one at the proper tempo. However, once you nail it, it will feel like you’ve unlocked a new skill level.
The “Raining Blood” intro is a great way to build your speed and accuracy. If you want to go the extra mile, study the galloping riff that comes next. Once you get past the cramps in your picking hand, you’ll add some serious speed to your growing list of chops.
YourGuitarAcademy on YouTube shared a quick breakdown of this riff with tabs.
“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd from Second Helping
Not every instantly recognizable riff comes from a metal band. Lynyrd Skynyrd has plenty of iconic riffs that are easy to play. “Sweet Home Alabama” is high on the list. If you have some basic open chords under your fingers already, you’re well on your way to nailing this classic intro riff.
At its heart, the opening riff of “Sweet Home Alabama” is a simple progression from D to C9 to G. Add some easy-to-learn fills between repetitions, and you’re rolling like some big wheels. It’s going to take some work, but it’s worth it. Honestly, once you can play the intro along with the recording, you may as well learn the rest of the song. Barring the solos, there’s nothing especially complicated about this classic, and it’s a ton of fun to play.
You guessed it, Marty Schwartz also teaches a killer lesson on this tune.
“Omerta” by Lamb of God from Ashes of the Wake
The main riff from Lamb of God’s “Omerta” may not be as iconic as the classic riffs mentioned above, but it is surprisingly easy to play. If you ever wanted to get into groove metal, work on your pinch harmonics, or just impress your metalhead friends, this is the riff for you.
The intro/verse riff from this song sounds much more complicated than it is. The hardest part for many beginner players will likely be the combination of slides, pinch harmonics, and vibrato. Don’t let it intimidate you, though. Instead, look at this riff as a lesson that will add new tools to your toolbox.
MZ Guitar on YouTube breaks this one down, riff by riff.
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