Looking for easy metal songs on guitar? If you’re ready to start laying down some heavy riffs, keep reading.
In this article we’ll share some easy metal songs on guitar that even beginners can learn to play.
You may not be a Randy Rhoads or a Zak Wylde yet, but if you have something to say then there’s plenty of room on the Ozzfest stage! Let’s start with the top seven easy rock guitar songs.
What Are Some Easy Metal Songs to Play on Guitar?
When you are looking for easy metal songs on guitar, especially as a beginner, it might seem as though there are thousands of options out there.
Some easy heavy metal songs to play on electric guitar include:
- “Iron Man” – Black SabbathFeasy
- “Whole Lotta Love” – Led Zeppelin
- “Back in Black” – AC/DC
- “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin” – Judas Priest
- “Master of Puppets” – Metallica
- “Lonely Day” – System of a Down
- “This Means War” – Avenged Sevenfold
- “The Trooper” – Iron Maiden
- “Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
- “Seek and Destroy” – Metallica
- “Raining Blood” – Slayer
- “Hot for Teacher” – Van Halen
This list of songs, of course, is not exhaustive.
So what else should you look for?
Most easy electric guitar songs that are heavy metal to play on guitar for beginners have a few things in common. They have few chords and iconic riffs that are easy to memorize. The rhythms tend to be easy to master and it has recognizable notes that you can pick out quickly and easily.
But wait! Before you start playing these easy metal songs on guitar, make sure you’ve tuned your guitar properly. Good guitar tuning will make it much easier for you to master these riffs! Here’s a video to help you get started (and be sure to sign up for guitar lessons if you’re wanting to learn more):
Is Metal Easy on Guitar?
Metal is a popular genre among guitarists for its fast-paced playing and complex riffs, however:
- Playing metal on the guitar can require hours of practice to reach a high level of proficiency.
- Metal guitarists must have strong timing, technical accuracy, and improvisation skills.
- There are various techniques used in metal playing that can be challenging to master.
Despite the challenges, learning how to play metal songs on guitar is well worth the effort. If you need help getting started, you may want to sign up for guitar lessons. You’ll learn the basics, plus helpful tips like what you see in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETng7JzUOw0
Easy Metal Songs on Guitar for Beginners
Are you looking for easy heavy metal songs on guitar? This list should provide you with a good guide to easy heavy metal songs to play on guitar for beginners and more experienced guitarists alike.
1. “Iron Man” – Black Sabbath
This may very well be the coolest, heaviest guitar song ever, yet it’s also just about the easiest one to play. With this simple song, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath virtually invented this style of guitar!
Have fun trying out this fun song to play that goes at a tempo anyone can master.
2. “Whole Lotta Love” – Led Zeppelin
This is one of our favorite easy rock guitar songs with its timeless, catchy riff that doubles as the hook of the song.
It is estimated this riff made a million 14 year olds pick up the guitar for the first time in 1970, and it made believers out of 38 million fans. It made Page a force to be reckoned with and it can do the same for you at band practice.
It doesn’t even matter if you can play fast lead guitar like Jimmy, because you can learn this opening riff in just a few minutes.
SEE ALSO: 10 Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners
3. “Back In Black” – AC/DC
From the epic opening power chords of this song to the distinctive climbing riff played by Angus Young of AC/DC, this song has it all: simplicity, power, driving beat, and Gollum-like vocals by lead singer Brian Johnson.
The A major, D major, and E major chords comprise the foundation, and it is instantly recognizable.
4. “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’” – Judas Priest
Back in the day when albums ruled radio, most folks were strumming their acoustic guitars to the country rock sounds of Laurel Canyon Blvd and Newport Beach.
Then came the aggressive stance of English rockers Judas Priest and their incredible power chords played on Les Paul’s and Stratocasters, and Marshall Amps turned up as loud as possible.
When Rob Halford sang about fighting to get out of poverty in the UK Midlands you knew he meant every word. It was a battle cry for youth worldwide.
5. “Master of Puppets” – Metallica
Quite possibly the easiest Metallica songs to play on guitar. With its simple walk down style power chords, this song is reminiscent of AC/DC chord choices. And even if you dislike James Hetfield’s wild vocals, you will love his rhythm guitar playing. This song begs for no mercy.
Bonus: Another one of the best easy rock guitar songs is “Kill’ Em All,” which is on the same album. Its brutal relentless attack is a fan favorite. We highly recommend making one of these your first Metalkuca song to learn.
6. “Lonely Day” – System of a Down
System, or SOAD as they used to be called, play “Lonely Day” in a cool Db tuning, one and a half steps below standard tuning. The song sounds heavier and darker as a result, even though it is a metal ballad.
Anyone can play this one by using fingerpicking on the simple intro parts and letting loose on the power chords. It evokes the utter sadness of men traveling by themselves on tour and watching the world fall apart.
RELATED: How to Read Guitar Tabs for Beginners
7. “This Means War” – Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold’s song “This Means War” includes a slow-paced riff with a fun audience singalong so it is almost an anthem. You could play this easy rock guitar song in your sleep.
A plodding guitar part played on the Sinister Gates model Schecter electric guitar evokes all the angst a metal guitarist can unleash.
8. “The Trooper” – Iron Maiden
This 1983 heavy metal song has an iconic, galloping rhythm that’s easy to pick out. It has a simple fingerpick that’s easy to master, even if you’re a beginner – though the many fingering techniques are sure to challenge you.
Master the basics of this song on the guitar and you’ll likely find that you can add in more elements as you practice more and more.
9. “Crazy Train” – Ozzy Osbourne
This song is from Ozzy Osbourne’s first solo album in 1980. It’s a great introduction to playing electric guitar for novices, too.
It has a truly iconic guitar riff right at the beginning, making it one of the most recognizable metal songs around. Despite its legendary reputation, the riff is actually quite easy to play, as are the many licks within this song.
10. “Seek and Destroy” – Metallica
This isn’t the first Metallica song on this list of the top easy metal songs on guitar and it won’t be the last, either. This band is incredibly talented when it comes to making a song sound a lot more complicated than it actually is.
From the intro riffs to the uncomplicated rhythm, this song is one that’s easy for newbie guitar players to master.
11. “Raining Blood” – Slayer
This is one of those electric guitar songs that makes you stop and pay attention. It has a strong core riff that’s easy to master and it doesn’t include much beyond ten basic notes.
Not only that, but the riffs in this song are chromatic and the lyrics follow the chord structure closely, too. You’ll be able to learn how to play all the parts of the song without any problem.
12. “Hot for Teacher” – Van Halen
“Hot for Teacher” is a metal song that is iconic in so many ways. The entire first minute of the song is solely instrumental, with no lyrics, and while that’s mostly drums and not guitar, the song is truly electrifying.
This song can be a bit more challenging than some of the others on the list, particularly when it comes to its speed (a quick 240 BPM) and some of the trickier finger work involved. You can learn the ropes by starting out at a slower speed when you practice. Eventually, you should be able to bump it up.
13. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” – Metallica
Another Metallica song that’s easy for beginner guitar players to master is “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” It is chock-full of different musical techniques and styles, including a pretty basic intro that morphs into a more complicated solo riff.
14. “Jailbreak” – AC/DC
With tastes of hard rock and blues alike, this is another one of the best easy metal songs to play on guitar.
The only challenging part will be if you want to do a solo of the slides featured throughout the music – getting the hang of the string pressure and multiple synchronous finger motions can be a bit difficult. Other than that, though, mastering this classic song about breaking the law should be a piece of cake.
15. “Monkey Business” – Skid Row
This song by Skid Row is perfect for beginners to try because it has a mid-tempo rhythm – not too fast, and not too slow. Its finger styling isn’t overly complex, either, and is much more relaxed than what you’ll find on other songs.
Once you build up your confidence with the basic chord structures of this song, you can progress to the more complex riffs and finger styling to make your rendition of this hit sound just like the original track (well, almost).
16. “Rooster” – Alice in Chains
Here’s an easy heavy metal song that could also be categorized as alt-metal or grunge. It has a fast-paced tempo and a guitar riff that doesn’t always stay up to speed with the actual pace of the song.
However, it only involves four chords so you won’t have to keep track of much – just A, G, C, and E. You can spend all that extra time focusing on your strumming techniques instead.
17. “Breaking the Law” – Judas Priest
Here’s another song about breaking the law that will allow you to master the ins and outs of playing electric guitar! A heavy metal song from the 1980s, this tune has a recognizable riff that’s easy to execute.
The characteristic bassline takes some practice to master but with time you’ll be jamming away.
18. “The Ocean” – Led Zeppelin
A powerful heavy metal song, this song has some awesome riffs courtesy of Jimmy Page. These riffs are pretty easy to tackle, although the coda can be somewhat challenging.
It’s a good song to include in your line-up of practice songs if you want to master finger sliding and pam-muting. Don’t forget your fingerpick!
19. “One” – Metallica
Thankfully, this song is on the slower side at just 108 BPM. This is one of its many features that makes it great for beginners. It has multiple different riffs that you’ll need to practice – along with some more finessed sliding techniques and fingerpicking – but its slow tempo makes it a bit easier to pick up.
20. “Crystal Skull” – Mastodon
This isn’t the most played heavy metal song out there but it’s a great song to master if you’re a beginner. It’s one of the newest songs on this list, written in 2006, and offers guitar learners an awesome opportunity to master new finger exercises and fretting.
21. “Now You’ve Got Something to Die For” – Lamb of God
This death metal piece has distorted guitar work that is a bit more intense than what you’ll find in other heavy metal songs, but it’s a great one to include in your practice line-up if you want to test your stamina when it comes to fingerpicking.
That’s because this song requires you to pick quite rapidly, keeping your fretting fingers either stationary on the fretboard or, on the flip side, all over the place.
22. “Electric Funeral” – Black Sabbath
“Electric Funeral” by Black Sabbath has simple solos, verses, bridges, and outros, making it a perfect introduction for the budding metal guitarist.
It has an easy strumming pattern that shouldn’t take you too long to master, especially if you have quick fingers and have mastered some basic notes.
23. “Milk Lizard” – The Dillinger Escape Plan
Again, “Milk Lizard” isn’t the most well-known song on this list, but if you like alt-metal, you’ll love how it can help you learn how to play guitar. It’s one of those easy metal songs on guitar that will really help you master your fingerstyle and fingerpicking. It also incorporates the palm-muting technique, so you’ll have the opportunity to practice that as well.
24. “The Devil’s Orchard” – Opeth
Although the riff of this song can be quite challenging for beginners to master, it is written in a harmonic minor scale. Because of this, you shouldn’t have too much trouble getting the hang of it with some practice.
Try to focus on the intro riff first before moving on to the rest – and remember that it is in a Middle Eastern scale, which might make your ears and brain pick up on the melody better together.
25. “Mercury” – Clutch
With killer, easy-to-master licks, this song by Clutch will have you strumming along in no time. It does involve a few challenging fingerpicking techniques but you won’t have to do any crazy finger styling on the fretboard like you might on other songs (at least, not too much, anyway).
26. “Rock You Like a Hurricane” – Scorpions
This is another one of those easy metal songs on guitar that will help you take your palm muting game up a notch. It has a lot of syncopated stabs that keep your brain guessing – meaning it’s not the easiest song to master for a beginner but it definitely can be done.
Beware, though – this is a song that’s sure to get stuck in your head.
27. “Ace of Spades” – Motorhead
“Ace of Spades” is a fast-paced, frenzied ride for newbie guitar players. Although its 280 beats per minute can be daunting, to say the least, the intro is relatively simple. Start off with a slower tempo before you try to take this one up a notch.
28. “Erotomania” – Dream Theater
Last but not least, “Erotomania” by Dream Theater is on the longer side of the scale when it comes to easy metal songs on guitar. That length is ideal for a beginner guitarist, since it will give you plenty of time to master different techniques and chords.
The main riff is easy and repetitive and while the 5/4 riff can be a bit more challenging, practice is sure to make perfect.
More Easy Metal Songs to Play on Guitar
Want to learn even more easy heavy metal songs on guitar? Here are a few more of our favorite picks.
General Tips for Mastering Easy Heavy Metal Songs on Guitar
Learning to play heavy metal guitar takes time, dedication, and practice. Here are some tips that will help you on your guitar playing journey:
- Start with easy songs that are within your skill level.
- Practice regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes a day.
- Learn the basics of heavy metal guitar playing, including power chords, palm muting, and alternate picking.
- Break down complex riffs into smaller parts and practice each part separately.
- Watch video tutorials and play-along videos to help you learn.
Easy 80s Metal Songs on Guitar
The music of the 80s had a lasting impact on heavy metal, and some of the most iconic songs of the genre were composed during this era.
If you’re just starting out, it’s a great place to begin. Some great songs to start with include Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child ‘O Mine,” Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” These songs have simple chord progressions and memorable riffs that are easy to learn, making them a perfect starting point for beginners.
Easy Metal Songs on Guitar From the 90s
The 90s saw the rise of alternative metal, which blended heavy metal with other genres like grunge and punk. Bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains had a huge influence on the sound of the decade.
Some of the easiest songs to play on guitar from this era include Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Nirvana’s “Come As You Are,” and Alice in Chains’ “Would?” These songs are perfect for beginners because they have relatively simple chord progressions and easy-to-learn riffs.
Easy Metal Songs on Electric Guitar
If you’re looking for easy metal songs to play on electric guitar, you should start with Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” This song is perfect for beginners because it has a simple riff and a slow tempo.
Other easy songs include Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law,” AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” and Metallica’s “Seek and Destroy.” These songs have relatively simple riffs that are great for beginners to practice.
Easy Metal Songs on Acoustic Guitar
While most heavy metal songs are played on electric guitars, you can still rock out on an acoustic guitar. Some of the easiest heavy metal songs to play on acoustic guitar include Dio’s “Holy Diver,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” and Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” These songs have simple chord progressions and easy-to-learn riffs that are perfect for beginners.
Which of These Best Easy Metal Songs to Learn on Guitar Should I Learn First?
There are plenty of easy metal songs on guitar (and other instruments) that you can master. Choose one of your favorites from the list above, since a song you love will be much easier to learn than one you aren’t crazy about. You’ll be practicing it often, so pick a song you enjoy playing!
Once you’ve mastered just one of these easy heavy metal songs on guitar, trust us – you’ll want to move on to the rest. You’ll be a pro in no time!
Ready to master all of these easy electric guitar songs for beginners? If you need help, you can always try working with a private guitar teacher. Search for a guitar teacher today, or get started with some free online guitar classes.
Post Author: James W. teaches guitar lessons in Jacksonville, FL. He specializes in teaching pop, rock, and modern country styles. James has been teaching for 10 years. Learn more about James here!
Photo by Ted Van Pelt
James W.