w

0

28 Easy Guitar Riffs for Beginners

by Mark /
26/07/2023

Riffs are the soul of a song – the hook that grabs you by the ears and pulls you into the music. And the best thing about them? They’re super simple to pick up for virtually any guitarist! So, to get you rocking to some iconic melodies, we’ve put together a list of 28 easy guitar riffs for beginners.

In a hurry?

Here are our top 5 picks to get you up and running:

 

  1. “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple – A rite of passage for every guitarist, this riff is often mistakenly played on the low E string, but actually involves double stops on the G and D strings
  2. “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits – A Dire Straits classic, this is another song that involves double stops and thumb and forefinger picking. It’s tough at first, but you’ll soon have the rhythm mastered!
  3. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes – Heard at any large gathering of people, this simple one-string riff takes minutes to learn, and provides hours of entertainment
  4. “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath – Rocky and iconic, this repeating riff has a nice slow tempo, meaty power chords, and slides to get you in the mood for metal
  5. “Plug in Baby” by Muse – This ascending riff by Muse defined early ’00s music, it features a quick succession of notes and a few hammer-ons to spice it up

Easy guitar riffs for beginners

1. “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple

One of the most famous guitar riffs in existence, this rite of passage riff is often mistakenly played on the 6th (low E) string. It’s actually played with double stops (simply two strings played together at the same time, then instantly deadened) across a few strings.

Once you get the little slide between the 6th and 5th frets mastered, you’ll be noodling around this riff for hours on end.


2. “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits

Another iconic double stop-y riff, “Money for Nothing” gets its punchy tone from Mark Knopfler’s fingerpicking style. To simplify things, try the riff on one string at a time before starting with the double stops, as that can help with the quick changes in frets.

It can also help to bar your index finger over the B, G, and D strings for the sections where there’s a quick change between strings. A side benefit of this riff is how it engages your ring or pinky fingers, for higher notes, helping you passively build your fretting strength.


3. “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes

Get enough people together and they’ll eventually start chanting this riff. “Seven Nation Army” is infectious, melodious, and utterly rocking. Best of all – it’s really simple! A simple sequence on the A string moves down the fretboard, with a short hop onto the 5th fret of the D string.

There’s nothing fancy at work in this riff, just make sure to get the tempo right as it shifts slightly throughout, getting the all-important pause between the 3rd and 2nd fret notes.


4. “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath

Get your rock hands ready because Iron Man is here to propel your music with passion. Consisting of power chords played in quick succession, with slides between positions to create the legendary wobbly cadence of the riff, it’s a great tune to get your headbang on.

After the chord section, there’s a steady sequence of notes, with pull-offs from the 5th fret to the 4th. Get that mastered and you’ve got another deadly riff in the back pocket.


5. “Plug in Baby” by Muse

Supercharged with distortion, this energetic riff made “Plug in Baby” a smash hit. The actual note sequence isn’t too difficult, so you can work through the individual frets at a slow pace until you’ve got it memorised.

Gradually increase the tempo of each section until you can get to the record speed. With each practice, the hammer-on and pull-off techniques will get easier.


6. “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac

Short and sweet, this line from “The Chain” is technically a bass riff, but it works just as well on guitar. It involves a really short passage of notes on the A and low E strings that’s really quick to pick up!

And while you’ll have that mastered pretty soon, you can also learn the guitar lead which plays over top, another easy sequence just on the higher frets and strings.


7. “Dammit” by Blink 182

A really simple – yet catchy – riff that powers this pop-punk hit. For “Dammit”, start on the 3rd fret of the A string and then move to two open D notes and a 2nd fret on the D string. Then, the 3rd fret of the low E string, repeating the same pattern earlier.

That pattern switches up at the end of the riff where it’s “2 – 2 – 0” rather than “0 – 0 – 2”, and once you’ve got that locked in, you can quickly rock along with the rest of “Dammit”.


8. “Original Prankster” by The Offspring

Infectious and fun, the “Original Prankster” riff loops perfectly for satisfying repeats. It starts with a power chord on the 3rd fret of the D string, then you add a few notes on the A string – nothing too complicated – but it all adds up to an unforgettable sound.

This riff is great for developing your rhythm and feel when playing alongside other instruments or singers. Mastering this one will have you itching to play more!


9. “Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream

An iconic riff that oozes pure ’60s cool, the “Sunshine of Your Love” lick is slow, impactful, and an absolute blast to play. It consists of two quick power chords in a staccato-style strum, followed by a succession of slow, methodical notes on the D and A strings. Once you familiarise yourself with the rhythm, you’ll feel the smooth flow of this riff.


10. “Breaking the Law” by Judas Priest

Bring out your inner rockstar with this classic metal tune. This catchy riff is a breeze to play for any level of guitarist and is a joy to loop. It kicks off with a steady succession of notes on the A and low E strings, with a slow tempo that makes fretting each string a simple task.

Later on in the song, you can play the same riff an octave higher on the G and D strings, on the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th frets.


11. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day

This emotionally charged riff is as simple as it is catchy. The chords are played in a sequence that’s easy to memorise and the strumming pattern is pretty straightforward. Over the top of those sombre chords is a simple riff that serves as a haunting melody, all on the B and G strings at the higher frets.

This is a great song for beginners looking to build their chord transition skills or practise their timing skills while playing the riff over the backing chords.


12. “Girl All The Bad Guys Want” by Bowling For Soup

A great introduction to drop D tuning, this super easy ear-worm riff is a joy to play. Drop D is a really simple tuning, just de-tune (lower the pitch) your low E string by a whole step (from E to D). This gives your guitar a meaty and bassy tone to match the song. The entire riff takes place on the 5th fret and below, and follows up with power chords that are just bars on the first 3 strings – really easy to get the hang of!


13. “Beat It” by Michael Jackson

The opening riff to this pop classic is surprisingly easy and incredibly fun to play. Make sure you crank up the gain on your amp to get the biting tone that “Beat It” is known for. A simple sequence on the low E, A, and D strings is all you need to get the riff down – just make sure you hammer onto the 4th fret of the D string to nail the motion and tempo.

To accompany this iconic signature sound, the high-end riff involves an easy set of double stops where you can add vibrato for a screaming wail over the main riff.


14. “Satisfaction” by Rolling Stones

The main riff of this song is played using only a few notes on one string, making it perfect for beginners. Going from the 2nd fret of the A string to the 5th fret, it’s an easy stretch for your fingers and at a steady tempo. This riff gradually fades into open chord shapes, giving you practice at holding a chord but picking the strings individually.


15. “Back in Black” by AC/DC

This iconic rock anthem has a catchy and straightforward riff that’s perfect for beginners. It’s a great way to learn about chords and rock rhythm guitar techniques, starting with three quick and punchy open chords followed by an easy lick.

Hit an Em chord once, open D three times, followed by an open A three times to get that initial passage down. Shortly after these chords, the riff descends from the 3rd fret of the high E string to the G String – there’s a slightly tough part where you’ll bend the 2nd fret G up a step but keep practising this to get your finger strength bulked up!


16. “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People

A thought-provoking indie anthem, “Pumped Up Kicks” has a groovy riff that matches the bassline of the song. The notes are quite simple, and the steady beat is quite easy to sync up with – however, there are some speedy hammer-on/pull-off licks later in the riff which might prove tricky at first. Take them slowly, then play along with the song to get it all matched up perfectly.


17. “Fluorescent Adolescent” by Arctic Monkeys

Energetic and melodic, this late ’00s guitar riff is both catchy and fun to play. The main riff consists of a series of quick, upbeat notes played in a repeating pattern that perfectly complements the song’s fast-paced tempo and driving rhythm.

Played on the low E and A strings, it’s a really simple progression that’s easy to match to the beat and sing over the top with.


18. “Day Tripper” by The Beatles

This Beatles classic has a catchy riff that’s sure to impress. “Day Tripper” is a bit tricky to get the hang of initially, but once you find the rhythm, you’ll be playing it over and over without issue! It takes place on the low E, A, and D strings with nice and short stretches between the 2nd and 4th frets.

Like everything else with a speedy tempo, play it slowly and gradually increase the pace ’til you can match the recording perfectly.


19. “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

This riff is all about attitude. It’s a simple yet powerful sequence of power chords that’s perfect for beginners. Hit the open E chord, then pull down on the 3rd fret of the E string before launching into the A. This G note (3rd fret, low E string) separates each chord transition, completing the in-your-face style of the riff.

At the end of the chord section is a speedy lick higher up the fretboard – it’s not as hard as it seems! Practise the string bend, and you’ll gradually get it to the swift tempo that’s set in the song.


20. “Straight to Hell” by The Clash/MIA (Paper Planes)

“Straight to Hell”‘s staccato riff is an instantly recognisable classic. Famously sampled by MIA in Paper Planes, it involves a power chord shape on the 5th fret of the A string. From there, move your index finger onto the 5th fret of the low E, but keep your ring finger planted on the 7th fret of the D string, creating a harmonic effect.

Then, just slide down two positions to the 3rd fret of the low E to complete the riff. Make sure to pluck the strings in a short, sharp staccato style.


21. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica

The opening riff to this Metallica classic is iconic and surprisingly easy to play. Simply hit the open E string then follow up with a short sequence on the A and D strings to get the pounding riff down. The opening riff is played clean before being loaded with tonnes of distortion and gain to get that menacing, biting tone.


22. “La Bamba” by Ritchie Valens

This is a fantastic song for beginners looking to work on their picking skills. The “riff” is way too catchy and will be stuck in your head after playing it – but more importantly, it’s great for your chord transition skills!

It revolves around open G, D, and C chord shapes, with a small amount of picking in between them. This will be challenging at first, but once you get it up to tempo you won’t be able to stop! And, it’ll help get you used to moving around chord shapes at pace.


23. “Wild Thing” by The Troggs

This quintessential garage rock riff is a great one for beginners to learn. It’s easy to play and is sure to get everyone singing along. You can play it in the open position with A, D and E chords, or with power chords on the 5th fret E string, 5th fret A string, and the 7th fret A string.

For the “Wild thing, I think I love you” section, simply play an open A chord while tapping the 3rd fret of the E string.


24. “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix

There’s only one way to play this – in a power pose with the force of a full amp stack making the wind whistle through your hair. Even if you don’t have a stage and array of amps to hand, “Purple Haze” will make you feel that way!

A quick sequence on the E, A, and D strings involves plenty of vibrato and slides to get Jimi’s slick and expressive tone.


25. “Come As You Are” by Nirvana

The opening riff to this grunge classic is simple and memorable. It’s also a great way to work on your picking skills. All played down at the low frets, you’ve got plenty of space to stretch your fretting hand.


26. “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison

This cheerful, upbeat riff is a joy to play. It’s also a great way to work on your strumming skills. The riff is played up on the high notes, taking you up to the frosty peaks of the 15th and 17th fret.

Play the sequence with one finger to get used to it, then start on the chord shape (just two fingers!) and you’ll soon have this party-pleaser down!


27. “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks

This influential rock riff is simple to play and is sure to get people moving. It’s a great introduction to the world of hard rock. It’s simply two power chords on the F and G positions of the E string (1st and 3rd frets). Then moves up to the 3rd and 5th frets, and finally to the 10th and 12th frets.

Play in a steady rhythm, in a 1-3-3-1 (fret) pattern that repeats throughout the song.


28. “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry

No list of beginner guitar riffs would be complete without this rock ‘n’ roll classic. The riff is catchy, fun to play, and a great way to work on your bending, sliding and hammer-on/pull-off skills. Starting with a quick run on the 9th, 8th, and 6th frets of the G, B, and high E strings, it might seem tricky to execute at first.

Like with the other riffs here, take it slow to begin with – you’ll get faster and faster each time you play it till you’re at Chuck’s pace. After that, there are consecutive string bends and another quick lick to finish off the famous riff.

Why are riffs important?

G4M 529 Electric Guitar, Blue SkiesRiffs transform otherwise forgettable songs into something memorable or take already good songs and elevate them to legendary ballads – “Sweet Child ‘O Mine”, for example.

But it’s not just their musical impact that’s important, as they’re great tools for building your finger dexterity and playing skills.

Riffs feature all kinds of techniques that will improve your repertoire of guitar tricks and give you a selection of tunes to impress your friends at parties.

Those techniques include things like hammer-ons, pull-offs, semi- or full-tone string bends, and vibrato to name a few.

As you learn more riffs and incorporate these skills into your playing, you’ll start to employ them naturally as you improvise and learn new pieces.

And as these riffs are so fun and recognisable, it makes practice sessions much less of a chore!

Some gear you might need!

It always pays to be prepared, and with the right gear at hand, your riffs can go from tedious to terrific.

If you’re in need of a great entry-level electric guitar that can handle all of these riffs, the Yamaha Pacifica 012 is a top choice. Its HSS pickup layout gives you loads of flexibility for both the heavy rock riffs and cleaner styles found on our list.

If you’re after a powerful, aggressive tone without breaking the bank, try the G4M 529 Electric Guitar – it has all the fierceness in both looks and sound that you’ll need for nailing these riffs.

And if you have the guitar sorted, a practice amp is just as important! The Yamaha THR5 goes above and beyond a traditional amplifier. For one thing, it’s easily portable, allowing you to hone your skills anywhere, it has multiple amp characters for loads of different sounds, and can connect to PCs for easy recording.

But if an elegant steel-string acoustic is more your speed, this Anchor Berlin has a versatile voice to handle all styles of songs, in addition to a built-in preamp for live performance and recording.

And for all these guitars, you’ll need some quality strings to give you a twangy tone and smooth feel, and Ernie Ball’s 9-42s are a great all-rounder choice for electric guitar. And for acoustics, their Earthwood 11-52s provide a rich chime with tonnes of sustain.

On top of these, a pack of plectrums is always handy, this Dunlop has different thicknesses to help find your preferred pick attack. And for a trusty strap for those of you who rock standing up, the Ernie Ball Polypro is super tough and reliable, keeping your prized instrument locked to your chest.

If you want extra security, Ernie Ball’s strap locks ensure your guitar isn’t coming loose, no matter how wildly you swing it about!

Finally, to guarantee your guitar stays safe and sound whilst going from gig to gig, check out our range of Gear4music guitar bags and cases – we’ve designed and constructed these to the utmost level of durability, ruggedness, and protection!

Ernie Ball strings

FAQs

What is the easiest guitar riff to play?

“Smoke on the Water” is the easiest guitar riff to play. It can be played entirely on the open E string with just one finger or moved to the correct D and G strings using double stops. This versatility allows you to make the riff super simple or more complex.


What is the most famous guitar riff ever?

“Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple is considered one of the most famous guitar riffs according to sources like Guitar World and uDiscover Music. Other well-known guitar riffs include “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses and “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos.


Should I learn songs on guitar?

Learning songs on guitar is fun and rewarding, it’s crucial to also build a foundation of fundamentals like chords, scales, and music theory. This helps in creating music and learning new songs in the future. A balance of both songs and theory is recommended for a strong skill set.

Final thoughts

With these riffs in your back pocket, you’ll have a great launchpad for writing your own hooks or busting out a party-pleaser when performing for a crowd.

If you’re looking for more full songs to learn, our guide to the 27 easy guitar songs for beginners can give you more detail, our Boss Katana guide is great for choosing an all-rounder amp, and our Ernie Ball guide can help you choose the right strings for you!

Happy riffing!

 

Content Writer (Guitars)

Mark has been a guitar aficionado for around twenty years. A lover of all things 6-string, he spends his days putting pen-to-paper about all manner of interesting instruments. From entry level Squiers to the most coveted Custom Shop desires, Mark's written about them.

RELATED ARTICLES

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Share This